Cross Insurance Center
| Cross Insurance Center | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Former names | Bangor Arena |
| Location |
515 Main Street Bangor, ME 04401 |
| Coordinates | 44°47′21″N 68°46′43″W / 44.7893°N 68.7787°WCoordinates: 44°47′21″N 68°46′43″W / 44.7893°N 68.7787°W |
| Broke ground | 2012 |
| Opened | September 10, 2013 |
| Owner | City of Bangor |
| Operator | Global Spectrum |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction cost | $65 million [1] |
| Capacity |
Seats: 5,800 (plus 1,500 retractable) Concerts: 8,500 Convention: 2,000 [2] |
| Tenants | |
| University of Maine Black Bears | |
The Cross Insurance Center is a 5,800-seat multi-purpose arena in Bangor, Maine, United States. Scheduled for an official grand opening on September 10, 2013, it will replace the Bangor Auditorium, which opened on October 1, 1955. The new arena will hold up to 8,500 people for concerts, and features an attached 2,000-person convention center. It was built at an estimated cost of $65 million. Part of the city's Bass Park complex, it is located across from Hollywood Casino Bangor.[3]
History
The Bangor Auditorium was a 5,948-seat multipurpose arena located in downtown Bangor. It became a statewide icon by hosting the Maine Principals' Association basketball tournament each February, which is broadcast by the Maine Public Broadcasting Network.
Beginning sometime in the late 2000s, the city began discussing replacing the arena. In May 2011, the city held a public referendum in which voters supported building new facilities to replace the Auditorium and Civic Center by a margin of 3 to 1.
Demolition began at the Bangor Auditorium and Civic Center on June 3, 2013, with the new arena completed.[4]
The new facility will be managed by Global Spectrum, a division of Comcast. On July 20, 2012, it was announced that Cross Insurance Agency had purchased naming rights to the arena (previously referred to only as "Bangor Arena") for $3 million.[5]
On July 31, 2013, the University of Maine announced that the Maine Black Bears basketball teams would play "over half" of their games at the new arena.[6]
See also
- Alfond Arena at the University of Maine in nearby Orono
References
- ↑ Neff, Andrew (August 1, 2012). "Bangor councilors see lower-than-expected total debt service cost for new arena". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved February 29, 2013.
- ↑ "Bangor Daily News". Bangor Daily News. June 4, 2013. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
- ↑ "Cross Insurance patriarch takes ceremonial seat at $65 million Bangor arena". Retrieved June 4, 2013.
- ↑ "Demolition begins at Bangor Auditorium". Bangor Daily News. June 3, 2013. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
- ↑ Neff, Andrew (July 20, 2012). "Cross Insurance buys naming rights for new Bangor arena, will pay $3 million over 15 years". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
- ↑ "UMaine basketball teams to play most games at Cross Insurance Center". Bangor Daily News. July 31, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
External links
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