Notre Dame Arena Gets New Look, New Name

Notre Dame Arena, a fixture in the Berlin community for over 70 years, will be

undergoing major renovations thanks to a generous $300,000 donation from New

Hampshire auto dealer Dan Dagesse. The arena will also be newly christened

“Nucar Notre Dame Arena.”

Dagesse is the Chairman of DCD Automotive Holdings, with 14 locations

throughout Delaware, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. His exciting new

brand, Nucar Automotive Group, has locally-based locations in New Hampshire

including Tilton, Gorham, and Plymouth. Dagesse also raised his family in

Gorham. His daughter, Jenny, and her husband, Mel, still live there. They own

and operate a business called Mountain Tire Corporation and are also on the

board at DCD Automotive. Dagesse also has a son, Christopher, who is also a

part of the business serving as President.

Dagesse has been a longtime supporter of the arena, participating in hockey and

athletic events in the Berlin community.

“This renovation reflects our commitment to innovation, giving back and being an

integral part of the community,” Dagesse said. “We are also proud that the Nucar

name will now not only be gracing dealerships in New Hampshire but will also be

attached to the arena.”

Dagesse’s ties to the arena also extend to arena Treasurer, Paul Grenier. Grenier

was a top sales associate for over 15 years at Berlin City Toyota, part of Berlin

City Auto Group, previously owned by Dagesse.

“I have the utmost respect for Dan. We go way back,” said Grenier. “Dan has

always recognized the cultural importance of hockey at the Notre Dame Arena.

It’s a source of pride for the community and Dan’s unbelievable donation will help

preserve the arena and continue to make it a gathering place for athletic and

social events for many generations to come.”

This isn’t the first time Dagesse has made a huge contribution to the arena. In

2007, Dagesse donated $250,000, helping with much needed renovations and

putting the arena back on firm financial footing. His latest donation will continue

to accelerate renovations and promote financial security, keeping the arena open

despite the impacts of COVID-19.

In addition to his $300,000 donation, Dagesse is also committing to an annual

$30,000 pledge, which will go towards scholarships for teaching youths how to

skate and providing monetary assistance for those in need. Other exciting

possible future plans include the creation of a Nucar invitational hockey

tournament.

The Notre Dame Arena, constructed in 1947 by the Catholic Church, is the

second oldest indoor ice hockey arena and the only 501(c)(4) non-profit arena in

New Hampshire. It is currently home to the largest number of New Hampshire

Boys Ice Hockey State Championships and four National Amateur champions.

In 2018, Dagesse returned to the dealership game in New Hampshire, acquiring

the Chevrolet dealership in Colebrook with his brother-in-law, Donald Noyes. In

2019, he went on to partner with Shawn Hanlon and acquired Plymouth Ford and

Hanlon’s AutoNorth Superstore in Gorham. This past December, they added

Nucar AutoMall of Tilton, formerly AutoServ into the mix. Hanlon is now President

of the Nucar New Hampshire platform. These three stores have had tremendous

growth in volume and employment since being acquired by Nucar.

Nucar introduces a new approach to car buying, enabling customers to buy a

new or used car completely online, without ever having to step foot inside a

dealership. Roger Marois, Berlin native and dedicated local salesperson, will be

handling the North Country market helping customers shop a tremendous

selection of premier brands including Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Chevrolet,

Ford, Kia, Volkswagen, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and RAM. Nucar customers also

enjoy confidence and convenience with an available 20-year, 200,000-mile

warranty, plus store-to-door delivery anywhere in New England.

While the AutoServ, AutoNorth and Plymouth Ford names have changed to

Nucar, Dagesse and his team remain committed to the community, and carrying

on the same legacy of excellence, which has benefited over 100,000 satisfied

customers.

“We’re excited to be introducing the innovative Nucar brand to New Hampshire,”

Dagesse said. “Now we’re looking forward to exceeding the expectations of

many generations to come.”

For more information, visit your local Nucar dealer or shop completely online at

Nucar.com.