UMaine Athletics gets $90M Gift

[RF1]

UMaine Athletics Receives $90 Million Gift from Harold Alfond Foundation
https://goblackbears.com/news/2020/10/7 ... ation.aspx

The Harold Alfond Foundation's $90 million gift to UMaine Athletics will be distributed over the next 10 years, serving as a long-term investment in UMaine's student-athletes, staff, and community. It is the lead gift in a planned $110 million investment in athletic facilities on the Orono campus, all expected to be funded through private philanthropy.

[RF1]

This donation is just one of many that Harold Alfond and his foundation have made to UMaine athletics. Alfond (1914-2007) founded the Dexter Shoe Company in Dexter, Maine in 1956. He sold the business to Warren Buffetts' Berskhire Hathaway in 1993 for $433M. His previous bequests have helped build Alfond Arena (hockey) and Alfond Stadium (football) in Orono on the UMaine campus. It is thought that much of his latest legacy contribution might go toward a new home for the hockey and basketball programs.

[RhowdyRam02]

Maine has released their master plan for how they will use this gift and it's an impressive overhaul of their athletic complex. I'm pretty jealous and would love to see something like this here.

https://goblackbears.com/news/2021/2/17 ... -plan.aspx

The biggest change will be the construction of a new 3000 seat basketball arena behind one of the end zones of their football stadium.

https://goblackbears.com/sports/2021/1/ ... ility.aspx

For the football stadium, they will get rid of the track surrounding the field, get a new turf field, move the visiting bleachers closer to the field and have seating in the end zone on the outside of their new basketball arena. This puts us even further behind in the CAA facilities arms race.

https://goblackbears.com/sports/2021/1/ ... adium.aspx

[rambone 78]

We honestly don't belong in the CAA anymore.

We can't fund the program at a competitive level there.

Our facilities are a joke compared to most of the others. A new stadium will never happen unless a very wealthy donor pays for it.

The only thing that URI can hope for, is every 10-20 years or so, we get an under the radar class or two, that can compete in the top half.

We really should consider dropping down and staying there this time.

It would be nice if we could go to football games and have a good chance of winning them.

Who really cares who our opponents are? Maine and NH are the only 2 leftovers from the old days.

Play in a league where we can be top half on a consistent basis, where our funding and facilities are comparable.

Since it's obvious that we are keeping the sport, this makes the most sense for URI.

Fiscally and competively.

[PeterRamTime]

We honestly don't belong in the CAA anymore.

We can't fund the program at a competitive level there.

Our facilities are a joke compared to most of the others. A new stadium will never happen unless a very wealthy donor pays for it.

The only thing that URI can hope for, is every 10-20 years or so, we get an under the radar class or two, that can compete in the top half.

We really should consider dropping down and staying there this time.

It would be nice if we could go to football games and have a good chance of winning them.

Who really cares who our opponents are? Maine and NH are the only 2 leftovers from the old days.

Play in a league where we can be top half on a consistent basis, where our funding and facilities are comparable.

Since it's obvious that we are keeping the sport, this makes the most sense for URI.

Fiscally and competively.

Well we are ranked with two road top 25 wins!

[Rhody15]

We honestly don't belong in the CAA anymore.

We can't fund the program at a competitive level there.

Our facilities are a joke compared to most of the others. A new stadium will never happen unless a very wealthy donor pays for it.

The only thing that URI can hope for, is every 10-20 years or so, we get an under the radar class or two, that can compete in the top half.

We really should consider dropping down and staying there this time.

It would be nice if we could go to football games and have a good chance of winning them.

Who really cares who our opponents are? Maine and NH are the only 2 leftovers from the old days.

Play in a league where we can be top half on a consistent basis, where our funding and facilities are comparable.

Since it's obvious that we are keeping the sport, this makes the most sense for URI.

Fiscally and competively.

Well we are ranked with two road top 25 wins!

A Rambone “doom and gloom the world is ending we suck at everything forever” post???

Can’t say I’m shocked.

