In January 2013, The Weekly ran a four-part series on the history of the Bangor Auditorium, starting with its first incarnation in 1897. Here are links to those four parts.
- Part I: The First Arena
In 1897, Bangor needed a venue large enough to bring a music festival to the city. People made it happen. - Part II: Bangor’s economic engine
The original building had outlived its usefulness, and Bangor needed a bigger and better venue. The new auditorium would become a center of the regional economy for decades. - Part III: Citizens divided
A replacement for the 1955 structure was needed, but many people didn’t agree. Nostalgia, tradition, and finances were the key points of debate. - Part IV: The Next Generation
It all came down to a citizen referendum to determine whether the new arena would be built.