Harold Alfond Sports Arena

Men's and Women's Ice Hockey

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 5,043 for ice hockey

In the fall of 2023, a new high-definition center hung display, additional LED end zone displays, and enlarged north LED ribbon boards were added to the area to showcase the Black Bears' action at a higher quality than ever before. Fans at center ice, in the seating bowl, and in the suite and student section levels can now enjoy more enhanced viewing opportunities, no matter the distance.
 
The upgrades' most exciting feature is the new 4mm LED Scoreboard, each side measuring 11.02 feet high by 18.9 feet wide. As a focal point of the arena, the new scoreboard makes the action on the ice look incredible.

In addition to the main center hung display, the two 6.3 feet high by 25.2 feet wide suspended end zone displays were upgraded to 6mm, and the existing north ribbon board display was expanded 160.93 feet wide for over 1 million pixels of crisp 6mm fascia content.

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 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, the UMaine Athletic Ticket Office; and Bear Necessities, the Athletic Department's official retail store for Black Bear apparel and other merchandise.

Alfond Arena also contains an athletic training room for student-athlete, a full fitness center for men's and women's ice hockey, 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.