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V O L . X X X I I N O. I V F E B R UA R Y 2 3 , 2 0 2 6 4 SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGERS Ken Hanson, Kerry Rasor ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Michelle Phillips EVENTS & MARKETING DIRECTOR Samantha Elliott OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Allison Spies DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Leah Allen A division of New England Business Media LLC P R E S I D E N T / C E O Tom Curtin CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Andrea Tetzlaff DIGITAL DIRECTOR Jan Holder CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mark Jeanneret Carrie Yardley RESEARCH DIRECTOR Stephanie Meagher RESEARCH ASSISTANT Heide Martin ART DIRECTOR Matt Selva HOSPITALITY Buster, Claire, William HOSPITALITY EMERITUS Malcolm, Zoey PUBLISHER Andrea Tetzlaff EDITOR Peter Van Allen DEPUTY EDITOR Renee Cordes DIGITAL EDITOR Alexis Wells SENIOR WRITER Laurie Schreiber STAFF WRITER Tina Fischer MEREDA's 2026 Forecast Conference Thursday, February 26 • Holiday Inn By the Bay, Portland GOLD SPONSORS: Register today: MEREDA.org (207) 874-0801 • 900+ Attendees • Meaningful Networking with Industry Leaders • Continuing Education Credits • 60+ Showcase Exhibits with Member Organizations (Sold Out) REGISTER TODAY! Expert insights. Expert analysis. Expert outlooks. P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R C O N T E N T S How To Build relationships with Maine sports teams and athletes 21 Big plays in a small market What it takes to run a pro sports team in America's top-rated minor-league city 12 22 The snow must go on Milder winters take toll on snowmobiling in northern Maine 18 Run, boat, hike Outdoor recreation powers Downeast economy 23 On the Record Maine Mariners owner Dexter Paine sets sights on championship trophy for minor-league hockey team 20 Name of the game What Maine companies gain from pro sports sponsorships S P O R T S / T O U R I S M / R E C R E AT I O N F O C U S M A I N E ' S M I N O R - L E A G U E T E A M S B Y T H E N U M B E R S O N PA G E 1 1 » Seven-month-old Tillie, visiting from Florida, catches her first Maine Celtics game, in the arms of grandmother Stephanie Bell. Tillie's mother Liz Sohn looks on. Dakota, the Portland Sea Dogs' clubhouse pet, inside the team's locker room at Hadlock Field. P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R 12 18 23 P H O T O S / C O U R T E S Y O F C ROW AT H L E T I C S The 2023 MDI Marathon