BANGOR, Maine — The new Cross Insurance Center won’t open until Labor Day weekend next year, but Bangor’s new $65 million arena and events center already has calendar dates reserved for events, concerts and shows.
“When we open, the building’s going to be busy,” said Doug Higgons, regional vice president for Global Spectrum, an international public assembly facilities management company hired by Bangor to manage the Cross Center. “We’ve had a lot of interest from concert promoters, meeting and event planners, and event organizers already.
“A lot of times, when we do a particular project like this, we have to get the word out ourselves, but the good news here is there’s been a lot of advance publicity and a lot of recognition already, even nationally.”
Higgons said that’s especially true on the entertainment level.
“I credit [promoter] Alex Gray and the folks at [national promotional and ticket sales agency] Live Nation for making Bangor an entertainment destination,” said Higgons, referring to the success Gray’s Waterfront Concerts has had the last three years attracting headliner acts to the Bangor Waterfront.
“When we pick up the phone and call people, we don’t have to explain where Bangor is and why it’s a place they can sell tickets.”
In addition, Front Row Marketing — an agency hired by Bangor to handle corporate sponsorships and other advertising and promotional deals — is engaged in talks with local and regional businesses, as well as national corporations. Front Row also handled naming rights for the arena.
Global Spectrum and Front Row are subsidiaries of Comcast-Spectacor, an international sports and entertainment provider.
Once the Cross Insurance Center opens, Global Spectrum’s local staff of 17 full-time employees will work in offices there, but until then, they’ll work out of temporary office space at or near Bass Park.
“We will literally start hiring and bringing staff on board this August,” Higgons said. “We already have a calendar for the center and we have dates on hold already. We’ll likely start announcing events the first part of 2013.”
In the meantime, Higgons says he’s having a lot of contact with event and trade show promoters.
“There will never be a moment that will cause any member of the public to regret what this council put in motion,” Higgons told Bangor City Council members Monday night at a special council meeting at City Hall. “We’re the newest, most exciting facility around New England, and we are very well-positioned for success.”
The Cross Insurance Center……(chuckle)
CIC arena
Sounds like “SICK” arena…makes me sick.
Why does the name bother you so much? You can call it whatever you desire. Amazing what some people complain about.
Well Said Kevin. We will have a top-notch arena, and it will be marketed to the tens of thousands who will enjoy this facility. There are a few who can’t take the success Bangor has earned, but thanks to Waterfront Concerts, Penn National, Global Spectrum, etc. – they will be only be dust blowing behind us. Get Ready Bangor, you have become that destination. Many thanks to the council who believed, Live Nation and WFC, and all of you who promote this great city. To promote is to put us in a brighter light. And people are attracted to light, as well as businesses. I for one have supported all that is bringing Bangor local and national attention. It’s going to be a great ride. And the naysayers can ride our dust trails, to put it lightly.
Just remember, when a few people put us down- they do nothing for our city. Forget them, and let’s move on!
Good point–would those complaining refuse to go to Boston and watch a Celtics game at the TD Bank Center?
Yep, this whole country is becoming one big corporate ad. Boston Garden? Now a bank. Foxborough? Razers. Bangor auditorium? Insurance.
I’ll buy you a diamond ring my friend,if it makes you feel all right.
But money can’t buy me love.
Wrigley Field? Gum.
Can’t they just call it the Cross Arena?
The old Garden was a sweaty nasty dump.No love lost there.Now if we only had a new Fenway.SIGH.
The TD Bank Center is a privately own Building.. it doesn’t belong to the city of Boston
Why was it named this, and when?
http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/07/20/news/bangor/cross-insurance-wins-naming-rights-for-new-bangor-arena/
Cross Insurance buys naming rights for new Bangor arena, will pay $3 million over 15 years
Thank you, I missed that one.
The new car smell is already wearing off.
How much is this company managing the Cross Insurance Center (“THE CIC”) costing per year.
1 millon to run the place maybe.. The Businesses make money while the taxpayer flips the bill. Yeh a real winner there. I think every business in the entertainment corridor should have their business and property taxes doubled to pay for all this corporate welfare. lets take them off the dole
So you would prefer that it remain empty 75% of the time and have the occasional Shrine Circus, Home Show, Garden Show, Boat Show, RV/Camper Show, State Fair, etc…?
Tournament…
You seem to forget that The Cross is a business and unlike many other government investments actually draws some revenue. Regardless if the new facility does lose money, nothing will lose more money than the old/current Bangor Auditorium.
My bet. This place is NOT going to loose money.
I hope it doesn’t. But if it does, it won’t bleed cash like the old dump has.
“Lose.”
