Androscoggin Bank Colisée facts for kids
|
Colisée
The ABC |
|
  |
|
| Former names | Central Maine Youth Center (1958–1989) Central Maine Civic Center (1989–2004) Lewiston Colisée (2004–2006) |
|---|---|
| Location | Lewiston, Maine |
| Owner | Firland Management, LLC (2008–present) |
| Operator | Firland Management, LLC |
| Capacity | 4,000 (hockey) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1956 |
| Opened | 1958 |
| Construction cost | $1 million, with renovations $5 million |
| Tenants | |
| Maine Nordiques (NAHL) (1973–1977) Lewiston Maineiacs (QMJHL) (2003–2011) Portland Pirates (AHL) (2013–2014) Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques (NA3EHL/NA3HL) (2015–2020) Maine Nordiques (NAHL) (2019–present) |
|
The Androscoggin Bank Colisée is a large building in Lewiston, Maine. It opened in 1958. This arena can hold about 4,000 people for hockey games. It was first called the Central Maine Youth Center. Later, it was known as the Central Maine Civic Center and the Lewiston Colisée.
The Colisée was built to replace another local arena. A Catholic church parish first built and ran it. Today, it is the home of the Maine Nordiques hockey team. They play in the North American Hockey League. Besides hockey, the Colisée hosts many other events. These include concerts, big meetings, and trade shows. It has a large space for exhibits, about 17,000 square feet. This means it can welcome up to 4,800 people for conventions.
Contents
History of the Colisée
The Colisée has been home to many sports teams over the years. It has also hosted many exciting events.
Early Hockey Teams
From 1973 to 1977, the Maine Nordiques played at the Civic Center. They were a professional team in the NAHL. Even the Boston Celtics, a famous basketball team, played exhibition games here.
The Lewiston Maineiacs Era
In 2003, a new hockey team arrived. They were called the Lewiston Maineiacs. They played in the QMJHL. When they came, the building was renamed the Lewiston Colisée. In 2007, the Maineiacs won the Presidents Cup. This was their league championship.
Visiting Teams and Relocations
In 2011–12, the Federal Hockey League played some games at the arena. The Portland Pirates hockey team also played many games here. This happened in 2013 and 2014. Their usual home arena was being renovated.
New Hockey Teams Arrive
In 2014, a junior hockey team moved to Lewiston. They were the New Hampshire Fighting Spirit. They changed their name to the L/A Fighting Spirit. "L/A" stands for Lewiston-Auburn. They played in a league called the North American 3 Eastern Hockey League. This is a Tier III junior league, meaning players are usually younger and developing their skills.
In 2016, the Fighting Spirit joined the North American 3 Hockey League. The owner of the Colisée bought the team in 2017. He renamed them the Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques. This name honored the old professional team. In 2019, a new, higher-level team was created. This team was called the Maine Nordiques. They joined the Tier II junior North American Hockey League. In 2020, the Colisée and the Tier III Nordiques team were sold. The Tier III team was then replaced with youth hockey teams.
Other Exciting Uses
The Colisée is not just for hockey. It has hosted many other famous events.
Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston Fight
On May 25, 1965, a very famous boxing match happened here. It was the heavyweight championship rematch. The fighters were Sonny Liston and the champion, Muhammad Ali. During this fight, a photographer named Neil Leifer took a legendary photo. Many people call it one of the greatest sports photos ever.
Concerts at the Colisée
Many famous musicians have played at the Colisée.
- On March 19, 1977, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band played their only show in Maine here.
- Bob Dylan has performed at the venue several times. He played on November 13, 2000, May 17, 2008, and April 10, 2013.
Mixed Martial Arts Events
The Colisée has also hosted mixed martial arts (MMA) events. Bellator MMA held its first event in Maine here. This was on March 21, 2013, called Bellator 93.
Wrestling Shows
On November 7, 2018, Ring of Honor wrestling came to the Colisée. This was their first show in Maine. It was a special "Global Wars" event. They teamed up with New Japan Pro Wrestling. This was also the Japanese promotion's first event in New England.
