From Classroom to Career: A Day with Maine’s Top Sport Professionals
On January 31, a group of MBS Sport Management students took an enthralling day trip to Portland, ME, where they learned from industry professionals, bridging the gap between academic concepts and professional practice. The trip, led by Dr. Nick Swim, Assistant Professor of Sport Management, and Melanie Brooks, Marketing and Communications Manager, gave students powerful insight into the world of minor league sports.
“We are so lucky to have such amazing sport industry partners here in Maine,” Dr. Swim says. “These networking opportunities are essential for students to enter the sport industry.”
Hosted at the University of Maine’s Graduate and Professional Center at 300 Fore Street, the day began with Layne Audet, a UMaine Alum, and Sam Murray, from the Maine Mariners. They shared insight regarding landing entry-level positions, and what working for an ECHL team truly entails. The two gave an engaging presentation covering sales strategy, marketing strategy, and game day logistics.
“Sharing my experiences with UMaine students as an alum, was a full circle moment for me,” Audet says. “I remember being in similar classrooms and having industry professionals as guest speakers. I loved hearing about their careers and the inside workings of the sports industry. These speakers gave me a glimpse of what I could do after college, and I wanted to be able to provide similar insight to the students I spoke to.” Students enjoyed lunch with Audet and Murray, fostering time for one-on-one conversations and networking.
“The Mariners showed me that when it comes to sales and sponsorship, no does not always mean no,” says Ella Roy, a sophomore from Ludlow, MA. “No can sometimes mean not right now. Layne shared that persistence is key to any job, and that advice will help me prepare for handling rejection in the future.”
Next, students met with the Strategic Director of the Maine Sports Commission, Sheila Brennan Nee, who shared how she and her partners work to bring sporting events to Maine. A nonprofit organization, the Maine Sports Commission, works to promote Maine as a four-season sports destination, strengthening the state through sports tourism.
Next stop: Hadlock Field! Students toured the facility and met with several Portland Sea Dogs representatives specializing in business development, management, communication, and fan experience. The team shared insights on internship and early career opportunities, and the skills needed to advance in the sports industry.
“Talking with the Sea Dogs organization absolutely made me excited for my internship,” says John Sutton, a junior from Gorham, ME. “Even though most of the stadium was under construction, it made me excited for the opportunity nonetheless. I had only met with the members of the organization over the phone and on Zoom, so I was very glad to meet face-to-face with some of the people I’ll be working for.”
The final stop of the action-packed day occurred at the Portland Expo Center, where students met with the leadership of the Maine Celtics. The panel included the president, the head of corporate partnerships, and the ticket sales and digital media managers. The team discussed the behind-the-scenes action of gamedays, their recent re-brand, the benefits of their location, their professional league, and their connection to Boston.
“My favorite part of the day was the talk we had with the Celtics,” Roy says. “They were very gracious with the amount of time they spent with us and gave us really great advice. I also loved getting to spend time with my fellow students, whom I didn’t know before this trip. I felt like it was such a fun experience where we all got to learn about our prospective careers.”
Story by: Regan Lawn