The Most Attended Maine Venue In 2022 Will Surprise You

Despite the fact that Maine is a really rural state, we still have our fair share of event venues.  We've got places for concerts, places for baseball games, we've got hockey arenas, places to hold trade shows, and more.

It is probably not a big surprise that the Maine venue with the largest capacity is the Maine Savings Amphitheater in Bangor.  The Waterfront Concerts operated space can hold up to 16,000 fans.

But, what Maine venue had the most attendees in 2022?

The answer may shock you just a little...

According to an article on the Maine Biz website, the Augusta Civic Center saw the most attendees in 2022.  In total, it saw over half a million people in 2022!

Wait... What?

This is the part where you start wondering how that is even possible.  How could a venue that has a capacity of 10,000 have more attendees than a concert venue like the Maine Savings Amphitheater?

It's all about playing the long game.

While a summer concert venue may see a dozen shows over the course of the year, the civic center hosts hundreds of events over a twelve month period.  There are a few decent sized concerts each year.  Trace Adkins was there in 2022, for example.  But, the place also hosts dozens of basketball games, trade shows, banquets, hand more.

According to the article, the Augusta Civic Center hosted over 550,000 people in 2022.

A Piece Of Maine History

The Augusta Civic Center has been a core part of the Central Maine area for a half century.  Yeah, it seems kind of hard to believe, doesn't it?  It is true, though.  The place held its first events in 1973.

In fact, back in the day, it was the premiere concert venue in the State of Maine.  Larger acts, like Elvis Presley, would often skip Portland and Lewiston / Auburn in order to perform at the Augusta Civic Center.

These days, the venue still hosts a handful of concerts each year, but it is nothing like it was back in the 1970s and 1980s.

Other Top Maine Venues

In second place on the list of most attended venues was Hadlock Field.  The baseball stadium where the Portland Sea Dogs play saw a 2022 attendance of just under 380,000.

The Cross Insurance Arena (formerly the Cumberland County Civic Center) came in third place with a 2022 attendance of 250,000

In fourth place was The Colisee in Lewiston.  That venerable arena saw about 225,000 visitors in 2022.

Fifth place on the list was a little bit of a surprise.  It was the Children's Museum & Theater of Maine.  The organization's new facility welcomed over 200,000 visitors in 2022.

Have you ever seen a show there?  Who was it?  Let us know by sending us a message through our app.

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