Photos by Paul Baker Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86
Whittemore Center 128 Main St. Durham, NH 03824
Year Opened: 1995 Capacity: 7,500
100 Years of Wildcat Hockey
The first hockey team at the University of New Hampshire took the ice in 1925. For many years, the team played on an outdoor rink that was dependent on the elements for use. That all changed in 1965 with the construction of Snively Arena. Named for former coach A. Barr “Whoop” Snively, the classic barrel-shaped barn served as home to the Wildcats for 30 years. Snively Arena still stands today, used as a recreation center located adjacent to its successor, the Whittemore Center.
In 1995 the Whittemore Center was built next door to its predecessor for $30 million. Frederick B. Whittemore was a noted philanthropist and founding director of the UNH Foundation. The facility was dedicated to Frederick and the Whittemore family. Originally built with an Olympic-sized (200 feet by 100 feet) ice surface, the Whittemore Center ice surface was reduced slightly to “NHL size” (200’ by 90’) in a 2022 renovation. The venue hosted the Women’s Frozen Four in 2002, 2005, 2016 and 2024.
The Wildcats have qualified for the NCAA tournament 22 times, most recently in 2013. UNH has reached the Frozen Four seven times, finishing as national runners-up in 1999 and 2003. UNH counts among its alumni 25 First-Team All-Americans. 47 former Wildcats have played in the National Hockey League, most notably Hockey Hall of Famer Rod Langway.
The UNH women’s hockey team also calls the Whittemore Center home. They have qualified for five NCAA tournaments, most recently in 2010. They reached the Frozen Four once, in 2006, and won a national championship in 1998, before the NCAA sponsored the annual national championship tournament.
Food & Beverage 3
There are small concession stands located on each side of the rectangular-shaped concourse. Each stand features one pillar of the arena menu standards (hot dogs, burgers, pizza, chicken tenders) A variety of snacks can be found at each of these stands. Again, the basics (popcorn, pretzels, candy, nachos) are well represented. Fans looking for unique items can search for chili and cornbread, meatball subs, or baked goods served up at one of the portable stands. A stand serving up Dippin’ Dots is popular with the younger fans in attendance.
Coca-Cola products are featured at the Whittemore Center. Fans looking for an adult beverage can choose from several national brands of beer and wine. If craft beers are more your style, brews from several local breweries are featured, highlighted by the Go Cats IPA from Deciduous Brewing.
Atmosphere 5
At any college game, the game day atmosphere is driven primarily by the pep band and student section. At the Whittemore Center, the students don’t disappoint. While this student section may not be as loud and salty as others in New England, they make their presence known with a repertoire of chants and songs. The band plays through most play stoppages, creating a lively atmosphere.
Even though the Whittemore Center is a gray, concrete building, UNH has made great efforts to soften what could be a drab and cold facility. Photos fill the walls all over the Whittemore Center of current and former UNH teams, alumni who played in the NHL, displays of New Hampshire hockey history, and more. Banners honoring championship and tournament teams hang over the ice. There’s a lot to check out at Whittemore Center.
There are 50/50 raffles and in-game contests to keep casual fans interested. A large video board hangs at center ice and is put to good use with replays, hype videos, fan cams, and graphics.
A highlight of every Wildcat game is the tossing of the fish onto the ice surface. After New Hampshire scores their first goal, a student tosses a fish from the crowd onto the ice. The tradition is said to have begun in the late 70s to mock the opponents having to “fish” the puck out of their net.
Neighborhood 3
The University of New Hampshire dominates the small town of Durham. The Whittemore Center is located about a mile west of downtown on Main Street. Durham has a nice, traditional small-town college feel to it, and there are a few places worth checking out for a bite to eat if you are visiting here from out of town. Clarks American Bistro and the Hop and Grill highlight several options located in the downtown area.
Fans visiting UNH from out of town will often head east to Portsmouth, located just 11 miles from Whittemore Center. Portsmouth features a picturesque, walkable downtown with numerous quaint shops and excellent restaurants.
Since there are not many lodging options in Durham, head to Portsmouth for more choices.
Boston, Massachusetts is about an hour’s drive south on I-95. The White Mountains are located just a ninety-minute drive north of Durham and feature spectacular foliage in the fall and many outstanding ski resorts in the winter.
Fans 5
New Hampshire averages around 5,000 fans per game annually, which places them in the top 15 of all Division One teams nationwide. New Hampshire is a hockey-crazed state and UNH has a legion of dedicated, knowledgeable fans.
With the Wildcats’ membership in the Hockey East Conference, the home schedule is guaranteed to feature several top-ranked and local teams. It’s not unusual to see visiting fans in solid numbers at Whittemore Center. When traditional rival Maine is in town, expect the intensity to ratchet up a notch or two.
The student section is located behind the goal on the east end of the arena. Often packed to the brim, the students fill Whittemore Center with noise throughout the night.
Access 3
Durham is a small town with a population of 15,000 located fifteen minutes west of Portsmouth and an hour north of Boston. The town is easy to reach from Interstate 95 and New Hampshire Route 4. The University of New Hampshire dominates Durham, with the campus straddling Main Street.
The Whittemore Center is located on the western edge of campus alongside UNH’s other athletic facilities, including Wildcat Stadium and Lundholm Gymnasium. There are several parking lots surrounding the athletic facilities, but most fans will park in Lot A across the train tracks from the arena.
Whittemore Center features a large lobby located between Hamel Recreation Center (the old Snively Arena) and the Whittemore Center Arena. After the long walk from your car on a cold New Hampshire winter night, this indoor lobby is most appreciated. A 360-degree concourse circles the rink atop the seating bowl. The rink is visible from most spots on the concourse.
Fans will walk down to their seats, which consist mostly of blue folding stadium seats, with molded bleachers on either end. Views from all seats are excellent. Although there are several concession stands and three sets of restrooms around the arena, lines do form during intermission. Time your trips wisely.
Return on Investment 3
Tickets to Wildcat hockey games cost $32 for sideline seats and $24 for end zone seats. Discounts are available for seniors, youth and members of the military. Parking in the many lots surrounding Whittemore Center is free. Concession prices feel a little bit on the high side but are comparable to other venues in the area. Overall, a night at a Wildcat hockey game is an affordable entertainment option for southern New Hampshire sports fans.
Extras 5
The Wildcat statue that guards the entrance to the Whittemore Center on Main Street provides an excellent gathering spot and opportunity for a group photo before you head inside.
Extra points are awarded for the displays of New Hampshire hockey history all around the Whittemore Center. From the moment you enter the lobby of the Whittemore Center, you are presented with the best UNH has to offer.
Oversized photos of UNH All-Americans line the lobby walls along with the Hobey Baker Award won by Jason Krog and the Patty Kazmeier Award won by Brandy Fisher. Banners hang from the rafters honoring Wildcat tournament and championship teams, including the National Championship Women’s team in 1998.
The Charles Holt Gallery displays photos of every men's hockey team to represent the school and the Russ McCourty Gallery shows photos of every women’s hockey team. Look closely at the photos of the women’s teams from 1977-1991. You may notice that in every team photo, coach McCurty is holding his pet cat.
A final extra point is awarded for the tradition of throwing a fish on the ice after the Wildcat's first goal.
Final Thoughts
This mid-sized rink in a tiny town with an oversized ice surface is loaded with displays of New Hampshire hockey history and enthusiastic fans. Despite the small-town feel here in Durham, Boston is just over an hour away. The University of New Hampshire is well-situated for their second century of Wildcat hockey.
Just be careful, the fish toss doesn’t always go as planned…
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