- Matthews Arena
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Matthews Arena 
Former names Boston Arena Location Boston, Massachusetts Coordinates 42°20′28″N 71°5′4″W / 42.34111°N 71.08444°WCoordinates: 42°20′28″N 71°5′4″W / 42.34111°N 71.08444°W Broke ground October 11, 1909 Opened 1910 Owner Northeastern University Operator Northeastern University Surface 200 x 90 ft/61 m x 27 m (hockey) Capacity Ice Hockey: 4,666[1]
Basketball: 6,000
Concerts: 6,300Tenants Northeastern basketball (men's) and ice hockey (men's and women's)
WIT Leopards (men's ice hockey)
Boston Celtics (NBA) (1946–1955)
Boston Bruins (NHL) (1924–1928)
New England Whalers (WHA) (1972–1973)Matthews Arena, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is a basketball and ice hockey arena. Renovated several times, it is the oldest indoor ice hockey arena still being used for hockey and is the oldest multi-purpose athletic building still in use, in the world.[2][3] It opened in 1910 on what is now the east end of Northeastern University's campus, and is currently owned by the university. It is the original home of the NHL Boston Bruins and the WHA New England Whalers (now the NHL Carolina Hurricanes), as well as the secondary home of the NBA Boston Celtics.
Contents
History
The structure was more widely known as Boston Arena until 1982 when Northeastern alumnus George J. Matthews helped fund its refurbishment. The arena was briefly known as Northeastern Arena as well. Matthews is also the place where the hockey programs of Boston College, Boston University, Harvard, MIT, Northeastern University, Tufts University and Wentworth Institute of Technology all began; in particular, it housed the Boston University hockey team until 1971, when Walter Brown Arena was built.
Matthews Arena has played host to many famous people and events during its lifetime. Matthews hosted every president from Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 to John F. Kennedy in 1946. Other dignitaries to hold events at the arena include Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart. Boxing was once a mainstay at the arena and hosted bouts with Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Joe Lewis and Marvin Hagler. Muhammad Ali trained at what was called Santos Gym, where the Varsity Club now sits, for his second bout with Sonny Liston. Professional Wrestling was also a main-stay at at the arena for many years including being the location for debut for The Fabulous Moolah in 1949.
Matthews Arena also proved famous as a concert venue during much of its lifetime. A 1958 concert hosted by Alan Freed was cut short due to riots. Playing the concert were Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry. Freed was arrested after issuing the famous line, "The police don't want you to have fun." Other famous acts to grace the arena were The Doors in a show that was later released to the public. Another famous concert was the Phish New Year's Eve concert on December 31, 1992. The show was the highest attended Phish concert to date and was played on WBCN the next day.
It has hosted all or part of the America East Conference men's basketball tournament a total of seven times and hosted the 1960 Frozen Four. The arena also served as the original home to the annual Beanpot tournament between Boston's four major college hockey programs.[4]
Current use
Today, Matthews Arena is home to the Northeastern Huskies men's and women's ice hockey teams, and men's basketball team as well as the Wentworth Institute of Technology's men's ice hockey team and various high school ice hockey programs in the city of Boston.
Matthews Arena also hosts a variety of Northeastern on-campus events, including the annual Springfest concert, as well as graduation ceremonies for the university.
2009 renovations
The arena underwent extensive renovations over the summer of 2009. The centerpiece of the renovations were all-new seating and a brand new center ice jumbotron. The lobby was also reworked, with additional concessions and an elevator for ADA compliance. A new weight room and expanded locker rooms were provided for the athletes. The total cost of the renovations was estimated at $12 million.
2009
Preceded by
first arenaHome of the
Boston Celtics
1946 – 1955Succeeded by
Boston GardenPreceded by
first arenaHome of the
Boston Bruins
1924 – 1928Succeeded by
Boston GardenPreceded by
first arenaHome of the
New England Whalers
1972 – 1973Succeeded by
Eastern States ColiseumReferences
- ^ "Box :: USCHO.com :: U.S. College Hockey Online". USCHO.com. http://www.uscho.com/box/?date=20100219&vis=bc&home=nu&gender=m. Retrieved 2011-03-18.
- ^ "Northeastern University Athletics Official Website". Gonu.com. http://www.gonu.com/mhockey/archives/matthews/index.html. Retrieved 2011-03-18.
- ^ Katy Fitzpatrick (2009-10-02). ""New Season Brings Renovated Arena for Northeastern," ''USCHO.com'', October 2, 2009". Uscho.com. http://www.uscho.com/news/college-hockey/id,17170/NUHuskieslookingforwardtorenovatedArenanewseason.html. Retrieved 2011-03-18.