You have done your research Cheesecake1955. Yes, the people that are investing in Bangor have also done their homework. Thank you. Penn National and the Hollywood Casino brand name is also a successful empire. Trust that the right people stand behind us now. I do.
They already admitted that they never expect ot break even on this place before they built it.. It was built to bring business to the Casino,the resturants and bars. Thats it the sole purpose to make the businesses money. thus “corporate welfare”
Who is “they” and where can I read this admission?
A million dollars a year, after overhead, workers comp, equipment, and benefits for employees…. that’s actually a pretty low payment. If each employee made a salary of only 30k a year, that’s half of that budget you’re complaining about. The other half would surely be eaten up by other overhead costs.
You lost! Get over it.
At least the Bangor officials and bureaucrats will be able to go there for free lunch every day…leave city hall at 11AM and return at 2PM…go home at 4PM. Great perks for this public servants.
I think you are confused greatly, but we welcome your opinion.
Anyone wanna make a bet that 90 percent of the staff will be from out of area, from global spectrum other sites
Yeah, because Mainers have done so well booking the Auditorium in the past…
Even if they bring employees “from away” those people will buy homes in the area, spend money in the area, and help our local economy.
Ummm – what are the names of the acts you’ve booked? Since you are approaching the press about this issue, I’m hoping that you have something new to tell us and that those acts are something different than the Shriner’s Circus, the Harlem Globetrotters and the Russian Horse show… All of whom were happy to play at the existing auditorium.
Read the article Bangorian. They’ll be working with Alex Gray and the Livenation. So it’ll expand on the concert venue.
There’s nothing that says that. All the Global Spectrum guy does is thank Gray for making Bangor a destination.
That said, this story should explain why names of specific performers and shows have not been released and tell us, at the very minimum, how many shows have been booked.
Waterfront Concerts has been the fuel, and Global Spectrum already has an engine. Alex and Live Nation are very much involved. It’s what you do for your city, makes that city brighter. Hope this makes a little more sense to you. Also, shows for the 2013 Waterfront Concert Series are already being discussed, but you will not hear about them until it is time. Have faith, please.
Doug Hagon was asked, but declined to reveal the exact number or nature of the acts and events that have been booked thus far. Perhaps always assuming questions weren’t asked isn’t the best course of action.
If he declined, then tell us that in the story. Readers should not be left asking questions.
“We’ll likely start announcing events the first part of 2013.”
That still doesn’t answer the question “Why” — as in why then and not now? “Why” not reveal the number of shows that have been booked so far? The reader is left to speculate. For all we know, the management company is just giving out the usual PR spiel of how great things are going to be.
Relax Ryan. We haven’t got all the walls all up, yet.
delete
2013, unless you talked to someone higher up. Interest and bookings are indeed in the works. Why wouldn’t there be? The interest in Bangor is real and viral. Is that public information yet? Nope, it doesn’t work that way. Don’t worry so much. You used to be a warrior, now you are a worrier. dkenzie, you rock however! Love your comments. A true veteran of the forum. Respect to you.
I am not saying its true or not, I do know she has been hired and started to work out of a local location that they do not specify. You could be right though.
Congrats to her! Awesome!
Two years ahead of time?
If the acts are booked, why not? And if not, why not explain? At the very least, the management should not have a problem telling us how many acts have been booked.
Ahh, now I get the Terence connection to this issue.
Bangorian, you make a big leap here expecting that the BDN actually has journalists, and some that have passed Journalism 101, working for them.
Understand that most items in the BDN are just reprints of press releases and wire service stories. To expect someone on the staff of BDN to actually answer such questions as Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How is asking an awful lot from a newspaper anymore.
You writers spend a lot of your hard-earned dough to read articles in this forum? It’s free for me… no tax money goes to it, either. So, I don’t complain, I appreciate what I can read for free. I also thought Mr. Neff’s column was as informative as could be expected at this early stage.
As far as reprints, the best papers in the country have used “reprints” from UPI, AP and other papers for eons. Lighten up.
I don’t understand. With all the newspapers available on line to read, since you hate the Bangor Daily so bad, why do you read it – just to have something to bad mouth?
Obviously – You, that’s “Who,” doesn’t know “What” is happening. But if you read on, you’ll notice “When” its going to happen, “Where” that will be, and “Why” it’s happening. Furthermore, “How” its happening, or, made possible through city efforts coupled with Mr. Gray’s successful Waterfront extravaganzas.
No promoter is going to list acts more than a year in advance of the staging. Things change. In show biz, especially.
The 5Ws were answered. The BDN has some fine reporters.
“No promoter is going to list acts more than a year in advance of the staging.”
