Alfond’s new seats won’t be in on time April finish expected

The new seating system for the University of Maine’s Alfond Arena, totaling 1,800 seats, won’t be in place this season, according to University of Maine Athletic Director Mike Ploszek.

However, there will be some bleacher seating available in those new sections for approximately 400 preferred donors for Maine’s Feb. 28-29 series against Providence College and for a Hockey East tournament quarterfinal game if Maine earns a home ice berth.

“We had problems with the fabrication and acquisition of the new seating system,” said Ploszek. “It has taken longer than we had planned.

“But we want these people who have given us (financial) gifts over the past year to come in and get a feel for the vantage point they’ll have next year,” added Ploszek. “We had expected to be able to put them into their new seats before the season is over and we want to hold to our promise.”

He said after the final home game, whether it be the regular-season finale or the Hockey East quarterfinal game, the bleacher seating will be removed and eventually replaced by the new seating system.

Ploszek expects that to occur sometime in April, when he anticipates the entire project being completed.

The Maine AD and other administration officials had hoped that the new seating system would be in place by Feb. 15.

Ploszek said he does expect the 11 luxury boxes to be completed by the Providence series and said nine of them have already been sold for $125,000 apiece. The $125,000 covers a 10-year lease.

Ploszek and athletic ticket manager Pam Rideout said current season ticket holders will be able to keep their seats for as long as they want.

There are more than 30 season ticket holders who have been displaced as a result of the new construction and Rideout said those people have been assigned seats for this year and will also be assigned seats for future seasons.

Season ticket holders who wish to change seats will have their names placed into a lottery this summer. They will be assigned new seats, but they won’t be able to pick those seats.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to take care of everybody,” said Rideout.