Portland Exposition Building
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The Portland Exposition Building is located in Portland, Maine. It is the second oldest arena in continuous operation in the United States. It was the site of the Beach Boys first concert ever on the east coast. Currently, it is the site of Portland High School home basketball games, and middle school and high school indoor track meets. Downstairs, are the locker rooms for Fitzpatrick Stadium and Hadlock Field.
Built in 1914, at a cost of $80,944, the Portland Exposition Building was considered a sophisticated facility sure to "put Portland on the map." Its grand opening - a major agricultural show on June 7, 1915, was so captivating, the local daily newspaper dedicated the entire front page to covering the event. In addition to the cavernous first floor arena, the basement level featured the Cafe Dumont. "The Cafe D" was a full service nightspot that offered "Top international entertainment in a classy nightclub atmosphere."
Since 1914, many famous figures have appeared at the Expo including Babe Ruth, Rudolph Valentino, Rocky Marciano, President John F. Kennedy, President George Bush. The arena has also hosted significant performances including the first East Coast concert of the Beach Boys (1963), the King of Soul, James Brown, Country Music Queen, Dolly Parton, Rock legend, Janis Joplin, the Sixtieth Anniversary Ball of the Portland Symphony Orchestra (with Lionel Hampton), kickboxing for a world title and gala banquets for the Senior's Pro Golf Tournaments featuring Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. Its rich history is enhanced by the fact that today the building is busier than ever.
Home to over 185 events per year, the Portland Exposition Building hosts trade shows, concerts, sporting events, conferences, civic meetings, and special events. Nearly 600,000 patrons pass through the Expo's turnstile each year. Bordered by the Portland Ice Arena on the right and Hadlock Field on its left, the Portland Exposition Building is the original centerpiece of the modern sports complex on Park Avenue.
