About Harold Alfond Sports Arena
One of the finest all-purpose facilities in the Northeast, the Harold Alfond Sports Arena has served the University community since 1977. Completed in February of that year, the building was dedicated by Mr. Alfond and officials of the University on November 18, prior to a hockey game between the Black Bears and Acadia University. UMaine downed the Axemen 7-5 in that inaugural contest, paving the way for the hundreds of Black Bear victories that would follow at "The Alfond."
Due to the demand of sellout-after-sellout at the old capacity of 3,800, and the desire of University officials to bring men's and women's basketball games back to campus from the Bangor Auditorium, an expansion of Alfond Arena was begun prior to the 1991-92 season thanks to a $2 million gift from Mr. Alfond. The gift represented, at that time, the largest one-time, non-posthumous cash contribution ever bestowed upon the University of Maine. Since 1968, Mr. Alfond has donated over $6.5 million to the University.
The construction of 70-foot by 140-foot additions on the east and west sides provided an additional 1,400 seats, increasing Alfond Arena's capacity to 5,200. In 1998, more luxury boxes were added, and the arena's capacity now stands at 5,641 for ice hockey, and 5,712 for basketball.
Basketball made its return to campus at Alfond Arena on January 17, 1992, when UMaine hosted Drexel University in men's basketball. The women's basketball team made its initial appearance at Alfond Arena a few days later, on January 30, 1992, and posted a 74-57 win over Boston University.
In addition to being the home of the Black Bears, the building is used by youth, high school, and senior hockey leagues, and for concerts and graduation ceremonies.
The complex is a modern facility with virtually no obstructed-view seats in the building and an excellent view of the ice.
The Black Bears played their final basketball games at Alfond Arena in 2013.
Amenities at Alfond Arena include 13 skyboxes at the south end of the building, with one reserved for University officials; the Dexter Lounge, a meeting room used for team functions, hospitality by the various Friends groups and other special events; the UMaine Athletic Ticket Office; game-day locker rooms for both men's and women's basketball; and Bear Necessities, the Athletic Department's official retail store for Black Bear apparel and other merchandise.
Alfond Arena also contains a small athletic training room for treatment of in-game injuries, as well as the offices and locker rooms for the UMaine men's and women's ice hockey teams.
Fan services in the arena include rest rooms under both the east and west grandstands and concession stands located at several locations on the main concourse around the building.
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