WHITTEMORE CENTER
wildcat HOCKEY While the University of New Hampshire Wildcat hockey teams endured a long season on the road in 1994-95, the sacrifice was worth it. The future of Wildcat hockey is the brightest it has ever been. In September 1994, the University System of New Hampshire trustees voted in favor of construction of a $26.5 million arena and recreation complex, and in just over one year, the project reached fruition. The Whittemore Center opened November 10, 1995 with the Wildcat men’s team upsetting defending national champion Boston University, 6-5 in overtime. The arena brings the University’s athletic facilities to a state-of-the-art level and positions UNH as a leader among the region’s colleges and universities. In addition to the athletic arena created by the project, Snively Arena, the former hockey rink, was converted into a recreational sports facility. Coupled with the Memorial Union building and Dimond Library renovations, the project has transformed the quality of student life on the UNH campus. A variety of reasons created the demand for such a facility on the Durham campus: the growing value placed on health
and fitness; activities; existing space deficiencies; the inadequacy of Snively Arena as a hockey facility and the need for a quality campus events center. The three-floor recreation facility eliminated the space deficiency and gave the entire student population ample health and fitness opportunities. The 6,501-seat hockey arena known as Towse Rink was designed for easy conversion to a 7,500-seat facility for revenue-producing concerts, exhibitions and other events. With its seating capacity of 6,501, the Whittemore Center nearly doubled the size of Snively Arena. The hockey rink became the sixth in the nation to feature an Olympic-sized ice surface (200’x100’) instead of the standard 200’x85’ (Snively’s dimensions).
Towse Rink
• 6,501-seat capacity for hockey and up to 7,200 for concerts and similar events. A total of 4,300 of the seats feature backs with arm rests on each side. The remaining seats have molded bottoms. • A bowl configuration. Fans enter at a concourse level and move down to their seats. • An Olympic-size ice surface (200’x100’) for hockey. • Four concession areas (each 250 sq. feet) and six rest room facilities (two 1,125 sq. feet; four 850 sq. feet). • A main lobby (3,800 sq. feet) and a public skating lobby (850 sq. feet). • A pro shop (200 sq. feet) and ticket office (200 sq. feet). • Men’s and women’s hockey coaches’ offices (175 sq. feet). • Men’s and women’s hockey locker rooms (1,200 sq. feet). • Training room (450 sq. feet), weight room (600 sq. feet) and meeting room (800 sq. feet). • Center-hung scoreboard and end-rink messageboard.
This cardio room, located across the hallway from the women’s ice hockey locker room on the ice level of the Whittemore Center, is utilized by the team throughout the season.
Hamel Recreation Sports Center
• Three floors. • A gymnasium (22,800 sq. feet) with three standard-sized basketball courts. • Two multipurpose athletic courts (5,575 sq. feet). • Free-weight room (3,025 sq. feet). • Fitness room (3,750 sq. feet). • Four racquetball courts (800 sq. feet each). • Jogging track (4,975 sq. feet). • Men’s and women’s locker rooms (1,350 sq. feet).
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The Wildcat women’s locker room
tradition. pride. excellence.