The University of Maine and Maine Athletics are planning major renovations to Harold Alfond Sports Arena and the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center.
The men's and women's ice hockey teams will receive new locker rooms equipped with modern lighting and the latest technology to create one of the premier home locker room spaces in Hockey East. The programs will also benefit from a new film room equipped with seating for 42 individuals. Upgrades will also include improved branding and structure of the tunnel leading to the arena.
Connecting the two hockey facilities will be a new concourse entrance, featuring a modern origami building design to compliment the highly recognizable Alfond Arena profile. The spacious concourse will include renovated points of sale for tickets and concessions, as well as a new area for the Bear Necessities team store. A new Hockey Hall of Fame will celebrate and preserve the history of Maine Hockey.
The Shawn Walsh Hockey Center will be upgraded with state-of-the-art sports medicine and strength and conditioning spaces. New hydrotherapy cold and hot tubs as well as larger and more efficient areas for treatment and injury prevention will improve these areas. A newly designed space with upgraded training equipment and new nutrition areas will also be included in the renovations.
Funding is coming from a $320 million commitment from the Harold Alfond Foundation to the University of Maine System.
The pro soccer club representing New York City — New York City FC — this week announced they will have their own stadium in 2027, the NYC's ffirst-ever soccer-specific stadium.
The renderings of their future home at Willets Point in Queens, just across the street from Citi Field, show a unique main entrance called "The Cube."
The Cube vaults more than seven stories above street level, lined with 11,000 square feet of LED screens that will be customized for gameday programming as well as art displays and other sights year-round.
The venue’s capacity will be 25,000. Since the team's inception in 2015, the club has primarily played home games at Yankee Stadium.
More:
- A Greater Cincinnati high school held an official groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for its new $15 million sports complex. Lanni Family Stadium will be built behind Badin, a Catholic high school in Hamilton. It's part of a project that includes synthetic playing fields and new bleachers and team facilities.
- Carthage (Mo.) High School's baseball team will have a major upgrade with their new baseball field. The first phase, which will cost $1.2 million, is already underway. The new stadium will benefit the high school team and serve as a community hub for baseball, encouraging younger players to get involved in the sport.
The Daily Digs from Athletic Business' AB Today e-newsletter is a weekday spotlight on new or announced athletics facilities projects.
To submit a facility for consideration, send details to the editorial team at: [email protected].
To subscribe to the free daily e-newsletter offering the latest industry news, products and insights from — and written for — the athletics, fitness and recreation industries, see below on this page, or click here.
