• Alfond Sports Arena and Shawn Walsh Hockey Center
  • Alfond Sports Arena and Shawn Walsh Hockey Center
  • Alfond Sports Arena and Shawn Walsh Hockey Center
  • Alfond Sports Arena and Shawn Walsh Hockey Center
  • Alfond Sports Arena and Shawn Walsh Hockey Center
  • Alfond Sports Arena and Shawn Walsh Hockey Center
  • Alfond Sports Arena and Shawn Walsh Hockey Center
  • Alfond Sports Arena and Shawn Walsh Hockey Center
  • Alfond Sports Arena and Shawn Walsh Hockey Center
  • Alfond Sports Arena and Shawn Walsh Hockey Center
  • Alfond Sports Arena and Shawn Walsh Hockey Center

Alfond Sports Arena and Shawn Walsh Hockey Center

Orono, ME

Location(s): Tunk Road

Client: University of Maine

Size: 13,000 SF

Design Consultant: Crawford Architects

Interior Branding/Signage/Wayfinding 49 Degrees

Contractor: PC Construction

The University of Maine is taking its renowned hockey programs to the next level with major upgrades to the Alfond Sports Arena and Shawn Walsh Hockey Center. The improvements are designed to reflect the excellence of the Black Bears programs, elevating the experience for both student-athletes and UMaine hockey fans.  

Designed in collaboration with Crawford Architects, the Alfond Sports Arena and Shawn Walsh Hockey Center will provide the Black Bear teams with improved spaces for player recruitment and development and while promoting health and wellness for student-athletes. The project is made possible by a transformational $320 million commitment from the Harold Alfond Foundation to the University of Maine System, which includes a $170 million investment in UMaine Athletics to fund its Athletics Facilities Master Plan.

The two hockey facilities will be connected by a new concourse entrance, featuring an origami roof structure that mimics the distinct profile of Alfond Arena. The main entry includes a vibrant plaza sporting the iconic UMaine Black Bear. As visitors enter the concourse, they are greeted with a display of the men’s and women’s hockey programs’ history and achievements.

New interior spaces include streamlined points of sale for tickets and concessions, a new area for the Bear Necessities team store, and the Dexter Lounge, a gathering space where student-athletes, staff, and donors can connect and celebrate the achievements of Maine Athletics. 

As part of the renovations, the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center is being upgraded to include state-of-the-art sports medicine spaces. The redesigned space will help encourage injury prevention and offer therapy treatment options such as hydrotherapy cold and hot tubs. Strength and conditioning spaces will be outfitted with new training equipment and dedicated nutrition areas. Other team space upgrades include staff offices, meeting rooms, locker rooms, a film room, and lounges for the players and the coaches.  

This upgraded facility positions the University of Maine to continue its legacy of athletic excellence, Black Bear pride, and community engagement.