Following a recent study showing more than $30 million in needed repairs over 15 years, the city said it plans to hire a firm through a competitive process to assess the project’s scope and cost and gather input from local residents.
Faced with a potential $30 million cost to bring the aging Portland Expo building up to modern standards, city officials are weighing whether to repair or rebuild the home of the Maine Celtics basketball team.
The James A. Banks Sr. Portland Exposition Building, more commonly known as the Expo, is the
oldest operating municipal arena in the United States.
Built in 1914 and operational since 1915, the venue has played host to concerts by musical greats from the Beach Boys to Janis Joplin and a 1945 wrestling match referred to by Babe Ruth 10 years after "the Bambino" retired from baseball.
Following a recent study showing more than $30 million in needed repairs over 15 years, the city said it plans to hire a firm through a competitive process to assess the project’s scope and cost and gather input from local residents. The 24,000-square-foot arena is also used by the Portland High School Bulldogs basketball team.
“The Expo is far more than just a structure — it’s a community institution that captures the essence of Portland,” said Mayor Mark Dion. “Input from residents is crucial for deciding how we honor the Expo’s history while making sure it remains relevant for our city now and in the future.”
The city’s Housing and Economic Development Committee is scheduled to take up the topic at a meeting on Tuesday, April 21, though the agenda has not yet been posted online.
