The University of Maine announced a $5.5 million gift from the Harold Alfond Foundation this morning to go toward a renovation of its historic field house and hockey rink.

The gift brings the long-awaited renovation of Memorial Gym and the Harold Alfond Sports Arena closer to reality.

“For decades, the Alfond name has been synonymous with generous support for the University of Maine,” said UMaine President Robert Kennedy in a press release. “This new gift builds on that legacy in ways that will have a meaningful impact on this university, its students and Black Bear sports fans for years to come. We are grateful to the foundation for its generosity and long-standing commitment to supporting UMaine.”

Included in the gift: a $2 million challenge grant intended to help Maine finish fundraising for the ambitious $14 million renovation to Memorial Gym and Field House.

The Alfond Foundation will match $1 for every $2 raised from other sources.

The renovation will restore “the Pit” to be the home to the men’s and women’s basketball teams, will replace the indoor track and will include renovations to office space.

The remaining $3.5 million, will go toward a $4,850,000 renovation of the hockey rink expected to begin later this fall. That work will include a dehumidification system and a new ice making/chilling system that will improve ice conditions.

It will also include new seating, an improved sound system, upgrades to the hockey dasher boards and glass.

The Memorial Gym project still needs more funding before work can begin. An engineering design is expected to be completed by the end of 2011, according to University officials.

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