Class D football championship among slate of finals to be held at Cameron Stadium

By Larry Mahoney, Bangor Daily News Staff

BANGOR – The new artificial turf surface and the surrounding eight-lane track at Cameron Stadium allowed Bangor to host the Class D state championship football game last fall and the state Class A boys and girls track meet this spring.

The events impressed the Maine Principals’ Association. So much so that Bangor will host four more championship playoff games this fall.

Two regional championship soccer games will be played at Cameron Stadium this fall, in addition to the state Class C and D state championship football games. It is believed to be the first time Bangor has hosted a regional championship game in soccer without its own teams being involved.

In addition, fundraising efforts will begin this fall for a $400,000 scoreboard that would be located behind the end zone nearest the Cohen Middle School.

“[Bangor] did a great job hosting the football game and the track meet. The teams really enjoyed being there,” said Mike Bisson, the assistant executive director of the MPA.

It was the first time Bangor had hosted a state football game since 1996, and it was also more than two decades since it last held a state track meet.

Foxcroft Academy football coach Danny White, whose Ponies edged Winthrop-Monmouth-Hall-Dale 19-16 in the Class D title game, said the whole experience was “awesome,” and he was pleased that Bangor landed two football games next fall.

“It is a great venue for state games. Everything about it was great. We were all treated very well,” said White.

He said the turf field was “excellent,” and the upgraded locker rooms were roomy and had good proximity to the field.

White also enjoyed the fact it is just a 40-minute drive from Dover-Foxcroft, so that more fans were able to come. 

“It was very special.”

Bisson said the soccer regional championship game plans have yet to be finalized but Bangor will be hosting either the Class B, C or D North title games.

“We want to host as often as we can,” said Bangor Athletic Director Steve Vanidestine, who said that he would also embrace hosting the Class B or C state track meet next spring since the A meet will likely be held in central or southern Maine.

He would also love to eventually host regional or state championship field hockey games.

“The MPA has been good to us,” Vanidestine said. “To be allowed to host the state Class A track meet in the first year of the new track was really special.”

For the scoreboard, $250,000 is already invested in the conduit and fiber optics, which are already in place, Vanidestine said. 

The scoreboard would be 30-by-40-feet and would provide a number of services, including instant replay, results, music, interviews and advertisements. 

“We could also have a movie night,” Vanidestine said.

He is hoping to raise the money through private donations and would love to have it in place within a year and a half.

He would also like to add 1,000 seats to the bleachers on the visitors side and upgrade the concession stand.

Vanidestine said he is elated to be able to host six regional or state championship events in the first year of the new surface and new track’s existence, including next fall’s games.

But he doesn’t want to deprive other communities of the same experience.

“We just want to be part of the [championship location] rotation,” he said.