Whittemore Center
Encyclopedia
Whittemore Center Arena or Whitt 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. It was dedicated to Frederick B. Whittemore and his family on May 5, 1996. 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 was managed by Global Spectrum, but UNH Campus Recreation took over management before the 2007 academic year. 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 olympic-sized sheet of ice. The lobby is decorated with heroic portraits of past men's and women's All American hockey players.
The Whitt currently plays home to the UNH mens and women's hockey teams. The Whitt also hosts many shows and concerts throughout the year. In 2002 and 2005, UNH and the Whittemore Center hosted the NCAA Womens Frozen Four.
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.
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 Durham, New Hampshire
Durham, New Hampshire
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,664 people, 2,882 households, and 1,582 families residing in the town. The population density was 565.5 people per square mile . There were 2,923 housing units at an average density of 130.5 per square mile...
on the campus of the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
. It was built for $30 million and opened in November 1995. It was dedicated to Frederick B. Whittemore and his family on May 5, 1996. 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
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
station, and it is across the street from Cowell Stadium
Cowell Stadium
Cowell Stadium is a 8,000-seat open-air multi-purpose stadium in Durham, New Hampshire on the campus of the University of New Hampshire. It is home to the University of New Hampshire Wildcats football and track and field teams. The stadium, which runs west-northwest, consists of a FieldTurf...
.
Through the end of the 2006-2007 academic year, the arena was managed by Global Spectrum, but UNH Campus Recreation took over management before the 2007 academic year. The Whit can seat 6,501 for hockey and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
games, and 7,200 for concerts and similar events. It is home to the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
Wildcats 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...
teams. The hockey rink has a full olympic-sized sheet of ice. The lobby is decorated with heroic portraits of past men's and women's All American hockey players.
The Whitt currently plays home to the UNH mens and women's hockey teams. The Whitt also hosts many shows and concerts throughout the year. In 2002 and 2005, UNH and the Whittemore Center hosted the NCAA Womens Frozen Four.
The basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
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.