Tue March 02, 2021 - Northeast Edition
Penobscot Bay Pilot
A rendering on plans to update the Alfond Pavillion. (University of Maine rendering)
The University of Maine unveiled its transformative $110 million athletic facilities master plan in February, due to the generosity of the late businessman Harold Alfond.
The initiative honors Alfond s legacy of support for Maine education and athletics by providing modern facilities for all 17 varsity programs at the state s only Division 1 athletic program and improving the overall UMaine student experience.
In October, the Harold Alfond Foundation announced an historic $500 million investment in Maine and its people. The University of Maine System is to receive $240 million over 10 to 12 years, including $90 million in support for UMaine s $110 million Athletics Facilities Master Plan, according to a recent news release.
UMaine will become one of the few colleges with a 300-meter track
In its master plan to upgrade athletic facilities, UMaine opted to discard its outdoor 400-meter track in favor of a shorter indoor track.
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The University of Maine plans for a indoor “Speed Dome” that will include an artificial turf football field and a six-lane, 300-meter track.
University of Maine rendering
Despite the absence of an outdoor track in the University of Maine’s $110 million master plan for upgrading facilities, university officials say the future of the men’s and women’s track program is secure.
“If we’re thinking about canceling the track program, why did we add a track?” asked Ken Ralph, the UMaine athletic director.
Wed, 02/17/2021 - 2:30pm
A rendering on plans to update the Alfond Pavilion. (Courtesy University of Maine)
ORONO The University of Maine has unveiled its transformative $110 million athletic facilities master plan, an initiative honoring Harold Alfond’s legacy of support for Maine education and athletics by providing modern facilities for all 17 varsity programs at Maine’s only Division I athletic program, and improving the overall UMaine student experience.
In October, the Harold Alfond Foundation announced an historic $500 million investment in Maine and its people. The University of Maine System is to receive $240 million over 10-12 years, including $90 million in support for UMaine’s $110 million Athletics Facilities Master Plan, according to a news release.
UMaine Rolls Out $110-Million Athletic Facilities Plan You can view the plan s state-of-the-art renderings, here.
The University of Maine has unveiled it s $110-million master plan to provide modern facilities for all 17 varsity programs.
In October, the school received $90-million in funding from the Harold Alfond Foundation as part of a $240-million investment in the University of Maine System. We are going to build outstanding athletic facilities to support our Black Bear athletes and students and youth from all over the state, said UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy. For many years our athletes have been performing in outdated and even crumbling, cramped facilities. Thanks to the generosity of the Alfond Foundation and support from university leadership, we will be able to provide the quality of facilities necessary for our Black Bears to compete on a national level, said UMaine Director of Athletics Ken Ralph.