BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Monday (Sep. 26) to formally celebrate the start of construction on the $20 million Harold Alfond Athletics Complex. The 105,000 square foot facility -- made possible by a $10 million commitment from the Harold Alfond Foundation -- will include a performance gymnasium, ice rink and multi-purpose recreational space.

UNE President Danielle N. Ripich, Ph.D., Alfond Foundation chairman Greg Powell, and UNE Board of Trustees chairman Michael Morel were joined by senior field hockey student-athlete Michelle Oswald (Jay, Maine) and senior ice hockey student-athlete Scott McManaman (Amherst, Nova Scotia) on the platform for the ceremony. After words from  Ripich, Powell and Morel, Oswald and McManaman addressed the crowd of several hundred, thanking the UNE administration and Alfond Foundation for making the project a reality.

Captains and team representatives also played a role in the groundbreaking ceremony, as did members of the UNE Dance Team.

Work on the project began in late-June with the clearing of trees on the parcel of land situated between Sokokis Hall and the Big Blue Turf. Wright-Ryan Construction is overseeing the project.

The facility is expected to be completed in fall of 2012.


Click HERE to view photos of the ceremony

Click HERE to view photos of the construction