UMaine adding skyboxes Alfond Arena getting 6 new premium seating areas

Construction will begin in the next few weeks on the six new skyboxes at the University of Maine’s Alfond Arena.

They will be built underneath the 13 skyboxes located above the goal at the south end of the arena. The current skyboxes were constructed in 1992, ’94, and ’98.

University of Maine athletic director Blake James said the new skyboxes will vary in size, ranging from nine to 18 seats.

A 12-seat skybox will cost approximately $26,500 per year and the lease is for five years, according to James. Prices for the others will vary according to seating capacity.

They are expected to be completed in time for the Oct. 13 home opener against Bemidji State (Minn.), he said.

James added that the current skyboxes have the same price tag.

Their original cost was $125,000 for a 10-year lease.

Approximately 100 seats will be lost to the new skyboxes, but James said the season ticket holders who own seats there will be “provided an opportunity to purchase the same number of seats in another part of the arena, based on availability.”

He said he is excited about the new skyboxes and said they will help the hockey and basketball programs compete against schools in their respective leagues.

Several schools have added new facilities since the Alfond Arena was built in 1976.

For example, just among the seven original Hockey East schools, New Hampshire, Boston College, UMass Lowell, and Boston University are playing in facilities that have been constructed since 1987.

And the University of Massachusetts’ Mullins Center was completed in 1993. The Minutemen didn’t join Hockey East until the 1994-95 season.

“I think it’s great. It will create new revenue for our [athletic] program and the investment in the program will allow us to continue to have success,” said James. “They will generate $150,000 per year.”

He said three of the six new skyboxes have already been contracted but the other three are available.

James said those interested in purchasing a skybox can contact Joe Roberts, the athletic development director, at 581-1057.

“It’s a great development for our program,” said Maine hockey coach Tim Whitehead. “There’s a lot of demand for seats, including priority seating. These are a great addition.”

The revenue will go to the overall athletic program, not the hockey program, but Whitehead said, “any time we can help the athletic program, we help ourselves. Everybody wins.”

He said they originally explored putting the new skyboxes above the existing ones, but it wasn’t structurally feasible.

“And these skybox seats are actually better than if they had built them above the current ones. They’re going to be awesome,” said Whitehead.

The Maine coach said they will also contribute to the home ice advantage and the “great atmosphere and uniqueness of our building.

“When you put six new skyboxes into an already packed arena, it creates more of a feeling for opposing teams that they’re up against a pretty serious crowd,” said Whitehead.