Maybe so, but that’s no excuse for not telling us why, or why even the number of bookings can’t be released.
Good stuff Briney.
Praise be… The Cross insurance center…must be nice to pay to have your name put on a public building when you suction Maine consumers bank accounts dry. . So what’s gonna be next “The Marden turnpike”, The “Roxanne Quimby National Park”, Baxter State Park will be “Mama Baldacci’s State Park”, all Maine media will be known as “Pingree net”, Cumberland County civic center will be named “Maine Medical Center Center”. Maybe we should name all public places and roads after big banks, corporations and rich people. When I heard Cross Insurance Center I thought it was an insurance office building, sure doesn’t sound entertaining.
Anyone with a wee bit of common sense would not look at that building and think it was an insurance center because it is named Cross Insurance Center. You act as if selling the naming rights to a building is something new.
When I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s there were no “naming rights” and corporations had no place in public places owned by taxpayers. Everything has changed, now the bureaucrats are bought and paid for by the corporations, the wealthy and the “good old boys”. The people who paid for public buildings used to use names of heroes or other names of honorable people. I see no honor in Cross Insurance.
Well this is the year 2012, not 1950 or 1960. If you don’t like the name of the building, then don’t step foot inside it. Nobody is going to force you to do so. For you to get upset because you feel there is no honor is pretty damn petty.
I’m not stepping foot inside of it. My issue is the commercialization of public places. Government is supposed to be by the people for the people, not find a way to make money so you can pay the mayor or City councilors 100k a year. Fee for this and fee for that. You pay your taxes and then you get charged to use what you already paid for. Government is not business it is supposed to provide public service. Take a civics lesson. There is no honor when it’s all about money. If you do not see where this state and country is headed then you know nothing about how this country was originated.
Again, this is the year 2012 and when you start to realize that, you might change your way of thinking but I highly doubt you will. When someone such as yourself places this much passion into a name on a building they are truly stuck in their ways and are not going to change their mind.
(Applause to Kevin) Maybe we could get devon as the first comedy act of 2014. Just keep him talking and the laughter will be non-stop, sold out! Sorry Devon, I am sure you are a pretty decent guy, but this is not the 50’s anymore. Please give us some support.
I think maybe you can get your point across without being disrespectful. I’m not saying I am in agreement with any of you but for goodness sake show a bit of respect for wisdom and yes, the way things USED to be.
Disrespect is downing everything we accomplish in this city BEFORE giving it a chance. CasinosNo!, ArenasNo!, NoiseNo! NamingRightsNO! etc. are the only ones misleading the public. And the public didn’t buy it. Very intelligent people reside in Bangor and it makes me proud to live here. The way things USED to be wasn’t cutting it. We do welcome your opinion however. Thank you.
There will always be naysayers and crybabies like Dennis Bailey and his ilk.The challenge is to move forward despite their pettiness and ignorance.
Public buildings should have public names.
Terence, you are wrong. But you keep sticking up for your buds. At least you are a loyal friend, whoever you are. I hope to meet you one day.
And I do respect your opinion. Don’t get me wrong. This is a forum. Exactly what we are doing. Thank you.
Bravo Terence! I couldn’t have said it better!
It’s not about names…it is about co mingling government with corporations. I f you do not understand the principles of how government is supposed to work in this country, then you are in for a rude awakening down the road. But…he who laughs last laughs best and I will have the last laugh. Enjoy it while it lasts
First, Bangor doesn’t have this mythical mayor the Bangor Daily has brought to life from the early 1930s. Second, Bangor City Councilors don’t even make $5,000 per year.
Nowhere did his post say Bangor.
So why bring the subject up if it doesn’t apply to Bangor, which is the subject of this story?
Really how much do you think the Mayor makes from the city?
Considering there is no mayor, $0.
Chapter C, Article II, Section 2, of the city’s charter states: “Members of the City Council shall receive the sum of $2,000.00 per year, same payable quarterly, and the Chair of the City Council shall receive an additional $500.00 per year.”
really, he has the marketing contract for most of Bangors emenities. I bet the mayor gets around 1/4 millon a year in marketing and web site designs contracts.
Well since contracts with the city are a matter of public record why don’t you go ask city hall for copies of all contracts between the city and Sutherland Weston Marketing Communication. Then you could post actual facts instead of guessing.
The City Solicitor has already stated that there’s nothing wrong with that.
I’m sure you wouldn’t be whining though if your tax bill went up because of the maintenance of the city owned property right devonshire? (sarcasm intended) Like Kevin said it isn’t 1960 anymore and funding these public buildings has had to become creative in order to get things done. There are not many other cities of Bangor’s size that can boast of a facility like this.