- ^ Klein, Jeff Z. (2009.12.29). "Matthews Arena, the Ice Rink That Changed Boston Hockey". NY Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/30/sports/hockey/30arena.html?_r=1&th&emc=th. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
External sources
Research Institutes: Institute for Global Innovation Management
Athletics Colonial Athletic Association • Northeastern Huskies • Beanpot • Bartletta Natatorium • Cabot Center • Matthews Arena • Parsons Field • Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center • Men's Ice Hockey • Women's Ice Hockey • Women's Swimming and Diving • PawsMedia Miscellaneous Basketball arenas of the Colonial Athletic Association Bob Carpenter Center (Delaware) • Daskalakis Athletic Center (Drexel) • Patriot Center (George Mason) • GSU Sports Arena (Georgia State) • Hofstra Arena (Hofstra) • JMU Convocation Center (James Madison) • Ted Constant Convocation Center (Old Dominion) • Matthews Arena (Northeastern, men's) • Cabot Center (Northeastern, women's) • Towson Center (Towson) • Kaplan Arena at William & Mary Hall (William & Mary) • Trask Coliseum (UNC Wilmington) • Stuart C. Siegel Center (Virginia Commonwealth)
Hockey East Men Boston College Eagles (Kelley Rink) • Boston University Terriers (Agganis Arena) • Maine Black Bears (Alfond Arena) • Merrimack Warriors (J. Thom Lawler Arena) • Northeastern Huskies (Matthews Arena) • Providence Friars (Schneider Arena) • UMass Minutemen (Mullins Center) • UMass Lowell River Hawks (Tsongas Center) • New Hampshire Wildcats (Whittemore Center) • Vermont Catamounts (Gutterson Fieldhouse)
Women Boston College Eagles (Kelley Rink) • Boston University Terriers (Walter Brown Arena) • Connecticut Huskies (Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum) • Maine Black Bears (Alfond Arena) • New Hampshire Wildcats (Whittemore Center) • Northeastern Huskies (Matthews Arena) • Providence Friars (Schneider Arena) • Vermont Catamounts (Gutterson Fieldhouse)
NCAA • Lamoriello Trophy • List of champions: Men / Women • Tournament sites: TD Garden / Mark Edward Freitas Ice ForumBoston Celtics Founded in 1946 • Based in Boston, MassachusettsThe franchise Franchise • Team history • All-time roster • Seasons • Accomplishments • Head coaches • Current seasonArenas Boston Arena • Boston Garden • Hartford Civic Center • TD GardenHead coaches General managers Retired numbers NBA D-League affiliates Rivals Philadelphia 76ers • Los Angeles Lakers • Detroit PistonsCulture Celtics parquet floor • Celtic Pride • Greatest Game Ever Played • Tommy Points • "Love ya, Cooz!" • Close, but no cigar! • Bill Russell • Beat L.A. • Mike Gorman • Johnny Most • "Havlicek Stole the Ball!" • Henderson steals the Ball! • Boston Garden • North Station • The Heat Game • Memorial Day Massacre • Larry Legend • DJ • BirdParishMcHale • PierceAllenGarnettMedia TVRadioNBA Championships (17) Boston Bruins The Franchise Franchise • Team history • All-time roster • Seasons • Players • Records • Draft picks • GMs • Head coaches • The Kraut Line • Current seasonArenas Boston Arena • Boston Garden • TD GardenAffiliates Media NESN • WBZ-FM • BroadcastersChampionships Retired Numbers Culture Bruins–Canadiens rivalry • Rene Rancourt • The Goal • Willie O'Ree • North Station • Original Six • The Big Bad BruinsHartford Whalers Franchise Hartford Whalers • Carolina Hurricanes • Expansion draft • Players • Coaches • General Managers • Broadcasters • Seasons • Draft picks • Brass Bonanza • NHL–WHA merger •Arenas Boston Arena • Boston Garden • The Big E Coliseum • Springfield Civic Center • Hartford Civic CenterCategories:- College ice hockey venues in the United States
- Northeastern University
- Basketball venues in Massachusetts
- Sports venues in Boston, Massachusetts
- Indoor ice hockey venues in the United States
- College basketball venues in the United States
- Defunct National Hockey League venues
- World Hockey Association venues
- Defunct National Basketball Association venues
- Buildings and structures completed in 1910
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