Whittemore Center

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Whittemore Center Arena | nickname = Whit


location = Durham, New Hampshire
broke_ground =
opened = November 1995
closed =
demolished =
owner = University of New Hampshire
operator = University of New Hampshire| surface = 200x100 ft (hockey)
construction_cost= $30 million
architect =
former_names = | tenants = UNH Men's Hockey
UNH Women's Hockey
seating_capacity = 6,501 (hockey and basketball)
7,200 (concerts)

Whittemore Center Arena or Whit is a multi-purpose arena in Durham, New Hampshire on the campus of the University of New Hampshire. It was built for $30 million and opened in November 1995. [cite web | title=Whittemore Center Arena Promoter Guide | url=http://whittemorecenter.com/pdf/Whittemore_Center%20Arena_Promoter_Guide.pdf| accessdate=2008-01-11] It was dedicated to Frederick B. Whittemore and his family on May 5, 1996. [cite web | title=Whittemore Center Backstage | url= http://www.whittemorecenter.com/backstage/| accessdate=2008-01-11] It is adjacent to its predecessor, the Snively Arena, which is still standing and is used as a recreation facility. It is also adjacent to Durham's Amtrak station, and it is across the street from Cowell Stadium.

Through the end of the 2006-2007 academic year, the arena is managed by Global Spectrum. The Whit can seat 6,501 for hockey and basketball games, and 7,200 for concerts and similar events. It is home to the University of New Hampshire Wildcats ice hockey teams. The hockey rink has a full-sized Olympic-sized sheet of ice. The lobby is decorated with heroic portraits of past men's and women's All American hockey players.

The basketball teams (which currently draw roughly 1,000 fans per game on the average) normally play across the street at the old Lundholm Gymnasium, which is attached to Cowell Stadium. However, there are plans to move the men's and women's programs to the Whittemore Center full-time at some point in the future. A few home basketball games have already been held there, on occasions when the Wildcats happen to have been hosting a major national power. The arena is also a venue for many concerts, trade shows, and events.

In December 2006, the University of New Hampshire announced they will be taking over management of the Whittemore Center from Global Spectrum. The facility will be managed by the Campus Recreation department, which already operates the recreation facility in the old Snively Arena. [cite web | title=UNH Athletics Facilities | url= http://www.unhwildcats.com/index.cfm?id=0E5F015B-BA5E-D4B9-B02F589761023A47| accessdate=2008-01-11]

References

External links

* [http://www.whittemorecenter.com Official Website]
* [http://www.unhwildcats.com/pdf/hockeym/whitt.pdf UNH Athletics - The Whittemore Center]