[OBRAM]

The state budget has gone from $3.5 Billion to $13 billion in 20 years. I am not saying the money is there for better athletic facilities, but if the state can buy and fix the Dunk, then they have money to have Built a new McCoy stadium and build an outdoor track at URI.

Just food for thought. 28% of all the tax revenue the City of Providence collects goes into the Police and Fire Pension and Heath underfunded system. The State of RI spends over 1/2 Billion $ to fund the State and Muni pension system.

[RhowdyRam02]

Not sure what any of that has to do with UMaine's athletics upgrade.

These aren't state funds, this is booster fundraising. Why can UMaine raise $90 million but we haven't been able to raise the money for an outdoor track over the last 20 or so years it's been out of service? Is it an embarrassment that the state doesn't give us money for this? Yes. But we've known that for a while and our boosters still haven't gotten this project done.

And your food for thought? Now do this exercise, but when you do, go back in time and make it so the state can't raid the pensions to build the Convention Center, Providence Place Mall, and a bunch of other projects. The state raided the pension when it suited them, never paid back in what they raided, then blame workers who abided by their contracts all along for the state not holding up their end of the bargain

[NYGFan_Section208]

Not sure what any of that has to do with UMaine's athletics upgrade.

These aren't state funds, this is booster fundraising. Why can UMaine raise $90 million but we haven't been able to raise the money for an outdoor track over the last 20 or so years it's been out of service? Is it an embarrassment that the state doesn't give us money for this? Yes. But we've known that for a while and our boosters still haven't gotten this project done.

And your food for thought? Now do this exercise, but when you do, go back in time and make it so the state can't raid the pensions to build the Convention Center, Providence Place Mall, and a bunch of other projects. The state raided the pension when it suited them, never paid back in what they raided, then blame workers who abided by their contracts all along for the state not holding up their end of the bargain

I don't work for the govt and it's 2021... what's a "pension"?

[rambone 78]

Pensions will be a thing of the past in RI....when all those collecting them are dead.

[Puck Frovidence]

I'm surprised they are focusing so heavily on basketball facilities, especially when their team is consistently lousy and plays in the AE. Mostly it's weird because I believe at the moment they play down the road in Bangor at the Cross Arena which has got to be one of the nicest venues in that conference...at least I would imagine. They don't exactly pack it and it's obviously not right on campus but honestly is the potential audience more willing to drive to Orono than Bangor? Frankly I've always found it a little odd that their hockey team doesn't play in Bangor, seems like it's a decent draw.

[RhowdyRam02]

Honestly I can't blame them if the money is there. I'd rather play on campus in a building you control than 20 minutes away in a building where you're the tenant. I will say that is a generally poor use of resources in that area to have two similar arenas so close together in an otherwise fairly remote place

[Puck Frovidence]

Honestly I can't blame them if the money is there. I'd rather play on campus in a building you control than 20 minutes away in a building where you're the tenant. I will say that is a generally poor use of resources in that area to have two similar arenas so close together in an otherwise fairly remote place

Yeah I'm thinking that similar to other more remote areas of New England, Bangor probably acts as an anchor for the region - ie its where your airport/shopping/decent restaurants/etc are even if you're 20min or an hour away. It's kind of the last stop til Canada. I think that arena Maine plays in right now is sort of their big civic center where like touring acts will come, which would bring in not just people from Bangor and students from Orono, but other communities who aren't gonna do the 3+ hour drive to Portland. Given all that, it is a little weird that they'd rather have a 3000 capacity gym on campus than play in the 5k+ shiny new arena in the commercial center for the region. Especially like when, like you say, they're basically duplicating facilities.

[Puck Frovidence]

Derp, Google is my friend. Apparently they only play half those games in Bangor and the other half are in their current gym on campus which is older and holds 3100 people. It does look super old timey, but having said that, it actually kind of looks fun. I can't imagine that there's huge a fan base clamoring for an upgrade when the new building is supposed to have basically the same facilities.

