Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57
Portland Exposition Building 239 Park Ave Portland, ME 04102
Year Opened: 1914 Capacity: 3,000
The Home of Crustacean Nation
The Portland Exposition Building, more commonly called “The Expo”, is part of a larger sports and convention center complex in Maine’s largest city. Built in 1914, it is the second oldest arena in continuous operation in the United States, behind only Matthews Arena in Boston. Over the years the facility has hosted Presidential speeches, trade shows and concerts by artists as diverse as Phish, Natalie Merchant, the Monkees, the Beach Boys, James Brown and Janis Joplin. The Expo also serves as home to Portland High School basketball teams.
The Maine Celtics are the NBA G-League affiliate of the Boston Celtics. The team has called the Expo home since their founding in 2009. Initially named the “Red Claws” in tribute to longtime Celtics’ coach and executive Arnold “Red” Auerbach and the local Maine lobster industry, the team was rebranded in 2021. The Red Claws have qualified for the G-League playoffs six times in their history, reaching the G-League Finals in 2024.
Food & Beverage 3
There is a single concession stand located immediately to your right as you enter the arena. It serves up arena basics, including hot dogs, burgers and pizza slices. Pretzels, fries, popcorn and nachos round out the menu. Of course, since this is Maine, you really should try a Whoopie Pie.
Coca-Cola products are featured at the Expo. An additional stand in the lobby sells adult beverages. Thirsty fans can choose from several brands of domestic beer, canned seltzers and wine. Since Portland has a strong craft beer scene, local brews from Bunker, Definitive, Bizzell Brothers and Orono Brewing are featured here as well.
Atmosphere 4
The Expo is the second-oldest gym in continuous use in the country, and in many ways, it looks every day of its 110 years of age. But the staff here do their best to put on a show with all the bells and whistles modern basketball fans expect when coming to a professional game. The results are, well, mixed.
There’s a DJ who handles the music duty and a PA announcer who goes about his job with typical hoops energy. The arena emcee handles promotional duties and the Hype Squad performs dance routines during intermissions. All the elements are in place for an energetic game day atmosphere to keep the younger and casual fans interested. The staff here use light, sound and video in much the same way as the big-time arenas do, despite not having the same technology at their disposal.
Perhaps it’s the Expo’s old-school limitations that holds back the Celtics game day presentation from being all it can be. Or perhaps these old-school charms add to the atmosphere. We’ll let you decide. There’s a scoreboard on either end of the gym, one of which contains what is, by today’s standards, a tiny video board. Celtics staff don’t let the screen’s size hold them back, as they utilize it for crowd shots, replays, graphics and hype videos.
The Celtics’ schedule is filled with promotions, and each game is filled with activities for younger and older fans in attendance. One of the more popular contests is the lobster toss, where fans thrown softee basketballs into a giant lobster pot placed at center court to win various sponsor prizes.
Neighborhood 4
The city of Portland is often mentioned among the top destinations in all of minor league sports. The city features a thriving arts scene and is a favorite amongst foodies. In particular, if you love seafood, you won’t find a city with a greater diversity and quality of restaurants than Portland. There is also an active craft beer scene here, with several fine breweries located throughout the city. If visiting from out of town, you’ll want to head downtown to the Old Port for the best dining, drinking, and entertainment options after the game. While there’s much to do in the city of Portland, there’s not a whole lot in the immediate vicinity of the Expo for visiting fans.
Shoppers will flock to nearby outlet malls in Kittery, just to the south of the city, or Freeport, just to the north. The Maine Mall, the largest shopping center in the state, is located just a few miles away in South Portland. Maine dubs itself “Vacationland,” and whether your idea of relaxing involves a sandy beach, an amusement park, a museum, a day on the bay, swooshing down the slopes or hiking through the woods, you’ll find what you need in and around Portland. Check out Visit Portland for more details.
Fans 5
You wouldn’t think it, but basketball plays an important part in the Maine sporting scene. The Red Claws have been a massive hit since their arrival in 2009. Sports Business Journal named Portland as the top minor league market in the country in 2024, in no small part due to the support and success of the Celtics.
While actual attendance figures for the G-League can be difficult to access, the Expo is consistently filled to the brim with hoop fans. The fact that Portland is only 100 miles from Boston doesn’t hurt the passion shown by the fans in Maine. Despite playing in one of the G-League’s smallest markets, the Celtics are second in per-cap revenue and fourth in merchandise sales. The team has over 1,000 full-season ticket holders, meaning the Expo is almost half-filled with long-term fans before anyone else walks through the doors. The team sold out 15 games in 2023-24.
If you can make any criticism of the fans at the Expo, it’s that they are pretty quiet unless prompted to make some noise, and that they are in constant motion. When you purchase tickets to a Maine Celtics game, select your seats carefully, as many seats will be obstructed with passing traffic throughout the game.
Access 3
The Expo is easy to get to, located just off of Interstate 295. Also nearby are Hadlock Field, the Portland Ice Arena, and Fitzpatrick Stadium. Parking is available in several lots in and around the facilities, as well as in the Maine Medical Center Garage a couple of blocks away. There is plenty of on-street parking on the streets around the Expo, but pay attention to signs in the area, as there are restrictions.
Fans enter The Expo into a small lobby, where they must pass through a security checkpoint before proceeding to the arena. Also located in the lobby are the restrooms, a souvenir stand and a beer stand.
After passing through the lobby, fans will enter into the arena behind a set of bleachers. To get to all seats, you’ll walk courtside in front of the bleachers to your section. The constant flow of traffic along this walkway will obstruct your view if you sit in the first few rows, so selecting seats higher up is recommended. The center court sections feature individual seats, with the remainder of the seating consisting of molded bleachers.
The Expo has a real old-school feel to it. While this may trigger nostalgia in some fans, the tight quarters may be a nuisance to others. Be aware that this bandbox of a gym features tight quarters and long lines no matter where you are trying to go. Plan your trips to the concession stand and restrooms carefully.
Return on Investment 4
The Celtics utilize variable pricing for their games, with weekday tickets starting at about $20 per seat and increasing to a high of about $50 for a center court ticket for weekend games. Check the team website for particulars.
Parking is similarly variable in pricing. There are lots a short distance from the Expo which will charge you ten dollars to park. There is ample free on-street parking in the neighborhood, just pay attention to signage for restrictions.
Concessions are inexpensive, with no item priced at more than five dollars (alcoholic drinks not included). Overall, a night at a Maine Celtics game can be a very affordable entertainment option for southern Maine sports fans.
Extras 2
The Celtics display banners honoring every Red Claw/Celtic alumnus who has been called up to the NBA.
One point is subtracted for the decision to rebrand from the unique local nickname “Red Claws” to the parent club’s “Celtics.” One point is added for the decision to retain Crusher the lobster as the logo for the Maine Celtics, substituting for Lucky the Leprechaun and keeping some local flavor.
Another extra point is awarded for the historic Expo itself. The second-oldest gym in the country may have some issues with access, but the intimate setting makes it a great place to catch a game. A mural in the lobby highlights important events to take place in the building’s history, while another commemorates Union Station, which once stood near the Expo on St. John’s Street. The mural was completed in 1979.
Final Thoughts
The NBA G-League is full of many unique arenas, and the Expo would certainly be near the top of that list. The second oldest gym still in use in the country may be cramped and show its age from time to time, but it’s packed most nights with Maine hoops fans who wouldn’t want to watch their basketball in any other place.
Comments