The Alfond Arena is home to the University of Maine Black Bears ice hockey teams and has been declared one of the best environments to watch college hockey. This year, the arena is celebrating 50 years of being an iconic venue since it opened in 1977. Since then, the Harold Alfond Foundation has donated $320 million to the University of Maine System, and $50 million of that portion went toward renovating the Alfond Arena, changes that were completed Sept. 27, 2025. The added state-of-the-art facilities provide the student-athletes a first-class, modern experience. For the best fans in college hockey, it has an enhanced experience on game days, which only adds to the electric atmosphere.
The arena has a compact seating capacity of about 5,000 fans. Maine found a way to use this to its advantage by having one of the most intimidating home environments in college hockey. Rather than having a massive arena, passionate fans are close to the ice, creating an environment where the crowd can directly influence the energy of a game by having an intimate atmosphere. The compact seating helps fans feel connected to every save, hit and goal, which the players benefit from for fuel. The Alfond Arena has become much more than a venue to watch ice hockey; it is a gathering place for students, families, alumni and longtime fans to connect the different generations of the Black Bear community. Fans feel like they are a part of something bigger than themselves.
“I feel like everyone knows each other when they’re in here, even when we’re on the bench,” said head coach Ben Barr of the UMaine men’s ice hockey team. “A lot of people have been coming here for decades and it’s a really special thing.”
Another layer added to what makes the Alfond so different is the unique rituals like having the “Naked 5” run a lap around the arena whenever Maine scores a goal, or having the UMaine band perform in the boisterous student section overlooking the ice whenever a play is dead. This student section also gives Maine an edge when competing against an opponent because of the constant chants, cheers and excitement that spreads throughout the building from the opening faceoff to the final buzzer. This support can make a big difference, especially when the game is close because a loud student section can build momentum after a big save or crucial goal, creating a clear home-ice advantage.
“We definitely get a lift every time we come on the ice here,” said Barr. “It’s the best place to play in college hockey.”
The student section also represents the connection between the team and the wider university community because it is the students who help create the identity and traditions like “The Naked 5” that make attending a game at Alfond so memorable. Their passion reflects the pride they have for representing UMaine, and they make it known every time they fill the arena.
What defines the Alfond Arena is the connection between the building, the team and the small-town community who fill its seats. There is a mix of tradition, student energy and community pride that makes it more than an arena; it makes it a defining part of what it means to be a Black Bear.