Old barn:


New barn with creepy CGI:


From the press release:
"One major element is the construction of the UMaine Multipurpose Center, which will become the home of Black Bears basketball. The building will be located in the area now occupied by the parking lot area nearest the south end zone of at Alfond Stadium. It will include locker rooms, team offices, lounges and film rooms, a sports medicine center, administrative offices and the Bear Necessities Fan Shop."

[Bartoburger]

The information on Memorial Gymnasium is not current. This gym currently holds approximately 1400. The plans to expand it fell through years ago. However with the new plan it will be renovated but the new capacity is unknown. So the new basketball arena will be an upgrade seating around 3K. I hope they push the capacity closer to 4K, but with the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor holding over 6K for basketball, the newer on campus arena will probably seat 3K as UMaine rarely sells more than 1K tickets for it's men's program and women rarely get over 2K for regular season game. Regardless I am excited to see Maine be successful in creating new facilities.

[RhowdyRam02]

I think I'm going to be following this fairly closely, because it seems to mimic a lot of what we're hoping to do if the $82.3 million athletics bond passes in 2024. In January the Maine Board of Trustees approved up to $14 million be spent for the first part of this project, which are new venues for softball and field hockey and finally giving women's soccer their own venue (they currently play in the outfield of the baseball field). Construction started this spring, and their softball facility should be ready to go for the 2023 season.

https://goblackbears.com/news/2022/1/25 ... ities.aspx

Women's soccer:



"The new, 120-yard x 75-yard home of the Women’s Soccer program will feature a state-of-the-art FIFA-approved synthetic turf playing surface. The new facility will be equipped with bleacher seating along the west sideline with an enclosed press box located at the peak of the bleacher structure. The field will be lit with high-quality lighting, meeting the standards set for television broadcasts. Each team bench, and the midfield scorers’ location, will be covered to protect from the elements and provide secluded areas for each team and official personnel."

Softball:



"The University of Maine softball program will compete on a new, NCAA-regulation-size field, complete with a synthetic playing surface. The layout will feature bleacher seating between each brick dugout, an enclosed press box located directly behind home plate, and bullpens down each line. The softball facility will be equipped with television-quality lighting. When complete, this will be one of the best dedicated softball facilities in the state and will not only serve as the home of Black Bear Softball, but also will provide a valuable venue for area teams and the ability to host state and regional championships."

I feel our soccer complex is already fairly close to what Maine is proposing here, though their seating is probably going to be nicer and our field will be better than theirs. Obviously we need to add a press box at the soccer complex. What they're proposing for softball looks outstanding and in a lot of ways is probably what we're hoping to do with our softball facility.

So if Maine can do all of that for $14 million, we'd be looking at about $7 million for improving our soccer and softball facilities to approximately these levels?

[RhowdyRam02]

So it seems like they started the project 6/10, they're saying it will be ready for the 2023 season, and they seem to normally start their home schedule around 4/10 each year. 10 month turn around time for this project isn't bad at all

[RF1]

Covid has very much thrown another New England flagship university athletics project into limbo. Rising costs (materials and borrowing rates) and supply chain issues have suspended the University of Vermont plan to build a new basketball venue. It was to originally open in 2021 as part of a bigger project that also included a new student fitness center and upgrades to the Gutterson Hockey Arena. The fitness center got done and some upgrades to the hockey venue appear to be moving forward. There is however no concrete timetable for the basketball arena. UVM hoop fans are worried that it will be scrapped or very much downgraded in scope.

UVM Basketball Arena Still on Hold Three Years After Groundbreaking
https://www.athleticbusiness.com/facili ... ndbreaking

[RhowdyRam02]

Covid has very much thrown another New England flagship university athletics project into limbo. Rising costs (materials and borrowing rates) and supply chain issues have suspended the University of Vermont plan to build a new basketball venue. It was to originally open in 2021 as part of a bigger project that also included a new student fitness center and upgrades to the Gunderson Hockey Arena. The fitness center got done and some upgrades to the hockey venue appear to be moving forward. There is however no concrete timetable for the basketball arena. UVM hoop fans are worried that it will be scrapped or very much downgraded in scope.

