 |
| Staff photo/Joseph Cyr NEW ARENA — A look inside the new Cross Insurance Center arena reveals how different it will be to watch tournament basketball games next year. This view shows the highest general admission seat in the arena. |
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
BANGOR — The final buzzer has sounded for basketball games at the Bangor Auditorium. And while some may feel sadness at the end of such an historic era, that sadness should melt away once they set foot inside the new Cross Insurance Center.
Opened in 1955, the Bangor Auditorium has served as the host to numerous basketball games, concerts and events in its nearly 50-year history. But time has taken its toll on the iconic “V-shaped” building that has hosted the Maine Principals’ Association basketball tournament for decades. A leaky roof, inconsistent heating system and poor handicapped accessibility were but a few of the problems plaguing the building.
Faced with high costs to renovate, the city of Bangor instead decided to pursue building an entirely new facility. Located directly in front of the Bangor Auditorium, the Cross Insurance Center is a state-of-the-art multi-purpose arena in Bangor that should be completed this fall, with an opening date in September.
Local media were granted permission during tournament week to tour the new facility. The new facility cost an estimated $65 million.
The old Auditorium had 5,948 seats for sporting events, with a maximum capacity of 6,800 for concerts. The new arena can hold up 7,200 for basketball games and 8,300 for concerts, along with additional banquet rooms capable of seating 1,750 and an 1,100-seat ballroom.
The Cross Insurance Center boasts 41,000 square feet of total exhibit space; 26,000 square feet for the arena area; and a 15,000 square foot ballroom. In addition, there are 18 meeting rooms, totally 21,199 square feet.
Bleacher seating will remain in the new arena, followed by a concourse level featuring theatre style seats with cup holders. Free wireless Internet (WiFi) will be available throughout the facility, as well as cutting edge audio/video and communications systems including video conferencing and theatrical lighting capabilities powerful enough to host the loudest rock concerts currently on tour.
Basketball players will have to get accustomed to playing on a larger court as the new floor will be 94-feet in length, which is about 10 feet more than they are currently used to.
Located above the concourse section are 12 club suites, which will only be accessed by those with special passes. Additionally, the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame will have a designated area for their displays.
Accessibility will be the name of the game in the new arena. The center features one of three escalators found in the city of Bangor, making it easier for patrons to access the second level or club suites.
“We have a lot of flexibility to have different shows in here,” said Pat Horne, director of corporate partnerships for Global Spectrum. “We are able to handle 125,000 pounds of sound and lights. Nobody is currently touring with that much, so we are looking ahead to what acts may have 20 years down the road.”
Larger events, such as Cirque du Soliel and Broadway plays, are among the types of acts the center hopes to attract to Bangor. Portable ice can also be brought in for skating shows.
“The key to a U-shaped arena is everyone can see the stage,” Horne said. “If you are familiar with Portland’s Cumberland County Civic Center, when they put a stage in, you lose that whole back side of seats. We don’t.”
