Cross Insurance Arena

{{Infobox venue

| stadium_name = Cross Insurance Arena

| logo_image = Cross Insurance Arena Portland logo.jpg

| image = Cross Insurance Arena exterior view.jpg

| image_caption = Exterior view in 2024

| pushpin_map = Maine##USA

| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Maine##Location within the United States

| pushpin_relief = 1

| pushpin_label = Cross Insurance Arena

| address = 1 Civic Center Square

| location = Portland, Maine

| coordinates = {{coord|43|39|20|N|70|15|33|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| broke_ground = 1975

| built =

| opened = March 3, 1977

| renovated = October 2012 – February 2014

| closed =

| demolished =

| owner = Cumberland County

| operator = Global Spectrum

| surface = Multi-surface

| construction_cost = US$8 million
(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|8000000|1977}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})

| architect = Eduardo Catalano Architects{{cite news |title=Local & State Reporter's Notebook|first=Mark|last=Shanahan|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22950906.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629065347/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22950906.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 29, 2014|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|date=August 28, 1999|access-date=February 20, 2012}}
E. Crawley Cooper{{cite news |title=Civic Center Opens In 1977 And Has Never Looked Bad|first=Mary|last=Griffin|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=20020425&id=n6RJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iQ0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3737,3398550|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=April 25, 2002|access-date=March 11, 2012}} (original)

Sink Combs Dethlefs & WBRC Architects (renovation)

| former_names = Cumberland County Civic Center (1977–2014)

| tenants = Maine Mariners (AHL) (1977–1992)
Portland Pirates (AHL) (1993–2013, 2014–2016)
New England Stingers (RHI) (1994)
Portland Mountain Cats/Wave (USBL) (1996–1997)
Maine Mariners (ECHL) (2018–present)
Maine Mammoths (NAL) (2018)

| seating_capacity = Seats: 6,206
Concerts: 9,500

}}

Cross Insurance Arena (formerly Cumberland County Civic Center) is a multi-purpose arena located in Portland, Maine. Built in 1977, at a cost of US$8 million, it is the home arena for the Maine Mariners of the ECHL. There are 6,206 permanent seats in the arena, and it seats up to 9,500 for concerts.

History

The inside consists of one deck rising 24 rows, 14 seats across at its widest, and 30 separated sections around. The arena floor features {{convert|34500|sqft|m2}} of space, making it useful for trade shows and conventions in addition to sports and concerts. The arena has locals sponsor individual seats at the arena. Those who pay to sponsor seats at the Cross Insurance Arena 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 Cross Insurance Arena. The press box is named for local sportscaster Frank Fixaris.

ZZ Top was the very first headline act to play the arena when it opened on March 3, 1977.{{cite web |url=http://www.ticketluck.com/venues/Cumberland-County-Civic-Center/index.php |title=Cumberland County Civic Center Tickets, Cheap Cumberland County Civic Center Tickets at Discount: Ticket Luck |access-date=2015-03-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830051222/http://www.ticketluck.com/venues/Cumberland-County-Civic-Center/index.php |archive-date=2008-08-30 }}

Elvis Presley was to have flown from Memphis to Portland on August 16, 1977, for a performance at the arena the following day, but he was found dead at his Graceland mansion that morning. A re-enactment of the preparations for the Portland show is featured in the bio film This Is Elvis.

The venue hosted the America East Conference (then the ECAC North) men's basketball tournament in 1980. Two AHL hockey clubs that have called the arena home, include the Portland Pirates and three time Calder Cup champions, the Maine Mariners.

On December 8, 1997, WWE held a Raw is War taping. On December 4, 2009, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) held their first house show in Maine at the Cumberland Civic Center.{{cite web|url=https://eventful.com/portland_me/events/tna-wrestling-/E0-001-026370689-2|title=TNA WRESTLING in Portland}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=45782|title=TNA House Show – Portland, Maine}}

The United States Lacrosse League announced that the Maine Moose Trax would play its home games at the Cross Insurance Arena when the league was to begin play in the fall of 2014, though arena trustees called the announcement premature and stated no final agreement had been reached. It was the first franchise announced for the league,{{cite news |title=Civic Center to Become Home to New Lacrosse Team|first=Gillian|last=Graham|url=http://www.kjonline.com/news/Civic_center_to_become_home_to_new_lacrosse_team_.html|newspaper=Kennebec Journal|date=December 2, 2013|access-date=December 2, 2013}} but the league never played any matches.

Arena trustees reached a 10-year agreement in June 2014 with Cross Insurance Agency for the sale of the facility's naming rights for $2.5 million. The facility was renamed Cross Insurance Arena despite the fact that Cross Insurance also holds the naming rights to Bangor's Cross Insurance Center, {{convert|130|mi}} away. Both parties to the deal state that there should be no confusion between the two facilities. The deal was also signed despite the naming rights of one of the entrances being named for the Clark Insurance company, though Clark Insurance stated their deal would remain.{{cite news |title=Cross Insurance buys naming rights to civic center for $2.5 million|first=Edward|last=Murphy|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2014/06/18/cross-insurance-buys-naming-rights-to-cumberland-county-civic-center/|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|date=June 18, 2014|access-date=June 20, 2014}}

The arena is also the alternate home ice of the Maine Black Bears men's ice hockey team, who normally play at Alfond Arena in Orono, Maine.

Renovations and lease dispute

File:Red claws at CIA.jpg playing a game at the renovated arena.]]

