Cross Insurance and Cumberland County Civic Center Announce Naming Rights Agreement for Newly Renovated Portland Arena

Portland, Maine – Cross Insurance, a subsidiary of Cross Financial Corp., and one of the largest independent insurance providers in New England, and the Cumberland County Civic Center announced today they have signed a new, long-term naming rights agreement to name the Portland, Maine-based, nearly 7,000-seat multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue the Cross Insurance Arena.

The venue, a staple of Southern Maine for close to four decades, reopened in February 2014 following a 15-month-long-expansion and accompanying renovations.  The arena now includes expanded lobby areas, concessions, accessibility, storage, loading dock capability, rest rooms, locker rooms, luxury suites, and premium seating, as well as upgrades to safety and security.

Cross Insurance, a family-owned agency where three generations of the Cross Family work, contributed $2.5 million to secure the naming rights for the 10-year agreement.  Additional advertising and premium seating opportunities are available in the Cross Insurance Arena.

The strong philanthropic commitment made by the Cross Family will provide significant revenue toward repayment of a $33 million dollar renovation bond approved by Cumberland County taxpayers in November 2011 that allowed for the renovation and expansion of the arena.

Cross Insurance is the only insurance agency in the US to have secured naming rights for two major arena complexes, including one located in their home state’s most-populated region.  The agency currently holds the naming rights to the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor for 15 years.

“Cross Insurance is thrilled and proud to have the opportunity to partner with the Cumberland County Civic

STANDUP PHENOMENON JEFF DUNHAM BRINGS HIS BRAND NEW “DISORDERLY CONDUCT” WORLDWIDE TOUR TO THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY CIVIC CENTER ON JANUARY 11, 2013

Watch for Jeff Dunham’s New Comedy Central Special “Minding the Monsters” Premiering October 7th

Portland, Maine - In November of 2012 Jeff Dunham kicks off his all new “Disorderly Conduct” worldwide tour. The new tour offers his global fan base a brand new show packed with more laughs than ever before. Dunham’s famed troupe of sidekicks are back: Walter the Grumpy Retiree, Achmed the Dead Terrorist, the beer-fueled redneck Bubba J, the manic purple creature Peanut, the spicy pepper from south of the border José Jalapeño, and Peanut’s own ventriloquist dummy Little Jeff, a mini-version of the ringmaster himself.

Dunham and his comedic sidekicks recently taped a new Comedy Central one hour special entitled “Minding the Monsters,” scheduled to be broadcast on October 7th with a DVD available on October 9th.  The new show is the fifth in a string of record breaking specials. “Minding the Monsters” takes its audience into the ultimate haunted house where you can see Walter transform into something grumpier than he already is, watch Bubba J rise from the dead, meet Peanut’s alter ego, The Purple Avenger of the Night, and his spicy sidekick, and witness Achmed literally dressed to kill in an outfit that would terrify the most terrifying terrorist!

The phenomenal international success of Dunham and his cohorts have been driven by his Comedy Central specials, which set global records for both ratings and sales. Last September, Dunham’s 4th Comedy Central TV special “Controlled Chaos,” premiered to a staggering 8.3 million viewers overall making it the most viewed cable show that night. The global TV event enjoyed a never-before simultaneous same day worldwide debut in a dozen countries. Dunham continued to break ratings records at the end of 2011, when The Bio Channel’s premiere of Jeff Dunham: “Birth of a Dummy” became the network’s top rated telecast ever. No wonder The New York Times Magazine declared Jeff Dunham “the most successful comedian working in America.”  Dunham was recently named Pollstar’s #1 Comedy Tour in North America for three years running as well as their Top Worldwide Tour for the third year in a row.  In addition, Dunham’s undeniable talent placed him on Forbes magazine’s Celebrity 100 roster of most powerful entertainers for the past four years.                                              .

Dunham’s autobiography “All By My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed, And Me” debuted in late 2010 and instantly climbed the New York Times best sellers list and achieved a Five-Star Reader Rating on Amazon.  The book candidly recounts Dunham’s amazing rise to international fame beginning with his first public performances for a mere $5 a show as a fourth-grader in his Dallas, TX hometown,  followed by years of intensive touring on the comedy club circuit from his college years into adulthood to becoming an international comedy phenomenon. .

The amazing rise of Jeff Dunham continues apace, with 2012 having seen Jeff continue to pack arena-sized venues.  He made his fourth trip to Europe this spring, stopping in the U.K., Germany, and Belgium. Dunham also completed his second trip to South Africa, playing to sold out crowds at some of the nation’s biggest venues in Cape Town, Durban, Sun City and Johannesburg, and is embarking on his second trip to Australia this summer.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2013
CUMBERLAND COUNTY CIVIC CENTER
Doors @ 7:00 PM / Show @ 8:00PM
TICKETS ON SALE OCTOBER 12, 2012 @ 10AM.

Tickets available at the Civic Center box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 207-745-3000.