It is because of the creativity that the city council planned in funding, naming and booking the center that in all likelihood Bangor taxpayers should NOT be impacted. It will also be professionally run with better and more frequent bookings. For the life of me, I can’t understand why people aren’t jumping for joy that this place is even happening at all let alone without major taxpayer money involved. Gawd…
God Bless you Kevin.
The kids are leaving Bangor to go to school and never returning, The ones that are staying are the ones hanging in the parks or bars.
the 30/40 somethings are raising their families. That leaves us baby boomers and we have seen it all
Well don’t count my daughter among the those “hanging in the parks or bars” or her boyfriend for that matter. She owns her own business and her boyfriend works for one of those “service companies” but makes more than minimum wage.
What are you missing in life? What do you want the government to hand to you? You sound very envious of other peoples success. Well guess what, you can be successful too…if you want to work at it.
well said again JD. The majority are making Bangor home. And they are professionals. :)
Your making our point coach err.. red. Young people of my generation left because there was nothing to do. Now with the help of more forward thinkers in city government and the new Cross Insurance Event Center… ahh say it with me know, maybe some young people will stick around.
thanks Steve63_10!
The first stadium the Patriots played in, called Schaeffer Stadium opened in 1971…named for a Providence beer company who bought the naming rights. Hardly a new concept.
And of course Wrigley Field in 1927. It was named after their owner, but still a major company that changed the name, originally it was Weeghman Park and then Cubs Park.
Good stuff Kevin. Someone with some common sense. It would take no common sense to realize a show like Tim Mcgraw was playing at an Insurance business center and not an arena. I think people have brains, and would quickly associate this place with entertainment just like the Staples Center, Fleet Center, TD Garden. This has been done over and over, and naming rights are common place today. Thanks for not living under a rock. Glad to have you as a citizen of this fine city.
Are you a rep for the CIC ? You seems to speak as though you are part of the process…if so can we ask you questions ? Like about the acts and cost of meeting room rental ?
I am only the voice of the majority, as the majority doesn’t feel a need to bark constantly like I do. The majority has spoken and very loud when needed, and that is why we have great companies like Global Spectrum, Penn National, etc. here doing business.
“The VOICE” has been copyrighted
You are a broken record and sound like a paid person. What majority told you to hang out here and say the same thing over and over without ever really saying anything but an advertisement. I happen to agree with the naming but you in no way speak for me, who appointed you to this post of speaking for the majority because I would never speak to naysayers like you. Did you learn anything in communications class ? Do you think you are changing minds with your approach ?
Are you paranoid or something? Maybe just thirsty. Try the refreshing new Pepsi Next! http://www.pepsi.com
Just like Staples Center is not Staples office products center, Fleet center is not Fleet banking center, TD Garden is not TD Garden banking center. Cross Center would be more in line with naming an event venue rather than a business corporate office. Just an observation.
I understand what you are saying. It’s just their business name, and to call it just Cross center would be to waste $3million. Their business is Cross Insurance and that is the part some have a problem with. It could have been Enterprise Rental Center, Day’s Sporting Goods Center, Walmart Center, McDonalds Center and probably still would have worked. I was actually hoping for Stephen King’s Under the Dome Center. he he. I think some people have a problem with the word ‘Center’ rather than Insurance. Would the Cross Insurance Arena have been better? Probably, but this is more than just an arena. As the facility gains popularity, I think that the name will adjust. (Cross Arena, Cross Center) If you notice the sign that will be put on the new arena, it has ‘Cross’ and ‘Center’ in large words, and ‘Insurance’ is small. So…
Who owns TD Gardens Building?
Delaware North Company
so a private company owns and sells the naming rights to TD North?
Yup!
and it is not a City of Boston-owned building?
No it is not a City of Boston owned building.
The financing primarily from bank financing, Delaware North (25%), City bonds and land (10%) and 2% ticket surcharge.
http://basketball.ballparks.com/NBA/BostonCeltics/index.htm
Once there was this concert at the Wang Center, but I dint go cuz I was ascared.
People not from the area are likely to think that it is the headquarters for the company. For example, someone from Massachusetts coming for a lecture in the civic center portion of the building. These types of things don’t have tickets and material sent out won’t have a photo of the building on it.
The first stadium the Patriots played in, called Schaeffer Stadium opened in 1971…named for a Providence beer company who bought the naming rights. Hardly a new concept.
Edit…meant for devonshire11 sorry.
So when people go to Boston and they see the TD Garden, do you think thye believe there are a bunch of flowers inside the building?
No, because a “garden” is “a large hall for public entertainment” (Merriam-Webster).
