“Don’t tell me, show me.”
That’s what the late Harold Alfond used to say, according to Greg Powell, the president and CEO of the Harold Alfond Foundation.
And as the University of Maine unveiled new $50 million renovations to the hockey arena that bears Alfond’s name, it did just that: It showed off the work.
UMaine held a grand opening ceremony on Saturday for several of its new athletics facilities. In addition to the hockey renovations at Alfond Arena and the Shawn Walsh Center for player development, the school has also added the New Balance Track and Field and Soccer Complex.
The Harold Alfond Foundation donated $170 million to UMaine’s athletic department for athletic facility upgrades, as part of a larger $320 million grant from the foundation to the UMaine System.
Saturday’s grand opening ceremony included multiple ribbon cuttings at the new facilities, along with a behind-the-scenes tour for fans to check out some of the new hockey updates.
Those updates include much larger locker rooms, a film room, player lounges with kitchenettes and study tables, along with conference rooms and a larger and better-equipped workout room.
The arena now sports a new high-ceiling entryway along with a larger Dexter Lounge and Shawn Walsh Center for player development. Fans will be treated to an expanded Bear Necessities merchandise facility, and the facility has more space honoring former teams and players from both the women’s and men’s teams who extended their careers beyond Maine to professional and Olympic hockey.
The updates also include a brand new concession stand inside the arena and a covered outdoor patio.
Season ticket holder Curtis Brooks was thrilled at the chance to get into the arena and see the updates alongside his son, Chance Brooks, and lifelong best friend, Bill Sawyer.
“Seeing all of this stuff is just mind-blowing,” Curtis Brooks said from the facility’s state-of-the-art sports medicine area.
The Alfond updates are a reflection of what this program has been built into over the years, Brooks said.
This is the first major upgrade to the 48-year-old Alfond Arena since 2011. The arena opened on Feb. 5, 1977.
The arena updates include 31,000 square feet of renovations and 21,000 square feet of additions, according to UMaine Athletics.
“It’s just incredible how beautiful this facility is,” Powell said. The foundation he leads has been front and center in making those upgrades possible along with footwear and apparel company New Balance.
“Harold loved hockey. He loved competition,” Powell said about Alfond. “And he loved the University of Maine.”
UMaine leaders were on hand for the celebration on Saturday, with President Joan Ferrini-Mundy thanking a long list of partners and donors who have made the facilities projects possible.
“It’s a great day to be a Black Bear,” Ferrini-Mundy said.
University of Maine System Chancellor Dannel Malloy said the administration has refocused efforts to invest in UMaine athletic facilities and support its student athletes.
And those student athletes seem thrilled with the updates, too.
“It’s unreal. It feels like the start of a whole new thing,” said men’s hockey captain Thomas Freel.
The senior wing thought the updates did an “awesome job” balancing new amenities with the longstanding history of the building and program.
That history includes two national championships under the late Shawn Walsh. The former head coach has a portrait featured prominently in the player development center that bears his name, and many fans stopped to take pictures or have a moment of quiet reflection by Walsh’s portrait.
“I think we’ve always had a huge home ice advantage here,” Freel said. “But even more so now with all of the facilities and amenities we have downstairs.”
Men’s hockey head coach Ben Barr, like Freel, said the new facilities will help with recruitment and benefit both players and fans alike.
“The facility is first-class, probably as nice as anything pro or NCAA-wise,” Barr said. “To have that up here is pretty cool.”
While some final work remains for the hockey arena, it will be ready for the women’s and men’s hockey home openers on Oct. 10, UMaine Athletic Director Jude Killy said.
“We’re thrilled to share our progress with you,” Killy said during Saturday’s on-ice ribbon cutting ceremony.
And the fans shared that enthusiasm.
“It’s beautiful, well done,” half-season ticket holder Mark Smedberg said during the tour.
He expects that more recruits will be convinced to come to Orono because of the $50 million upgrades.
“It’s a lot of money, but that’s part of athletics. It’s competitive,” Smedberg said. “And this will help a lot.”