UVM Basketball Arena Still on Hold Three Years After Groundbreaking
https://www.athleticbusiness.com/facili ... ndbreaking

Piggybacking off of this, rising costs have let to changes in Maine's master plan. Field hockey and softball fields aren't moving, but they will be getting extensive facelifts as we're currently seeing with softball. They're no longer doing a new indoor track and turf field, instead they're going to build a new outdoor track area in the area past right field of the baseball field (where softball and field hockey were going to be in the original master plan

[RF1]

For a relatively small state and school, UMaine is very fortunate that it has some very deep pocketed supporters. In addition to the new $90M from the Alfond Foundation (which has already donated millions previously), they just got a $10M gift for the naming rights of the new basketball venue.

UMaine alumni Phillip and Susan Morse donate $10M for new athletics arena
https://umaine.edu/news/blog/2022/10/14 ... ics-arena/

[RhowdyRam02]

Maine's softball field is coming along really well. Keep in mind a school in a lower conference located in South Canada will now have better baseball and softball facilities than us

[Rhody15]

Maine's softball field is coming along really well. Keep in mind a school in a lower conference located in South Canada will now have better baseball and softball facilities than us

I’m sure if we got a 90 million dollar gift ours would look like that too.

[Blue Man]

That's all you get for $90M!?

[Bartoburger]

No the softball stadium is not that much. UMaine is doing their facilty upgrade in phases. So far UMaine has raised a total of 13 million , but need to raise another 7 million before the rest of the alfond money is released. Softball was the first sport to start construction.

[RhowdyRam02]

This is an updated presentation about where things stand with their total project. They've raised $13 million of the original $20 million they were looking for after the Alfond gift of $90 million, but they will need to raise more now with inflation.

Football is in phase 4 of their plan, which should take 10-12 years, and is shown from 30:26 to 31:14 in this video. In addition to what was already talked about previously with their stadium, they will have a spectator hill behind their north end zone, with a second scoreboard on that hill

[OBRAM]

Does URI have any plan?

[RhowdyRam02]

The only thing I've seen are the two different concepts that were done in 2018 for Meade Stadium that I posted on this board. According to a podcast Thorr did we do have at least very beginning design work done

[OBRAM]

No outdoor track,
No stands on the baseball field
Totell Swimming pools in 60 years old.

Are we building a basketball practice facility?

[Rhody15]

No outdoor track,
No stands on the baseball field
Totell Swimming pools in 60 years old.

Are we building a basketball practice facility?

Basketball facility will be finished this summer.

[RhowdyRam02]

No outdoor track,
No stands on the baseball field
Totell Swimming pools in 60 years old.

Are we building a basketball practice facility?

Outdoor track, baseball stands, Tootell pools and other projects are all in the $80 million bond URI will try to pass in the 2024 election

[RF1]

No outdoor track,
No stands on the baseball field
Totell Swimming pools in 60 years old.

Are we building a basketball practice facility?

Outdoor track, baseball stands, Tootell pools and other projects are all in the $80 million bond URI will try to pass in the 2024 election

Meaningless given there is little chance a URI bond for athletics will get voter approval. The last URI athletics bond for a paltry $6.7M was soundly rejected by 65.5% of voters back in 2004. I cannot envision any circumstance where in the near future a bond for more than 10X that amount will pass.

[KeaneyBluBallz]

No outdoor track,
No stands on the baseball field
Totell Swimming pools in 60 years old.

Are we building a basketball practice facility?

Outdoor track, baseball stands, Tootell pools and other projects are all in the $80 million bond URI will try to pass in the 2024 election

Meaningless given there is little chance a URI bond for athletics will get voter approval. The last URI athletics bond for a paltry $6.7M was soundly rejected by 65.5% of voters back in 2004. I cannot envision any circumstance where in the near future a bond for more than 10X that amount will pass.

I think that bond has a good chance to pass. Since 2004, how many state bonds sent to the voters have been rejected? not local questions.

I don't know the answer but I'm willing to bet it's in the single digits compared to what's been approved in the last 18 years.

not to turn this political but the RI voter base has most definitely changed and I think leaning toward 'spend spend spend'.

[RhowdyRam02]

Outdoor track, baseball stands, Tootell pools and other projects are all in the $80 million bond URI will try to pass in the 2024 election

Meaningless given there is little chance a URI bond for athletics will get voter approval. The last URI athletics bond for a paltry $6.7M was soundly rejected by 65.5% of voters back in 2004. I cannot envision any circumstance where in the near future a bond for more than 10X that amount will pass.

I think that bond has a good chance to pass. Since 2004, how many state bonds sent to the voters have been rejected? not local questions.

I don't know the answer but I'm willing to bet it's in the single digits compared to what's been approved in the last 18 years.

not to turn this political but the RI voter base has most definitely changed and I think leaning toward 'spend spend spend'.

I hope you're right, but I don't see it. The URI bonds are always the least supported ones, and I don't see that attitude changing. I just don't see $80 million for athletic facilities getting the support of the state voters

[RF1]

I think that bond has a good chance to pass. Since 2004, how many state bonds sent to the voters have been rejected? not local questions.

I don't know the answer but I'm willing to bet it's in the single digits compared to what's been approved in the last 18 years.

not to turn this political but the RI voter base has most definitely changed and I think leaning toward 'spend spend spend'.

You need to read these threads as they have more detailed discussion on URI bonds:

Remake of URI Bay Campus - $178 Million
https://keaneyblue.com/viewtopic.php?t=9351

URI athletic bonds?
https://keaneyblue.com/viewtopic.php?t=9229

[Bartoburger]

I listen to several College Football national podcasts, and whenever New England college football teams get brought up, the main theme is that if you don't spend on the basics, you will not field a successful team. I tend to agree that a bond will pass. Hopefully, URI also goes for some end zone seating too, this will make Meade Stadium, actually feel similar to a stadium. This is definitely an arms race, and I believe FCS/D-1AA will be gone in 10 years, with the bottom line being the college football playoff system. So URI needs to look at updating Meade, and it has the potential to be a nice, small stadium, but about 50 million will be needed to do it right. UNH has done it right where they have room to expand in needed in the next 20 years. I am always rooting for the underdog. GO Rhody!

[ramster]

Bartoburger,
If FCS D1AAfoes not exist in 10 years then where do all the current FCS teams end up?

[Bartoburger]

Either DII or DI. The NCAA going to a 12-team playoff, and for current FBS D1 teams playing the FCS teams will not go toward their wins as they do now. Also if let's say URI or a smaller school can get into the 12-team playoff the exposure and financial payout are big for smaller schools. The issue is adding scholarships for other sports to be compliant with the NCAA. Look for more independents and I can see a Northeast football-only league forming in the next 5-10 years. My point is everyone wants a piece of that money.

[ramster]

So if you have the 12 team playoff for FBS as starts next year do you see D2 ((current FCS) having a 12-team playoff too? But today they have a 24 team tournament?

Do you see more regional and school have both D1 basketball and D2 football? Seems the NIL is going to separate schools based on recruiting money - maybe even D2 schools decide they are not going to participate in NIL

Where do you see URI in 5 years? In 10 years?

[Bartoburger]

In the next 10 years, URI will most likely be with the same group of schools from New England/northeast USA, conference name may change and perhaps at FBS level. II would not be surprised if a newer version of the Yankee Conference is formed for football, but now at the FBS level. The issue is money and scholarships, which is nothing new. College football is in such an uncertain place right now, with all the conference realignment trickling down to the smaller schools, and influencing the other scholarships the schools are offering for women's sports and men's nonrevenue sports. There is too much possible money on the table for the small schools to scoop up if they can get into the 12-team college playoff. Regardless, I think the Rams have a very bright future when it comes to fielding a competitive football team.