I highly doubt that is going to happen. One would have to be pretty dense to look at that building and think it is a company headquarters.
How could they be looking at the building if they haven’t been here yet? Not everyone does detective work on the building their conference is going to be in.
For heavens sake don’t use any Native American names!
If you are a taxpayer in Bangor I would think you would be happy that the city is doing all it can to help offset the operating cost of “the Cross” to the city.
I am not a taxpayer in Bangor. However, I have seen city councils convince the voters that they are doing the right thing by the taxpayer, once this is in operation you will find out that it will cost you more than they led you to believe.
The city is being as proactive as they can to keep the cost down. Naming rights, luxury suites, etc… They hired a professional management team which is a huge improvement over the city running the bookings and trying to fill the open dates. The city NEVER had the contacts that a professional group like Global Spectrum or Alex Gray has.
The old Auditorium and Civic Center served Bangor and the region well. But old inefficient heating and cooling (was there a cooling side of the HVAC?) plant needed to be replaced. The roof (what rocket scientist designed and installed a “V” roof anyway?) leaked, badly and was repaired multiple times. The acoustics? What acoustics? The seats? Well maybe the one “good” thing about the auditorium were the seats. Every time you sat in one you were reminded you needed to go on a diet!
Bangor has become a destination because of Hollywood Casino, Waterfront Concert Series, the American Folk Festival, Kahbang, etc….It will only get better with “the Cross”. This is one of the keys to economic development….you need to have people want to come to an area and one way is a diverse nightlife and a variety of things to do. Bangor’s future is bright and we should be thanking the people willing to make that happen.
Your last sentence is the best. We should be thanking the people willing to make that happen. Is that the taxpayers of Bangor or the people who are spending the taxpayers of Bangor revenue streams. I saw a better nickname for the arena. “The CIC”
Who are the ones taking the risks at Hollywood Casino?
Who are the ones taking the risk at the Waterfront Concert Series?
Where is the money coming from to construct “the Cross”?
The revenue stream coming out of the casino it the taxpayers money, nobody voted to allocate it to “The CIC”
Waterfront series cost the city money. The city hasn’t made any money nor have they broke even. Yet they want to build a permenant structure for concerts.
Do you know who gets the benifit of the city bonding all that money. The Bars and resturants in downtown Bangor and the Casino. So all the money the Casino pays the host city goes into “The CIC” which in turn draws people to the Casino.
So basicly it is corporate welfare. the taxpayer gets nothing in return.
All this money being spent is for a few Bangor businesses to prosper and pay their employees minimum wage.
It is really unbelievable that the people today believe entertainment is the industry of the future. allowing people to drink till drunk outside a downtown bar is where the future is. What a sad state of affairs.
Factories where people earn money who don’t have the tech skills for high end jobs is what is needed to give people their pride back. Look at detriot in ruins because they neglected to take care of their factories and put people into the welfare role.. But one thing for sure you can be entertained in Detroit.
“The revenue stream coming out of the casino it the taxpayers money, nobody voted to allocate it to “The CIC””
Interesting comment. The City Council voted to allocate the money to pay for the arena. It was an open, public meeting. Then the city voted to build the arena with the money allocated from Hollywood Casino. Did the city float bonds to pay the upfront cost? Yes they did and they are paying it back with the money the city receives from Hollywood Slots.
~~~~~
“Waterfront series cost the city money. The city hasn’t made any money nor have they broke even.”
Care to back up that comment with documentation? The city receives $1.50 (up from $1.00) per ticker sold. I attended two concerts last year that generated somewhere between $15,000.00 to $20,000.00 (those same ticket sales this year would have generate between $22,500.00 to $30,000.00) to the cities coffers. Low end yearly estimates revenue in $90,000.00. High end $120,000.00 for last year.
~~~~~
“Yet they want to build a permenant structure for concerts.”
It certainly would be nice.
~~~~~
“Do you know who gets the benifit of the city bonding all
that money. The Bars and resturants in downtown Bangor and the Casino.”
I do believe you may have forgotten a few beneficiaries. How about the hotels and campgrounds? How about the restaurants outside the downtown? How about the gas stations and convenience stores? How about the shops and stores in the area? How about the people that work at theses places? How about the surrounding cities and towns?
~~~~~
“So all the money the Casino pays the host city goes into “The CIC” which in turn draws people to the Casino.”
And draws people to Bangor that spend $$$$. I know prior to the two concerts my wife and I went to last year we dropped $20-30 before and another $50-60 after that we would not have spent if we had not been going to the concerts.
~~~~~
“So basicly it is corporate welfare. the taxpayer gets nothing in return.”
