Maine Athletic Director Steve Abbott said, “Among concerns about using 'The Pit' is the potential for not being able to accommodate more than the estimated capacity crowd of 1,300.” In 2012, renovations began to the arena.

Abbott said the upgrades in 2012 were expected to cost $150,000, but UMaine will be able to use some of the equipment even after the renovation project is completed.

Once the funding for the proposed project is in place, UMaine will begin retrofitting the building to make it the full-time home of Black Bear basketball.

“We want to start taking those steps to making it a reality.”[2] In 2014, it will become the full-time home of Black Bear basketball, replacing Alfond Arena.

The total cost of the renovations will be approximately $12.7 million, which will include some classrooms, an academic athletic center, a new training facility, new heating/HVAC ventilation, and new player locker rooms.