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

Following a successful first season of operation for the "Kids Zone," presented by Hannaford, the Black Bears have expanded the area with inclusion of additional inflatable games, new experiences including face painting, balloon animals, and autograph sessions, along with added lawn games for the 2024 season.

The enhanced beer garden has been relocated to the north end zone. This new location will provide fans with a more spacious area for fans to enjoy the experience inside the parameters of the garden while also increasing ADA accessibility. The beer garden will feature a covered tent, various upgraded seating options, and great views of the action on Morse Field. The beer garden will be open 90 minutes prior to kickoff for all ticket holders, ages 21+, as space permits. 

Maine's VIP and corporate sponsor tents have been relocated to the south end zone and positioned such as to provide fans optimal visibility of the game action.

To further enhance the fan experience and ease of operation for visitors to the stadium, all ticket operations on gameday will function out of the Alfond Stadium box office. The Alfond Stadium box office is located at the base of the main grandstand on Tunk road.

Improved audio and visual elements will further enhance the experience of attending a game at Alfond Stadium while new branding, celebrating Maine Football's history and the Maine Athletic Department's newly launched mission, vision, and values, will be prominently displayed inside the stadium. New stadium lighting has been installed and will help Morse Field glow for the Friday Night Lights opener against Colgate.

The Black Bears will open the 2024 season on Friday, Aug. 30 when they host Colgate at 7 p.m. Season and single game tickets for the upcoming campaign are on sale now and can be purchased online at GoBlackBears.com/tickets, by phone at 207-581-BEAR, or in-person at the Alfond Arena box office during regular hours of operation. Students with a valid MaineCard may receive one free ticket to each game. Students may pick up their tickets on gameday at the student entrance to Alfond Stadium, located on the southeast side of the stadium near Mahaney Diamond.

-UMaine-