BANGOR, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- When it came time to say goodbye to the Bangor Auditorium and move into the Cross Insurance Center, tourney organizers tried hard to put the best of the old into a shiny new venue.
It's not the old auditorium, but it has created its own atmosphere, said tourney organizer Jerry Goss.
Now on year two at the center, the feedback so far has been good.
"The reaction has been tremendous from the players, coaches, officials and fans," said Dick Durost. "The creature comforts here are so much better for people in terms of coming and watching the game."
To maximize those creature comforts, organizers had to do some careful planning. The cold large room has to be cozy enough for people to find community and cheer their team on together.
"By setting the band and cheerleaders on one end and the media riser on the other it gives it more of a closeness," said Gross.
Despite those efforts and the comfy seats in the Cross Insurance Center, there was something special about the Bangor Auditorium.
"If you were court-side where we are right here at the old place and that place was full, you could not hear yourself talking to somebody else right beside you," said Dale Duff from 92.9 FM. "When we would do live interviews with coaches it would be that noisy, I'm not sure this place will ever be quite that noisy."
To follow tournment coverage, visit WCSH6.com/sports or WLBZ2.com/sports.