If it makes you feel good to call it “corporate welfare” feel free. What you fail to realize is that the WFC series and “the Cross” will bring people, events and money to Bangor. This money could go elsewhere…Portland, Manchester, Boston but it isn’t. It’s coming to Bangor. That helps pay for all the things a city needs. Why do you think three (3) new hotels have popped up on Hogan Road in the past 2-4 years? Do you think they just thought “gee nothing is going on in Bangor so let’s build a new three story hotel and lose money on it”.
~~~~~
“All this money being spent is for a few Bangor businesses to prosper and pay their employees minimum wage.”
Cry me a river. Maybe you should change your screen name to “pushtheBLUEbutton”. Corporate welfare, minimum wage jobs, the 99%, Occupy Bangor…what risks have you taken in life? What have you done to bring people and job to Bangor?
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“It is really unbelievable that the people today believe entertainment is the industry of the future. allowing people to drink till drunk outside a downtown bar is where the future is. What a sad state of affairs.”
No entertainment is not the “industry of the future” but it is part of the future. If you are looking to build something and you want to attract the best workers would you plant a new business in Millinocket (no offense intended…for illustration only) where there is nothing to do for the top notch employees you are trying to hire or would you plant that business in say Portland that has something for your employees and their families to do?
~~~~~
“Factories where people earn money who don’t have the tech skills for high end jobs is what is needed to give people their pride back.”
Pride is something internal. It cannot be given based on a job. I know plenty of people that hold those “minimum wage jobs” you mention above that have been in those jobs for 4 and 5 years and are very happy in what they do. Go out to the Ninety-Nine and most of there employees have been there since it opened. They are proud of the job they do and like where they work.
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“Look at detriot in ruins because they neglected to take care of their factories and put people into the welfare role.. But one thing for sure you can be entertained in Detroit.”
The reasons for Detroit’s demise are way to complicated to list here. It has more to do with building what people want and not what you think they want.
I think you are making push’s point quite well here. None of what you said is a City responsibility. Those are all corporate benefits and those making these decisions are benefiting because of their offices in some cases. The public is noticing and is complaining about it.
Who is “benefiting because of their offices in some cases” lets? Do you have proof that you can point to? Do you have documents to support that allegation?
Well in the case of the new arena is most certainly IS a city
responsibility. It is owned by the city and they made the very sensible
decision to hire an outside company to manage the bookings and use. That
was the best move the city could do.
Would you like to know what is so funny about this whole arena process lets? It’s this….people have been clamoring for a new, modern facility. The city came up with a design and modified the design to fit a budget. The proposed building was put out to a city wide referendum and it passed overwhelmingly too. Then to offset the cost the city decided to sell the naming rights and a company purchased the rights for $3,000,000.00. The city has done everything to insure that the project is coming in on time and under budget. The city is doing everything it can do to insure this project is a success and people are still not happy. What do you want lets? Really lets be honest for once and tell us what you want.
All great points JD. It amazes me that there a so many ill-informed and completely ignorant ( of what goes on in other cities) posters here. All they do is complain and whine about taxes. In the same breath, they complain about measures to keep the tax burden low (naming rights).
I realize some of the posters here are from the arena no folks. Some thinly veiled screen names (coach comes to mind with his miserable attitude toward the new building) cannot hide the fact that positive change is coming and they are miserable about it. I would like to commend the city council and other supporters of this project including the Cross family for having the political and financial will to complete it.
I have made many trips to Bangor over the last few months and each time I drop by and am very proud of what they have done. I find the building to be very attractive. I honestly can’t wait for it to open. I’m sure I speak for many, however for the majority of dim-witted posters here their misery is only exceeded by their lack of worldliness and knowledge of what goes on in thriving cities. Small, medium or large.
Great stuff JD. Well Said.
You are a funny man!
Well Said jd200- you get it. Thank you.
The “V” shape of the Auditorium’s roof has had nothing to do with the leaks. The leaks have been caused by condensation build-up between the roof and the ceiling, with the outside air colder than the inside air.
The “V” eliminated 235,000 cubic feet from needing to be heated — it saved the city lots of money in heating costs.
“The “V” eliminated 235,000 cubic feet from needing to be heated — it saved the city lots of money in heating costs.”
Maybe in the 1950s and 1960s it saved the city lots of money. But when the energy crisis hit in the mid 1970s and oil went through the roof and the city continued to use the same heating plant it didn’t save the city anything.
Um, the heating costs would have been more, as an additional 235,000 cubic feet of space would have needed to have been heated.
Ryan my point was really simple. Bangor made no improvements to keep the heating plant up to date. So regardless of the shape of the roof without improvement to the heating plant what was once efficient became grossly inefficient.
