And the Winner is??

[Maine19Fan]

To respond to thebam: Albany, despite being a huge state school, doesn't throw money at basketball. It has an on-campus "arena" more like a gym that holds 4,500 for hoops and was built 15 years ago.
Vermont's on-campus gym is nothing more than a glorified h.s. facility that holds about 3,200.
I don't think there are any plans at either school to upgrade those facilities.

[hoopsisme]

I believe that UVM is fundraising to build a multi use facility right near campus. Saw the link online within the last couple years. Not sure what stage it is at.

[TAL1957]

To respond to thebam: Albany, despite being a huge state school, doesn't throw money at basketball. ...

To respond to M19: UAlbany is indeed a "huge" state school supported by the much-beleaguered "State" of NY, along with Stony Brook, and arguably Binghamton.
..... And, .... they do actually "throw money" at Both of their Big Roundball teams way more than UMaine does (and this years' MBB and WBB UAlbany Teams are likely to dominate the AE, almost easily. Hmmm .... ).

Maine clearly and noticeably struggles to support and compete, even with their one school at a D1 level, in many ways both athletics and academics.

But Still ...... Gotta Love our Black Bears !!! Student-Athletes at UMaine (at Orono) are some very, Very, VERY Special athletes and people !!! True UMaine Fans can only be Very Proud of those who C-H-O-O-S-E to wear the UMaine Black Bear colors.

Go Black Bears !!!!!

[Maine19Fan]

Fans have Vermont have been clamoring for a better on-campus multi-purpose facility for many years... just like everyone wants to see one at Maine.
A plan, finally, has been accepted. Cost? $80 million!
There's no guarantee that it will come to fruition. Needed is $35 to $40 million in private funding.
If the money can be raised, the facility could be completed by 2022, or later if donations don't come in quickly enough.

So, yes, it can be done. But, there's a lot more money in Vermont than in Maine. Vermont is in lot better shape financially as an institution than is Maine.

Plus, Vermont had no other place to play, which is the biggest issue here.
Maine has the very nice 6,000-seat Cross Center located about six miles away from campus.

Very strong guess: We're not going to see UMaine build an on-campus athletic facility in our lifetimes.

[Maine19Fan]

I'll differ from TAL1957 on Albany "throwing money" at its basketball programs.
Yeah, they spend a little more ... coaching salaries are higher, which ensures stronger pools of candidates when the jobs are open and the ability to retain a coach. The men's coach has been there for, I believe, 18 seasons.
But, both programs are required to play guarantee games. The men played Louisville and Memphis this season, the women played at Maryland.
And, yes, NY is a very beleaguered state financially. We can be glad we don't live there and have to pay taxes in that state!

[dunbar]

To respond to thebam: Albany, despite being a huge state school, doesn't throw money at basketball. It has an on-campus "arena" more like a gym that holds 4,500 for hoops and was built 15 years ago.
Vermont's on-campus gym is nothing more than a glorified h.s. facility that holds about 3,200.
I don't think there are any plans at either school to upgrade those facilities.

SEFCU was built at least 25 years ago. Very gray and dull, although the seats on the ends are steep and have great sightlines. Fun building to play in too, especially when the UA staff likes your band better than their own.

Patrick is just the gym at Lewiston HS with a 94 foot floor. Lundholm is just Patrick with plastic bleachers.

UMBC's new arena is going to be beautiful. Much like the Cross Center, but with a second tier and a floor not designed to accommodate the 200x85 ice surface. https://eventcenter.umbc.edu/

If you think the Cross Center is six miles from campus, I'd like to know where you think the UM campus is.

[TAL1957]

Fans have Vermont have been clamoring for a better on-campus multi-purpose facility for many years...

Baddaa Bing M19 !!

Even Vermont, despite being a well-recognized, top-tier Medical School (and Stony Brook is better ?), with presumably some pretty affluent alumni, can struggle to secure funding and donations for its' sports programs ??
Hmmm, waning Dexter Shoe money, with some Engineer $$ tossed in, versus the UVM Medical profession $$$ ??

Shoe money used to dominate, and carried UMaine to College Hockey dominance at one point, but now .... ??
..... the Health Care money, and UAlbany/SUNY (= New York), wins.

[Maine19Fan]

I know where the UM campus is. OK, it's 12 miles away.
Not exactly the other side of the globe.
It's close enough so that Maine isn't even going to consider an on-campus facility.

[Maine19Fan]

To respond to TAL1957: Actually, Albany's commitment to athletics, beyond pay for its long-time men's basketball coach (who did not start with a salary much higher than what Maine pays), is not that out of line with Maine.

You could check financial reports that can be found on line. They're available.

Yes, UA does spend a little more. But, it too is located in a financially-strapped state, and in an area that isn't overly affluent. The majority of those employed in the area are state workers (good, not great salaries), or school teachers. It's not exactly Silicone Valley.

A little more money spent on athletics than Maine? Yes, yet only a little.

And, remember ... in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

[TAL1957]

Yes, UA does spend a little more. But, it too is located in a financially-strapped state, and in an area that isn't overly affluent. The majority of those employed in the area are state workers (good, not great salaries), or school teachers. It's not exactly Silicone Valley.

A little more money spent on athletics than Maine? Yes, yet only a little.

UAlbany, the SUNY System, and the State of NY resources and attractiveness to prospective student-athletes, ... Vs. UMaine, the UMaine College System (huh ?), and the State of Maine ??? Yep, pretty close.