New Balance Field House
Originally opened in 1926, the newly named New Balance Field House underwent a $6 million renovation project. The field house reopened in late January of 2014 for use by the University of Maine track and field team, as well as more than 500 students from 17 high schools in the Penobscot Valley Conference – Eastern Maine Indoor Track League. The project, part of a $15 million program which also included updates to Memorial Gym, was one of UMaine’s major initiatives under Pathway 5, Stewardship of Place: Restoring the Dream, of the Blue Sky Plan. Renovations to the Field House included numerous upgrades. Among the highlights:
- Newly surfaced track (shortened from 218 meters to 191 meters to meet NCAA requirements) with a fourth running lane and a second long jump/triple jump pit added
- New spectator area with bleachers
- New press/operations area for event management
- Permanent throwing circle, with a retractable throwing cage
- New sports netting system to enclose the entire infield
- UMaine-branded color scheme on walls, trusses and floor
