Cross_Insurance_Center
Cross Insurance Center
Basketball arena in Bangor, Maine, U.S.
The Cross Insurance Center is a 5,800-seat multi-purpose arena in Bangor, Maine, United States. The arena holds 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.[1] It is the home of the basketball teams of the Maine Black Bears.
| Former names | Bangor Arena |
|---|---|
| Location | 515 Main Street Bangor, Maine |
| Coordinates | 44°47′21″N 68°46′43″W |
| Owner | City of Bangor |
| Operator | Spectra |
| Capacity | Seats: 5,800 (plus 1,500 retractable) Concerts: 8,500 Convention: 2,000[1] |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | August 4, 2011[2] |
| Opened | September 10, 2013 |
| Construction cost | $65 million[3] ($85 million in 2023 dollars[4]) |
| Architect | Sink Combs Dethlefs[5] WBRC Architects Engineers |
| Structural engineer | Martin/Martin, Inc.[6] |
| Services engineer | M–E Engineers, Inc.[6] |
| General contractor | Cianbro Corporation[5] |
| Tenants | |
| University of Maine Black Bears | |
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.[7]
The facility is managed by Spectra, 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.[8]
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.[9]
- Alfond Arena at the University of Maine in nearby Orono
- McCrea, Nick (June 4, 2013). "Cross Insurance Patriarch Takes Ceremonial Seat at $65 Million Bangor Arena". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
- Neff, Andrew (August 4, 2011). "Ground Broken for New Bangor Arena, Convention Center". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
- Neff, Andrew (August 1, 2012). "Bangor Councilors See Lower-Than-Expected Total Debt Service Cost for New Arena". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
- 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- Russell, Eric (June 24, 2010). "Order Given to Design, Price Bangor Arena". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
- "Award of Merit: Safety & Best Sports/Entertainment". Engineering News-Record. November 10, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
- "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.
- Mahoney, Larry (July 31, 2013). "UMaine Basketball Teams to Play Most Games at Cross Insurance Center". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved August 8, 2013.