The “it” in your post was predicated on the roof’s shape.
Cry cry cry me a river
I just love irritating people!
You are very good at what you do, and you give the forum balance. Thank you.
I have to agree about the name of the event center. I would have been fine with Cross Event Center or something of that nature, but to put the word “Insurance” in there was a turn-off for me. For tourists and others coming through Main Street who aren’t familiar with this area, the word “Insurance” is misleading. Plus, I’m never impressed with anyone who feels the need to toot their own horn. The owners of Cross Insurance Agency may be good people, but this struck me as egotistical and tacky.
Cross Insurance is paying $3 million for the naming rights to the building. For them it is a form of advertising. Had you wanted to come up with the same amount I am sure you could have had a say in the naming.
Lose that big chip off your shoulder. It’s just a simple matter of opinion.
When will Anne Murray be performing and some bands that haven’t been popular for 30+ years?
don’t worry, there will be some unpopular bands. The only ones who will do such a small venue
Geez reading these posts it’s like an old dog that’s been kicked so much you all don’t know anything but down. I’m going to a show at cross. The cross center. I doubt insurance will stick with the general public but the reality why would we care? Bangor future looks bright. The only problem I see is on the streets. These people in their late teens 20’s and 30’s drinking and drugging and fighting. These are not the people we want visitors to encounter and have as the impression of those who live here. Maybe if the BDN would stop putting their criminal faces in front of us all the time that might help lessen their visibility.
Thanks for staying positive purebredmutt. The problem on the streets is common everyday in vibrant cities, it has nothing to do with Bangor’s success. It’s a matter of education. Go to any city and you will see the same. If Bangor is to be a role model, it will have to be taken up in a different forum nationally. This is about Bangor’s future, and changing things. Those changes are in effect. The population will always have different levels. Why is it nobody talks about the well-educated youth that are not on the streets. They are in the majority. Thanks for your opinion.
BDN needs to report the facts. Just the facts.
They should have called it the sour grapes arena…
My major problem with the arena is that it is horribly ugly. (I know that that is incredibly subjective) It was such a missed opportunity architecturally and civicly. The three buildings in that area, the new and old arenas and the casino, have to be three of the worst major buildings in New England. The new arena and casino (minus the lack of window in the casino) look exactly like office buildings that could have built anywhere. There is absolutely no sense of space or context with any of those buildings. That whole area, which is just a very short walk out of downtown, seems to turn it’s back on the river instead of embracing it and making it a place where people would actually want to go. It’s really too bad.
I feel bad for Paul having to stand there among these buildings, who now instead of looking over the water, stares at a parking garage, a very average parking garage.
Designing and building “pretty buildings” costs much more money. Money that Bangor tax payers didn’t want to spend.
No, not at all actually. It’s the architects job to design within a given budget. I know that me calling them ugly is subjective and completely my opinion, and I’m wasn’t exactly expecting the greatest thing ever created by man, but somewhere in between would have nice.
Wrong. Architects are forces to compromise on designs. Clients come up with a list of things they would like in a building. Seating capacity, number of vendors, floor space, parking are all thing to taken into consideration. All of that costs money so the fit and finish is often at the bottom of the list.
I am sure with the given budget they could have built an amazing looking build that held 50 people and had no running water.
I find these buildings very beautiful and modern looking. Matter of opinion I guess.
Saying the buildings look like office space is kind. I have thought Hollywood Slots looked like a penitentiary since it was built. And soon, there will be an oversized “watchtower” across the street. It doesn’t look inviting to me either, or that anyone put much thought into the site, other than proximity to Bass Park and Hollywood Slots. I really miss the openness of the park atmosphere, and I miss the sounds of skateboarders at play. Green space is always what people talk on and on about but when it comes to money-making, that concept seems to go right out the window, have you noticed?
Casinos are purposely built without windows. The owners do not want any concept of time to influence play. I doubt you will even find a clock on the wall inside any casino in the country.
When it is completely finished and the old BA is demolished, you may like it better. It is a cramped constrution site right now. Give it a chance.
Bunyan was looking at a gasoline station and a hotel for a long time…
“The CIC Arena”
The crosses are religous people, they own lambs book store on stilwater ave. I don’t believe that they want it called the cross
Well guess what…people will call it what they want to call it.
I will start calling it Cross Arena, starting now.
I still call the Collins Center for the Arts the Maine Center for the Arts. I will probably call this “the Cross” or “Cross Arena”. Both work.
People will generally shorten the name. Cross Arena sounds good.
