University of New England

The University of New England’s premier athletic facility is the Harold Alfond Forum. The etymology of the word “forum” indicates that it was used to designate a place of assembly in ancient Rome. This public space was used for athletic competitions as well as a place conducive to the open exchange of ideas.

This is an apt descriptor of this new building which includes a 106,500-square-foot facility featuring a 200×85 NHL size ice hockey rink with 900 seats; a basketball court with 1,200 seats; classroom and lab space; a fitness center; and multi-purpose indoor practice courts that can also be used for performances and other events, with a combined seating capacity of 3,000. This is the largest gathering space on both the Biddeford or Portland campuses and provides UNE with much needed facilities for intercollegiate athletic events, recreational activities and academic pursuits. The complex is located next to UNE’s new synthetic blue turf field.

The Forum is home to the UNE Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Men’s Ice Hockey, Women’s Ice Hockey, and Women’s Volleyball teams. Additionally, there is a fitness center, team/locker rooms, two athletic training rooms, administrators/coaches’ offices, academic offices, classroom space, meeting space, and a dining area.

The University of New England is also home to 2 soccer fields. The Barbara J. Hazard soccer fields are natural grass facilities overlooking Biddeford Pool, with competition lighting and a state-of-the-art scoreboard. The two fields run adjacent to each other and are home to the UNE Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams as well as soccer camps throughout the summer. Games are played on one field while the other field can serve as a practice field.

The University of New England’s unique Blue Turf is a synthetic turf field, which includes seating for 550 spectators. This field also contains competition lighting, a press box, and a state-of-the-art scoreboard.

A Football team was newly added to the athletics department and there was another Blue Turf created for them/softball and Field Hockey/Lacrosse also has their own Blue Turf!

The Claude Dubois Field is the University of New England’s own softball field. It overlooks the Saco River and is located right next to the UNE Windward Café where they brew Starbucks coffee.

Located in the Campus Center at the University of New England is a six lane indoor pool that measures 25 yards in length, and the 10,000 sq. ft. James Beaudry Gymnasium. This gymnasium has an indoor track that outlines the gym just above the bleachers allowing spectators to observe the gym below.