ORONO, Maine – Maine Athletics has announced enhancements to the gameday experience at Harold Alfond Sports Arena and Harold Alfond Stadium for fall 2024.

In addition to the renovation plans for the Harold Alfond Sports Arena and Shawn Walsh Hockey Center, which will include greater ADA accessibility,Maine Athletics will add improved student ticketing procedures for football and ice hockey, a new arena lighting system and will pilot an outdoor beer garden for Alfond Arena and an upgraded beer garden at Alfond Stadium. Maine Athletics will also continue to consider options for the in-venue fan experience, as well as parking and traffic flow procedures.

"We are pleased to look at ways that we can enhance the gameday experience for our fans," said Jude Killy, University of Maine Director of Athletics. "While there certainly have been upgrades over the past few years, we will continue to assess future possibilities that will help create a great game day atmosphere for our fans and give our student-athletes and coaches a true home advantage."

The beer garden will be open to all ticket holders ages 21+ as space permits. Details on the ice hockey beer garden, along with the other fan experience improvements at both venues, will be announced this summer.

These new enhancements are in addition to the upgrades completed in fall 2023 at Alfond Stadium, including a new "Kids Zone," presented by Hannaford, complete with bounce houses, face painting, poster making stations and lawn games. Other upgrades included an expanded tailgating experience and additional food service options in and around the grandstands. A new video board, LED sideline tables and a state-of-the-art sound system were installed in Memorial Gym. Alfond Arena enhancements for 2023-24 included the installation of a high-definition center-hung video board, additional LED end zone displays, enlarged north LED ribbon board and a state-of-the-art sound system. 

-UMaine-