To be honest I almost passed up this article because of the name/header. I really thought it was about an insurance complex that bragging about which companies were going to be housed in the building. One question: How are you going to market something when the locals don’t even know what or where the heck it is? I can hear how that goes…..” Me: Hey, Meet me at Cross Insurance. You: Err, what the hell for? Me: F*ck it, just meet me at the Raceway. You: Ok, be there in 10″
From the amount my homeowners’ insurance premium went up this year, I’d say I must own part of the name!
Have you ever filed a claim?
why was it not put to a vote for the name it sounds stupid—-after all the people r paying for it
Do I understand correctly that this new building cannot support a hockey rink? If so, what a slap in the face for the UMaine Black Bears and any AHL team that might otherwise have relocated there.
Any musical acts that may wish to go there will clog the summer months, leaving the place relatively quiet between Labor Day and Memorial Day.
UMaine has said they don’t intend to use the facility, sadly. The new arena will have the ability to have ice at a future date but will not have permanent ice subsurface. The floor will be large enough for a regulation hockey rink however. I don’t believe you will see an AHL team in Bangor but perhaps a Quebec Major-Junior League team down the road. It would be great to have pro sports back in Bangor.
Sure would Steve63_10. Also, any show that plays the TD Garden can play this arena. That is awesome.
No AHL team would ever consider coming to Bangor. The market is too small, and UMaine hockey is enormously popular.
The floor is large enough to accommodate a regulation size hockey rink. However, the city, in its infinite wisdom, said “no” to having ice. (Did you know that the Bangor Auditorium did have ice when it opened?)
Even if the arena were converted so it could make its own ice, the capacity of 5,800 would go down for hockey. That’s because a lot of seats are going to be in a large section of telescoping seats on the south end of the floor. To have hockey would require retracting those seats so the full 200-f00t length of the “rink” area could be used.
It is likely that the organizations who have made early bookings have requested (or required) that there be no announcements until they decide to release the info.
No need to respond to me anymore on this. I am finished with it. We can clearly see what the issues are on this and other issues within the City. Public buildings named for private enterprise is wrong. Advantages given to corporations over hard-working taxpayers is wrong. Those are my opinions and you are welcome to your own. Go out and have a great day in the City of Bangor where we ALL live together, whether you like some of us or not.
That was respectful. (applause). We do welcome your opinion letsbbehonest- thanks for battling with us. Yes, at the end of the day, we are all Bangorians. Well said.
When the curtain rises next year, let’s hope we see a variety of entertainment unmatched anywhere in the state.
“The Old Barn” as it was affectionately known – the $1.4 million dollar city worrisome council gamble – sported an amazing full variety of events over its 57 years as Bangor’s major entertainment mecca, packing in thousands of people. Its attractions covered a whole spectrum of entertainment aimed for the whole family – kids to oldsters. The events were either signed by the auditorium, or, presented by outside promoters.
Basketball, ice shows, circuses, theatrical stagings, Pageants, rock concerts, musical presentations featuring the finest military and Jazz bands in the world, The Lipizzaner Stallions, pet shows. Trade shows galore. Boating, Outdoor-Camping, Gun, Food, and much more.
Discontent over the winged shaped roof, drew dozens of unsavory comments. Pouters overlooking the fact that Bangor Architect Eaton Tarbell was hired to build a basketball court primarily to host Eastern Maine basketball tournaments. and pack in the crowds. Tarbell’s appeal to extend the floor space to accommodate professional ice skating, was killed without a whimper by a frugal, or tight wad council, pledged to stick to its daring budget of $1.4 million, and not one penny more. Some ice shows were performed before the ice maker went on the blink.
No sooner did the doors swing open, the city realized there was more to attract crowds than simply basketball. Legendary singing cowboy Gene Autry was one of the first attempts of the council at show biz. Autry didn’t disappoint them. He packed the house from floor to ceiling. There were many more beautiful shows, featuring many top drawer acts. Variety was, and is the key.
The “V” or winged shaped roof was never considered as a stay within budget option. Both wings stretching up the sky on each side of the floor so that hundreds could be crammed into the belly of the “old barn.” A dome roof obviously would have looked better-depending on what you prefer – but, would obviously have been more costly. Plugging leaks to stop the rain dripping on the floor and performers became tradition. Famed Country and Western star Kenny Rogers made headlines when a dribble hit an off chord, and he vowed never to play Bangor again. But, I believe once he dried out, he came back.
As one who attended many shows at the “Old Barn” from Day One, I hope the new facility is able to keep the doors open and attract thousands to a wide range of entertainment which appeal to an equally diverse range of interests. Remember, the old place served us well, even it never did show a profit. It is simply amazing what was presented under that “V” shaped roof.
Great stuff Briney. Good read. We will miss the old flying V. When I was a little child, I always thought it could take off and fly.