In the summer of 2024, the University of New England (UNE) and the Maine Mariners, a minor league hockey team based in Maine, partnered. This partnership was designed to fuel UNE’s mission to equip students with real-world skills and provide the Maine Mariners with opportunities for new growth with data analytics.

This partnership was initiated by Connor Blake (he/him), manager of the Center for Sport and Business Innovation at UNE, and Norm O’Reilly, dean of UNE’s College of Business, which launched earlier this year.

“Our mission is to help give students experience, and there’s no better way to do that than working on a real-life project,” said Blake.

“By identifying key growth opportunities, we provide them with the necessary research and insight to tackle challenges they may not have the bandwidth to address right now,” he said.

Blake notes that MBA students come from all walks of life, and supporting the Mariners with a vast cohort of students is crucial. “We can address projects on multiple levels,” he said. The Mariners, part of the number one minor league sports market in the country, face challenges in areas such as fan engagement, player performance analytics, and facility expansion. 

This addition is exciting not only for UNE but for the Mariners as well. Sam Murray (he/him), vice president of sales & strategy for The Maine Mariners, said: “The students have been incredible. They’ve jumped into some really important projects for us, from analyzing data to helping us figure out what works best for our fans. It’s a win-win—they get real-world experience, and we get insights that will help us grow as a team.”

Students have been gathering feedback from fans through surveys at games to understand their preferences and experiences. Additionally, students have collected data for building a team on the ice and are collecting market research for a new practice facility. 

“What excites me most about participating in this research collaboration with the Maine Mariners is the hands-on opportunity to apply my hockey experience, having played at UNE, to a project that directly impacts both the team and the community,” said Kelly McCarthy (she/her), a senior business major and member of the UNE Women’s Ice Hockey team.

“The more the college is involved in impactful, high-profile research, the more it will be recognized as a leader in the fields of business, sports management, and innovation, which will drive more opportunities for both students and faculty alike,” said McCarthy, reflecting on the collaboration.

“As students not directly involved in the day-to-day operations of the team, we can provide fresh insights and innovative solutions that might not be immediately obvious to those working within the organization. Our ability to approach problems objectively allows us to ask different questions,” she said.

The Mariners and UNE are excited to continue growing their relationship and expanding opportunities for students to engage, all while helping the sports industry succeed. 

“The future is bright for both UNE and the Mariners, and this partnership is just the beginning,” said Conor Blake (he/him), manager of the Center for Sport and Business Innovation at UNE.