Portland pro sports teams generate $110M across Maine, report says
PORTLAND — A new analysis shows that Portland’s four minor‑league franchises collectively pump more than $110 million into Maine’s economy each year and sustain roughly 900 jobs across the state. The findings, compiled by the University of Southern Maine at the request of the city, were released Wednesday and prompted Mayor Mark Dion to declare the day “Minor League Sports Day” in recognition of the teams’ contributions.
The study, led by Caroline Paras of the Maine Center for Business and Economic Research, breaks the total impact into three categories. Visitor spending—money brought in by fans traveling from beyond a 50‑mile radius—accounts for $74.7 million. Team operations, which include salaries for staff and administrative costs, add another $30.8 million. Finally, expenses incurred by visiting squads, such as lodging and travel, contribute $4.8 million.
Each franchise’s share of the economic activity varies widely. The Sea Dogs, the Double‑A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, lead the pack with $65.3 million in impact, followed by the Maine Mariners at $18.5 million, the Hearts of Pine at $16.5 million, and the Maine Celtics at $9.9 million.
Attendance trends also point upward. Since 2019, the Mariners have seen their fan tally climb 51 percent to 162,756, while the Celtics are up 12 percent at 50,009 and the Sea Dogs have grown 10 percent to 393,300. The Hearts of Pine’s numbers were not detailed in the report.
City Councilor Pious Ali said the employment figure of about 917 jobs was particularly striking. “That is a huge employment,” he noted. “We were not expecting (any specific economic impact figure) because we didn’t know. Now that we have seen what they bring, maybe we will look at it and see what we can do as a city to support the effort of the teams.”
Mayor Dion framed the data as a tool for future decision‑making, especially as Portland weighs whether to repair or rebuild its historic Expo. “When we started asking questions, it was reasonable to anticipate that the public would ask us questions about cost and the return as to whether or not we’re going to invest public dollars into some manner of partnership,” Dion explained. “That’s how I see this today. I had an intuition, but now I’ve got hard data, and it reinforces what I was speculating in my mind. I hope it will inform other councilors as we proceed down these various paths having to do with policy and sports arenas.”
The economic study was partly motivated by the void left when the Portland Pirates, an American Hockey League team, relocated in 2016. Paras recalled the shock that followed. “I know it was a shock to the city, and the headlines were like, ‘What’s going to happen to downtown Portland in the dead of winter, in terms of the restaurants and the bars?’ No one had any figures back then. Now we at least have some sense of the economic impact and how that money recirculates throughout the economy.”
Paras added that the methodology was intentionally conservative. While salaries for Hearts of Pine players were included—because the club pays them—the player wages for the Sea Dogs and Celtics were excluded since they are covered by their parent clubs in Boston. Visitor spending was limited to those traveling more than 50 miles from Portland, and the report did not count Paras’s own $125 purchase at a recent game, noting, “But guess what? I don’t count.”
When compared with other markets, Portland’s output appears robust. Paras cited a study of the Quad Cities in Iowa and Illinois, where three minor‑league teams generated $50.1 million in direct impact while drawing 331,000 fans. In contrast, Portland’s four clubs attracted roughly 720,000 attendees last year and produced $110.3 million in direct, indirect, and induced impact.
Team officials also highlighted the community benefits. Sea Dogs General Manager Jesse Scaglion said the report’s employment figures—about 520 jobs supported by his club alone—were a major highlight. “So many people started — their first job was in concessions for us in high school, and now they work in our front office,” he remarked. “And I just think that development for people is really cool.”
The Mariners, Celtics, and Hearts of Pine each pointed to similar stories of youth employment and local spending. The city’s tourism board noted that the teams’ games have become a draw for out‑of‑area visitors, who fill hotels, restaurants, and retail spaces throughout the Portland region.
As Portland moves forward with plans for the Expo, the data is expected to play a central role in any cost‑benefit analysis. City leaders say the numbers will help them justify any public investment while also providing a clearer picture of the potential losses should a franchise decide to leave.
The release of the report coincided with a broader push to highlight Portland’s status as a minor‑league hub. Earlier this month, the Sports Business Journal ranked Portland as the second‑best minor‑league market, behind Greenville, South Carolina. Greenville’s single‑A Red Sox affiliate, the Drive, generated $34 million in economic impact—less than half of what the Sea Dogs alone contribute.
Overall, the study paints a picture of a thriving ecosystem in which four professional sports teams not only entertain local fans but also inject significant revenue into Maine’s economy, support hundreds of jobs, and help sustain downtown businesses. As the city looks ahead, officials say the data will guide decisions on infrastructure, partnership agreements, and future growth strategies.
