Alfond Sports Arena facts for kids
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"The Alfond"
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| Location | College Ave Orono, Maine 04473 |
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| Owner | University of Maine |
| Operator | University of Maine |
| Capacity | 5,712 (basketball) 5,125 (hockey) |
| Surface | 200 x 85 ft (hockey) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1976 |
| Opened | February 5, 1977 |
| Expanded | 1991, 1998, 2011 |
| Construction cost | $1.6 million ($7.73 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Daniel Tulley Associates |
| Tenants | |
| Maine Black Bears men's and women's ice hockey | |
The Harold Alfond Sports Arena is a large building in Orono, Maine, USA. It's a place where many different events happen. The arena first opened its doors in 1977.
It is the home for the University of Maine's sports teams, known as the Maine Black Bears. Both the men's and women's ice hockey teams play their games here. The arena is famous for its unique, curved roof design. This special roof style can also be seen on other buildings like the Finneran Pavilion at Villanova University.
The arena is named after Harold Alfond. He was a big supporter of Maine and its university for many years. His name is also on the school's main outdoor sports area, the Alfond Sports Stadium.
Contents
Arena History and Changes
The Alfond Arena has grown and changed over the years.
Early Days and First Expansion
When it first opened, the arena could hold about 3,800 people. In 1992, it was made bigger to fit more fans. This expansion also allowed the university's basketball team to return and play there. Before this, the basketball team had to play at a different location.
Recent Updates and Features
Since the first expansion, more special viewing areas, called skyboxes, have been added. These are like private boxes for watching games. Because of these additions, the number of seats for hockey games is now 5,125.
Inside the arena, you can find the Bear Necessities Fan Shop. This is where fans can buy team gear. There is also the Maine Hockey Hall of Fame, which celebrates the history of hockey at the university.
Events and Improvements
Many different events have taken place at the Alfond Arena.
Notable Events Held Here
Famous musical groups and public figures have visited the arena. For example, the band The Grateful Dead played a concert here in 1983. The popular ice skating show, Scott Hamilton's Stars on Ice, started its tour at the Alfond Arena in 1986. In 1994, Hillary Clinton also made an appearance at the arena.
Keeping the Arena Modern
It takes about two hours to change the arena from a basketball court to an ice hockey rink. Changing it back from hockey to basketball takes a little longer, about two and a half hours.
The arena has received many upgrades to keep it modern and efficient.
- In late 2006, new, energy-saving lights were put in. This helped prevent power outages and saved electricity.
- A new scoreboard was added in the summer of 2008.
- A new basketball floor was bought in late 2009. It replaced the old floor that had been used since 1992.
- A big renovation project started in May 2011. This project cost $4.8 million. It included a new ice system and equipment to control humidity. New boards around the rink and new glass were also installed. The lower-level seating areas were also updated.
The Dalhousie Memorial Arena in Halifax, Canada, which was built in 1982, was actually inspired by the Alfond Sports Arena. The president of Dalhousie University at the time really liked the design of the Alfond Arena.
See also
- List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas
