Cumberland County Civic Center
Encyclopedia
The Cumberland County Civic Center is a 6,733-seat multi-purpose arena
, in Portland, Maine
. Built in 1977, at a cost of $
8 million, it is home to the Portland Pirates
ice hockey
team, various trade shows and the Maine Principals' Association
high school basketball tournament. There are 6,733 permanent seats in the arena, and it seats up to 9,500 for concerts.
The inside consists of one deck rising 24 rows, 14 seats across at its widest, and 30 separated sections around. The arena floor features 34500 square feet (3,205.2 m²) of space, making it useful for trade shows and conventions in addition to sports and concerts. There is also one restaurant in the lobby, known as the Penalty Box Grill.
The arena has had a unique history of having locals sponsor individual seats at the arena. Those who pay to sponsor seats at the Civic Center can have their name engraved on their seats or dedicate the seat to someone they know.
The arena's official name is the George I. Lewis Auditorium at Cumberland County Civic Center. The press box is named for sportscasting legend, the late Frank Fixaris
.
ZZ Top
was the very first act to play the Civic Center, when it opened on March 3, 1977.
KISS
were scheduled to conclude the 4th leg of their Alive/Worldwide Tour
on November 16, 1996, but the show was cancelled.
The venue also hosted the America East Conference
(then the ECAC North) men's basketball tournament in 1980. Billy Graham
's Maine Crusade took place at the "Four Cs" in 1981.
The current tenants are the AHL
Portland Pirates
. Prior AHL clubs have also called the "4 C's" home, including 3 time Calder Cup
champions, the Maine Mariners
.
In October 2010, a task force voted to fund renovations costing $27 to $29 million. The renovations will include addition of premium seating, as well as upgrades to the locker rooms and other improvements. If approved by the large Civic Center board, it will be funded by a county bond measure.
The bond was approved by county voters in November 2011, and the renovations should begin after the 2011-12 hockey season.
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
, in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
. Built in 1977, at a cost of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
8 million, it is home to the Portland Pirates
Portland Pirates
The Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team, various trade shows and the Maine Principals' Association
Maine Principals' Association
The Maine Principals’ Association is the governing body for sports competitions among all public and some private high schools in the state of Maine. It is a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations...
high school basketball tournament. There are 6,733 permanent seats in the arena, and it seats up to 9,500 for concerts.
The inside consists of one deck rising 24 rows, 14 seats across at its widest, and 30 separated sections around. The arena floor features 34500 square feet (3,205.2 m²) of space, making it useful for trade shows and conventions in addition to sports and concerts. There is also one restaurant in the lobby, known as the Penalty Box Grill.
The arena has had a unique history of having locals sponsor individual seats at the arena. Those who pay to sponsor seats at the Civic Center can have their name engraved on their seats or dedicate the seat to someone they know.
The arena's official name is the George I. Lewis Auditorium at Cumberland County Civic Center. The press box is named for sportscasting legend, the late Frank Fixaris
Frank Fixaris
Frank Fixaris was an American sportscaster, anchor, and reporter, spending the majority of his career at WGME-TV in Portland, Maine. He also co-hosted a morning radio show on WJAB after his television run.Fixaris attended college in Boston, Massachusetts and graduated from Emerson College in 1956...
.
ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
was the very first act to play the Civic Center, when it opened on March 3, 1977.
KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
were scheduled to conclude the 4th leg of their Alive/Worldwide Tour
Alive/Worldwide Tour
The Alive/Worldwide Tour was a 1996-1997 concert tour by Kiss. It was the first tour with original members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley since their 1979 Dynasty Tour...
on November 16, 1996, but the show was cancelled.
The venue also hosted the America East Conference
America East Conference
The America East Conference is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located mainly in the northeastern United States. The conference was known as the ECAC North from 1979 to 1988 and the North Atlantic Conference from the fall semester of 1988 to the end of the spring...
(then the ECAC North) men's basketball tournament in 1980. Billy Graham
Billy Graham
William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
's Maine Crusade took place at the "Four Cs" in 1981.
The current tenants are the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
Portland Pirates
Portland Pirates
The Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the...
. Prior AHL clubs have also called the "4 C's" home, including 3 time Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
champions, the Maine Mariners
Maine Mariners
The Maine Mariners were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Portland, Maine, USA at the Cumberland County Civic Center.-History:...
.
In October 2010, a task force voted to fund renovations costing $27 to $29 million. The renovations will include addition of premium seating, as well as upgrades to the locker rooms and other improvements. If approved by the large Civic Center board, it will be funded by a county bond measure.
The bond was approved by county voters in November 2011, and the renovations should begin after the 2011-12 hockey season.