[Jdrums#3]

In the next 10 years, URI will most likely be with the same group of schools from New England/northeast USA, conference name may change and perhaps at FBS level. II would not be surprised if a newer version of the Yankee Conference is formed for football, but now at the FBS level. The issue is money and scholarships, which is nothing new. College football is in such an uncertain place right now, with all the conference realignment trickling down to the smaller schools, and influencing the other scholarships the schools are offering for women's sports and men's nonrevenue sports. There is too much possible money on the table for the small schools to scoop up if they can get into the 12-team college playoff. Regardless, I think the Rams have a very bright future when it comes to fielding a competitive football team.

Something else to keep an eye on for smaller and/or less financially prosperous schools is the bill submitted in the CA legislature requiring colleges there to provide healthcare coverage to athletes up to 4 yrs after they finish, I believe.

There have been attempts at similar bills on the Fed level but no agreements have been reached yet.

Would be a huge expense and the P5 are balking at assisting non-P5 schools with the expense so far despite calls from some law makers to assist.

I believe the CA Legislature bill and negotiations that have been had separately on the Fed level fall under the umbrella of the College Athletes Bill of Rights, if I am not mistaken.

[RhowdyRam02]

UMaine has put out their bid for improvements to Alfond Stadium, their new arena, soccer complex, and track and field:

https://umaine.edu/ofm/wp-content/uploa ... omplex.pdf

"The Athletics Multipurpose Arena is expected to be between 73,000 and 82,000 square feet with seating for 2,500 to 3,000 people. The facility will house an NCAA compliant basketball court for women’s and men’s basketball home games with ADA compliant seating, space for the press, retractable seating at the sidelines for practice floor, club lounge with views to basketball and football, concessions, retail, media/press/broadcast capabilities, team locker rooms for players and coaches, sports medicine suite, equipment and laundry, and back-of house areas. Additionally, the facility will house football operations that includes offices, locker rooms for the home team, film room(s), fitness/weight room shared by multiple teams, and the project will include the replacement of the visitor side bleachers located on the eastside of the football field. The proposed location of the new multi-purpose building is at the south end of the Alfond Stadium. This proposed building will displace the track located around the football field and the loss of approximately 150 parking spaces. The completion of the Multipurpose Arena is anticipated to be December 2026.

A new parking area to replace parking lost as part of the Athletics Multipurpose Arena will be developed at the north end of Alfond Stadium and west of the proposed Soccer Complex. Anticipated completion in September of 2025."

[mainejeff2]

Another big donation for UMaine athletic facilities.....



https://goblackbears.com/news/2023/12/1 ... -gift.aspx

[ramster]

Another big donation for UMaine athletic facilities.....



https://goblackbears.com/news/2023/12/1 ... -gift.aspx

Thank for sharing mainejeff2.

I was wondering the relationship and interesting to find the manufacturing connection to Maine

Based in Boston, New Balance is a leading global athletic brand that proudly owns three athletic footwear manufacturing facilities in the Maine towns of Norridgewock, Norway and Skowhegan.

[RhowdyRam02]

Another big donation for UMaine athletic facilities.....



https://goblackbears.com/news/2023/12/1 ... -gift.aspx

Great news for you guys! Any idea when they'll open?

[mainejeff2]

Another big donation for UMaine athletic facilities.....



https://goblackbears.com/news/2023/12/1 ... -gift.aspx

Great news for you guys! Any idea when they'll open?

Soccer complex and track will be completed for 2025-2026 season. Basketball arena is estimated to be competed December 2026.

[KeaneyBluBallz]

and their hockey program is having its best season in many recent years, currently sitting #9 in the nation.

[mainejeff2]

In a fantasy world I'd love URI to be in the same league as Maine in all sports....I think it would become a great rivalry.

But alas.....maybe the 6 New England schools are destined to be in 6 different conferences.

[mainejeff2]

Another $80 million from the Alfond Foundation...$208 million total for athletic facility improvements. Incredible

https://goblackbears.com/news/2024/1/9/ ... -gift.aspx

Has anyone in the A-10 spent this much recently on facilities?

[RhowdyRam02]

Alfond is amazing. We've got some good donors, but him and his foundation take things to a whole other level.

I can't think of anyone in the A10 that's spent this much on athletic facilities. Even all of our projects that we'll be starting only come up to $82.3 million

[mainejeff2]