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| Cross Insurance Center | |
|---|---|
| Name | Cross Insurance Center |
| City | Bangor, Maine |
| Country | United States |
| Broke ground | 2012 |
| Opened | 2013 |
| Owner | City of Bangor |
| Operator | Global Spectrum |
| Capacity | 8,500 |
| Architect | WBRC Architects/Engineers |
| Tenants | Maine Mariners (ECHL) |
Cross Insurance Center is a multi-purpose arena and convention center in Bangor, Maine that serves as a regional venue for sports, concerts, exhibitions, and civic gatherings. The facility replaced older venues to provide a modern site for University of Maine commencements, regional U.S. Senator events, touring productions by companies such as Cirque du Soleil, and minor league ice hockey. It hosts a mix of cultural, political, and commercial programming and is operated to attract touring acts, conventions, and community functions.
The project originated from efforts by the City of Bangor and the Penobscot County delegation to replace the aging Cross Insurance Arena predecessor and to revitalize downtown Bangor. Early planning involved consultations with firms experienced on projects such as the Times Union Center and TD Garden; financing proposals invoked discussions in the Maine State Legislature and among stakeholders including the Bangor City Council and local business groups like the Bangor Chamber of Commerce. Groundbreaking occurred in 2012 after an agreement for naming rights with Cross Insurance, a regional insurance firm headquartered in Rochester, New York and Bangor, Maine area operations, and the venue opened in 2013. The opening season featured events comparable to those staged at the Wachovia Center and other mid‑Atlantic arenas, while the arena’s placement sought to complement historic downtown anchors such as the Bangor Waterfront and the Thomas Hill Standpipe.
The center was designed by WBRC Architects/Engineers with a configuration influenced by arenas like Dunkin' Donuts Center and convention complexes such as the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. It contains a configurable seating bowl with a maximum capacity of approximately 8,500 for concerts and exhibits, retractable seating for sporting events similar to the layouts used at the Providence Civic Center, and a 27,000-square-foot exhibit hall for trade shows and conventions. Backstage amenities accommodate touring productions comparable to those performing at Madison Square Garden and include dressing rooms, loading docks modeled on standards used at the Mohegan Sun Arena, and rigging points for theatrical companies such as Cirque du Soleil and orchestras like the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The venue integrates modern audio‑visual systems and LED lighting packages found in venues managed by operators such as ASM Global and Spectra Venue Management.
The facility is home to the Maine Mariners of the ECHL and has hosted collegiate events for institutions including the University of Maine Black Bears and regional tournaments for the NCAA Division I. Touring musical acts that have appeared include performers who regularly play venues on national circuits like Bruce Springsteen, Adele, Foo Fighters, and Carrie Underwood; family shows and special engagements have included productions associated with Disney on Ice and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey-style presentations. The center has also been used for political rallies by figures such as Judith Collins and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (note: events vary by season), conventions for organizations like the Maine Dental Association and trade expositions similar to those held by the National Retail Federation, and commencement ceremonies for institutions including University of Maine at Presque Isle.
Advocates compared the center’s economic rationale to regional development cases such as construction of the Xcel Energy Center and the Bridgestone Arena projects, arguing it would boost hospitality revenue for downtown hotels like the Penobscot Hotel and restaurants proximate to the Bangor Waterfront. Economic impact studies cited multipliers from ticket sales, convention bookings, and secondary spending in sectors represented by organizations such as the Maine Restaurant Association and Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce. Community programming partnerships have included outreach with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, the Penobscot Theatre Company, and local school districts, while philanthropic events hosted at the center have benefited charities similar to United Way and local chapters of The Salvation Army.
The center is accessed via Interstate 95 and state routes serving Bangor International Airport and regional transit systems such as the Community Connector (Bangor) bus network. Parking facilities were planned with reference to site circulation practices used at venues like the Xfinity Center and incorporate event logistics for staging buses and tractor‑trailers consistent with touring production needs similar to those routed to the Boston Logan International Airport corridor. Pedestrian connectivity to downtown landmarks such as the Paul Bunyan Statue and the Penobscot River waterfront was emphasized in municipal planning documents, aiming to integrate the site with bicycle and pedestrian plans advocated by groups like the East Coast Greenway Alliance.
The project encountered controversy over costs and naming rights, echoing disputes seen in other civic projects such as the financing debates around the Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) and municipal stadium projects in the United States. Critics in local media, including coverage by the Bangor Daily News, raised concerns about public subsidies, debt service, and vendor contracts. Operational incidents have included event cancellations and booking disputes similar to those reported at other mid‑sized arenas, plus weather‑related disruptions common to venues in the New England region. Security and crowd‑management practices have been reviewed following isolated altercations at concerts and sporting events, leading to policy adjustments in coordination with the Bangor Police Department and event promoters.
Category:Indoor arenas in Maine Category:Convention centers in Maine