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, an increased number of restrooms, and other improvements. The renovations would add just over 34,000 square feet to the building.{{cite news |title=After $33 Million Renovation, Portland's Civic Center Reopens|first=Kathleen|last=Pierce|url=http://bangordailynews.com/slideshow/after-33-million-renovation-portlands-civic-center-reopens/|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=February 10, 2014|access-date=February 12, 2014}} It required approval by both the then-civic center board and approval of a bond issue by county voters.{{cite news |title=Civic Center Panel: Overhaul 'Only Way to Go'|first=Edward D.|last=Murphy|url=http://www.pressherald.com/news/panel-overhaul-only-way-to-go_2010-10-09.html|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|date=October 9, 2010|access-date=October 9, 2010}}

The bond was approved by county voters in November 2011. Renovations began after the 2011–12 hockey season. Following completion of the Portland Pirates' 2012–13 season, the arena closed for a second renovation phase, and was scheduled to reopen in January 2014. The Pirates intended to play the first portion of their 2013–14 season at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée, through at least December 31.{{cite press release|title=Portland Pirates Announce Six Guaranteed Dates|url=http://portlandpirates.com/2013/06/24/portland-pirates-announce-six-guaranteed-dates/|publisher=Portland Pirates|date=June 24, 2013|access-date=June 24, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629202833/http://portlandpirates.com/2013/06/24/portland-pirates-announce-six-guaranteed-dates/|archive-date=June 29, 2013}} All renovations were completed by February 2014, and the first event in the facility was scheduled to be the Maine Home, Remodeling and Garden Show on Saturday, February 15.

Civic Center trustees in 2013 ceased negotiations with the Pirates over terms of a new lease, and further stated they would seek new tenants for the calendar slots originally given to the Pirates. The Pirates announced on September 26, 2013, that the entire 2013–2014 home schedule would be played at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston over the dispute, instead of the, already scheduled, first 13 games. The dispute was primarily over share of food and beverage sales the Pirates would receive, though other issues existed. The Pirates are not able to share revenues of alcohol, due to not being the property's owner. Therefore, management asked for a larger percentage of food revenues.{{Cite web|url=http://www.centralmaine.com/2013/08/30/pirates-refuse-to-sign-lease-with-civic-center/|title = Civic Center, Pirates in standoff over concessions|date = 30 August 2013}} Civic Center trustees stated that they only break even on the presence of the Pirates in the building, and that their expenses would actually be less without them. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees further criticized the Pirates for demanding more of a "subsidy" for themselves and stated their desired lease agreement would cost county taxpayers money. The Pirates also stated they would continue a lawsuit against the arena with the hopes of playing there in the future.{{cite news |title=Portland Pirates Leave Cumberland County Civic Center|first=Mike|last=Lowe|url=http://www.kjonline.com/news/Pirates-hockey-Portland-Cumberland-County-Civic-Center-lewiston-colisee.html|newspaper=Kennebec Journal|date=September 26, 2013|access-date=September 26, 2013}}{{cite news |title=Civic Center, Pirates in Standoff Over Concessions|first=Jessica|last=Hall|url=http://www.pressherald.com/news/Pirates-refuse-to-sign-lease-with-Civic-Center.html|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|date=August 31, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2013}}

New Pirates majority owner Ron Cain announced on December 19, 2013, that the team dropped its lawsuit and that arena trustees would resume negotiations, both seeking "to strike a balance between the team's business needs and the arena's financial obligations" according to Cain. The chairman of the trustees stated that he found Cain's comments on the issue "constructive" and he thus was willing to restart talks.{{cite news |title=Portland Pirates Drop Lawsuit Against Civic Center|first=Jessica|last=Hall|url=http://www.pressherald.com/news/Pirates_drop_lawsuit_against_civic_center_.html|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|date=December 19, 2013|access-date=December 19, 2013}}

Maine Senate President Justin Alfond, who is from Portland, announced that he submitted emergency legislation to the Maine Legislature to allow the Pirates to receive a share of alcohol revenue, as the original agreement called for but was ruled to be illegal. Cain said that Alfond's efforts did not play a role in their decision on the lawsuit, but could help the team going forward.

On February 4, 2014, arena trustees and the Pirates announced that a 5-year lease agreement had been reached and that the team would return to the not yet renamed Civic Center for the 2014–15 season. The agreement includes the sharing of concessions revenue the Pirates sought, which may or may not include alcohol sales pending passage of Sen. Alfond's bill.{{cite news |title=New Lease to Bring Pirates Back to Portland|first=Edward D.|last=Murphy|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2014/02/04/pirates__civic_center_reach_lease_agreement_/|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|date=February 4, 2014|access-date=February 4, 2014}}

However, on May 4, 2016, it was announced that the Portland Pirates had signed a letter of intent to sell the franchise and would relocate the team to Springfield, Massachusetts.{{cite web |url=http://www.pressherald.com/2016/05/04/portland-pirates-leaving-maine/ |title=Portland Pirates leaving Maine for Springfield, Mass. |work=Portland Press Herald |date=May 4, 2016}} Less than a week after the announcement, a team of investors headed by former Pirates executives W. Godfrey Wood and Brad Church announced their intentions to put an ECHL team in Portland to fill the void, possibly joining as early as 2017.{{cite web|title=Effort underway to bring pro hockey back to Portland|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2016/05/11/report-echl-team-coming-to-portland-in-2017/|work=Portland Press Herald|date=May 11, 2016|access-date=May 11, 2016}} It would take an extra year, but Comcast Spectacor, the arena owners, purchased the franchise rights of the Alaska Aces and relocated the team to Portland for the 2018–19 season as a new version of the Maine Mariners.{{cite news |url=http://www.pressherald.com/2017/06/15/portland-lands-a-pro-hockey-team-for-the-fall-of-2018/ |title=Portland lands a pro hockey team for the fall of 2018 |newspaper=Portland Press Herald |date=June 15, 2017}}