Androscoggin Bank Colisée
| Colisée The ABC |
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| Former names | Central Maine Youth Center (1958–1989) Central Maine Civic Center (1989–2004) Lewiston Colisée (2004–2006) |
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| Location | Lewiston, Maine |
| Owner | Firland Management, LLC (2008–present) |
| Operator | Firland Management, LLC |
| Capacity | 3,677 (hockey) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1956 |
| Opened | 1958 |
| Construction cost | $1 million, with renovations $5 million |
| Architect | Unknown |
| Tenants | |
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Maine Nordiques (NAHL) (1973–1977) Lewiston Maineiacs (QMJHL) (2003–2011) Portland Pirates (AHL) (2013–2014) L/A Fighting Spirit (NA3EHL/NA3HL) (2015–present) |
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The Androscoggin Bank Colisée (formerly Central Maine Civic Center and Lewiston Colisee) is a 4,000 capacity (3,677 seated) multi-purpose arena, in Lewiston, Maine, that opened in 1958.
It is the former home of the now-defunct Lewiston Maineiacs ice hockey team and was the home arena for the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League for the 2013–2014 season. Currently, it is the home of the L/A Fighting Spirit, another ice hockey team.
The Androscoggin Bank Colisée (formerly the Central Maine Youth Center, and the Central Maine Civic Center) was built in 1958–1959 to replace St. Dominics Regional High School Arena. It was initially constructed and operated by the Catholic parish of SS. Peter and Paul.
The Maine Nordiques were the primary tenant at the Civic Center from 1973 to 1977. The Nordiques were members of the old North American Hockey League.
The Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association played exhibition games at the Civic Center taking advantage of what was at the time the largest portable floor in the world. The founder of the Celtics, Walter A. Brown, had a financial hand in the building's construction.
It was the venue for the WBC Heavyweight boxing championship rematch between former champ Sonny Liston and reigning champion Muhammad Ali. On May 25, 1965, Ali beat Liston in under three minutes.
In 1989, the Catholic Diocese of Portland sold the Central Maine Civic Center to Roger Theriault and Frank Corrao for $100,000; they were unable to get the original $700,000 asking price.
In 2003, The Lewiston Maineiacs came to the Central Maine Civic Center based on a promise that the arena would be renovated. The City of Lewiston bought the building for $250,000 and carried the $4.7 million debt; it was renamed the Lewiston Colisee. In 2006, Androscoggin Bank, a Lewiston-headquartered bank, purchased naming rights. It has since been known as the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. In 2007, the Lewiston Maineiacs won the Presidents Cup, the QMJHL league championship.
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