The Portland Exposition Building, commonly known as “The Expo,” first opened its doors to the public on June 7th, 1915. The city spent $80,944 to construct the building, which was designed by renowned local architect Frederick A. Tompson, who was also responsible for Portland’s Masonic Temple and the George F. West home.
The Expo holds the distinction of being the second-oldest arena in continuous operation in the United States, surpassed only by Boston’s Matthews Arena. The building originally featured a first-floor arena and a basement-level nightspot called Café Dumont, also known as “The Cafe D,” which boasted a classy nightclub atmosphere and hosted top international entertainment.
Over the years, the Expo has been graced by several notable figures, including Babe Ruth, John F. Kennedy, James Brown, Arnold Palmer, and Dolly Parton. In 2008, a group of local business leaders secured an agreement to bring an NBA Development League team to the venue and renovate the arena. By 2009, the Maine Red Claws, now the Maine Celtics, began their first season at the Expo, where they continue to play today.
