Memorial Gymnasium (University of Maine)

Memorial Gymnasium
The Pit
Full name	Memorial Gymnasium and Field House
Location	Orono, Maine
Built	1935
Capacity	1,135

Memorial Gym nicknamed "The Pit" is a 1,300-seat multi-purpose arena in Orono, Maine. It is home to the University of Maine Black Bears men's and women's basketball team. Maine will play 11 men's and women's basketball games during 2011-12 at Memorial Gym.^[1] The men’s team has held a total of eight games at Memorial Gym since 2003-04. The Gym was home to Black Bears Basketball from 1935-1980. before moving some games to Bangor Auditorium. Maine Athletic Director Steve Abbot said Among concerns about using “The Pit” is the potential for not being able to accommodate more than the estimated capacity crowd of 1,300. Abbott explained the games to be played in Memorial Gym will be either nonleague contests or weekday conference games, which tend to draw smaller crowds. New scoreboards and shot clocks also will be installed. Abbott said the upgrades are expected to cost $100,000, but UMaine will be able to use some of the equipment even after the renovation project is completed. Once the funding for the proposed project is in place, UMaine will begin retrofitting the building to make it the full-time home of Black Bear basketball. “Our goal in 2013 is to renovate ‘The Pit’ and have it be our primary home court,” Abbott said. “We want to start taking those steps to making it a reality.”^[2], to make in the full-time home of Black Bear basketball, replacing Alfond Arena.

References

1. ^ Warner, Pete (18 October 2011). "UMaine basketball teams to play 10 home games at Memorial Gym this season". Bangor Daily News. http://bangordailynews.com/2011/10/18/sports/umaine-basketball-teams-to-play-11-home-games-at-memorial-gym-this-season/?ref=relatedBox. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
2. ^ Mahoney, Larry (19 October 2011). "New Balance giving UMaine $5M gift for naming rights to field house, fitness center". Bangor Daily News. http://bangordailynews.com/2011/05/23/sports/new-balance-giving-umaine-5m-for-name-rights-to-field-house-fitness-center/?ref=relatedBox. Retrieved 22 October 2011.