Maine Sports Commission

Tomorrow night the Maine Celtics will be wearing something a little different than their normal jersey... Join Strong Girls United, the Maine Celtics, and TD Bank for a special event for K-6th grade girls ahead of the EMPOWHER game in Portland! This event is FREE and Open to K - 6th graders (with space very limited)! Each event participant will get 1 ticket for themselves + 1 additional ticket for an accompanying adult to the 7:00pm game. Tickets to this pre-game event and game are provide courtesy by TD Bank! You will see the Maine Celtics jerseys specially designed by Rachel Gloria Adams, there will be other prizes, giveways and special swag for participants, WNBA Indiana Fever vs Sun Boston raffle tickets, and more! Register your K-6th grader for the pregame event at https://bit.ly/4i7GTzX

There are a lot of sporting events for every level of competitor and across so many types of sports and competitions. You can get sporting and event announcements straight to your email on a monthly basis by subscribing to our newsletter. Just head to our website and scroll to the bottom ?? https://bit.ly/3O2D3M3

The Hearts of Pine, Maine's USL League 1 soccer team, will take the field for the first time in Maine, on March 20, ahead of its season opener at Franklin Athletic Complex against CD Faialense. This game is part of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Dating back to 1914, the Open Cup is the oldest tournament in United States soccer. It’s a tournament that includes teams from various levels from amateur clubs to professional teams across different leagues. In the 2025 edition, the tournament will feature 96 teams: 64 from the three professional tiers of the U.S. soccer league and 32 amateur teams from the “Open Division.” The Open Cup brings together clubs from all levels in the American soccer landscape, creating a unique and diverse competition that celebrates the sport across the country. Game tickets can be purchased at https://bit.ly/4hNePAS

Maine has worked hard to earn its recent title of #1 Minor League Sports Market by Sports Business Journal, announced last October. The College of Business at UNE will explore how we achieved this stellar ranking across the U.S. in their new Spark Business Series on March 4, at 6 p.m. (doors at 5 p.m.). Featuring executives from Portland’s leading minor league franchises — including the Portland Sea Dogs, Maine Mariners, Maine Celtics, and Hearts of Pine — the discussion will highlight the intersection of sports business, community engagement, and economic impact. Norm O’Reilly, Ph.D., dean of the UNE College of Business, said Portland’s sports teams are an exception among cities of similar stature. He noted that, while many minor professional and grassroots sports organizations face stagnation, Portland’s teams are thriving. This is free and open to the public but advanced registration is appreciated: https://bit.ly/4gWwk1e Read the Sports Business Journal article from October here: https://bit.ly/4biNeWJ

We are thrilled to announce that Patrick Caron, who joined the MSC board in 2024, has now stepped into the role of our Sports Development Director. Patrick will oversee sourcing leads to attract new events and have a presence on select local organizing committees throughout the bid and event planning processes. In addition to competing professionally in races around the world as a Salomon sponsored athlete, Caron has worked closely with numerous running clubs and event organizers to support them through race directing, media coverage, podcast hosting, live commentating, coaching, outreach, fundraising, and more. Caron strongly believes in the power of movement and the importance of community for physical and mental health. He helped launch and continues to support the Boston Bulldogs Running Club, a nonprofit that provides an anonymous and safe support community for all those adversely affected by addiction, including those in recovery, their families and friends, caregivers, and the community at large. Welcome (again--haha) to the team Patrick! MSC feels incredibly lucky to have you!

Firecracker Sports recently shared a wonderful post about the Maine Sports Commission, highlighting the work we do to promote sports and events throughout the state. We’re grateful for their kind words and value the strong partnership we’ve built with them. At MSC, we believe that building relationships is key to advancing Maine’s sports tourism economy, and Firecracker Sports has been a fantastic ally in that effort. Thank you, Mark, for your continued collaboration and support—here’s to many more successful events together!

Looking for an event to attend or compete in? We got 'em! Here's a peek a few upcoming March events: ?? New England Bill Koch League Festival at Quarry Road Trails in Waterville, March 1-2 ?? 5th Annual Women’s Wave: An International Women’s Day gathering at Willard Beach, March 8 ?? Irish Road Rover 5K: in Portland, March 16 ?? Maine Adaptive Sports Ski-A-Thon: at Sunday River, March 23 ?? Banked Slalom: at Sugarloaf on March 29 We'd love to see your event pictures; tag @mainesports to show off what you're up to in this awesome state!

This month, we’re celebrating 13 years of Maine Sports Commission! Since 2012, we’ve seen incredible growth in sports tourism as events of all sizes choose Maine’s venues and scenic locations. Alongside our partners, we’re thrilled to continue advancing Maine’s leadership in outdoor recreation, backed by the state’s newly unveiled 10-Year Outdoor Recreation Economy Roadmap. Here’s to another decade of positioning Maine as a top destination for sports and outdoor adventures!

Linley Grosman’s passion for squash has carried her from @bowdoinsquash's courts to a vibrant role at @pcsquash. In this Sideline Story, we explore her journey as an athlete and leader, celebrating the profound impact sports have on individuals and communities alike. Linley’s work with Portland Community Squash highlights their newly renovated space and ongoing efforts to grow the game locally. Dive into the full story on our website to learn more about Linley’s dedication and the exciting developments at Portland Community Squash. Continue reading at https://bit.ly/4k3dfgB

Tune into this episode of the Playeasy Warmup Podcast featuring Steve Andrus of XTERRA. Steve talks at length about the evolution of XTERRA, its values, and its goals for the future. Steve and Kerri give a shoutout to Maine and the amazing event XTERRA hosted at Sugarloaf in 2023 and 2024! Continue watch at https://bit.ly/3CUN1Mu