Orono Named One of America’s Best Cities for Hockey Fans

The home of the University of Maine Black Bears has been named one of the best spots for hockey fans in the country.

👇 KEEP READING: 20 Bands that Have Performed at the University of Maine 👇

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

While hockey may not have the same national draw as football, basketball, or baseball, it remains a major part of the sports economy.

WalletHub continued its yearly tradition of ranking 75 U.S. cities using 21 factors, including ticket prices, stadium capacity, and team performance, to determine the best places for hockey fans.

Among the 75 towns and cities ranked, Orono placed 26th overall, third in the NCAA hockey category, and was the second-highest-ranked New England location on the list.

New England had a strong showing in the report, with Boston ranking No. 1 overall thanks to the Bruins’ NHL history and the city’s successful Division I college hockey programs.

And there you have it! According to a recent report from WalletHub, Orono has been ranked as one of the best cities and towns for hockey fans in 2026.

What are your thoughts on this? We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to join the conversation by messaging us on the app.

20 Bands that Have Performed at the University of Maine

The University of Maine at Orono is our state's great flagship university. It also includes an extensive rock history. Here is just a small sample of the musical acts that have performed at the legendary campus.

Gallery Credit: Chris Sedenka