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Matthews Arena

Coordinates: 42°20′28″N 71°5′4″W / 42.34111°N 71.08444°W / 42.34111; -71.08444
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Matthews Arena
Matthews Arena interior in 2009
Interior of arena in 2009
Map
Former namesBoston Arena (1909–1982)
Location238 St. Botolph Street,
Boston, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°20′28″N 71°5′4″W / 42.34111°N 71.08444°W / 42.34111; -71.08444
Public transit  Orange Line 
at Massachusetts Avenue
 Green Line 
at Symphony
OwnerNortheastern University
OperatorNortheastern University
DesignationNational Register and Boston Landmark eliglible
CapacityIce hockey: 4,666
Basketball: 5,066[1]
Surface200 ft × 90 ft (61 m × 27 m) (hockey)
Construction
Broke groundOctober 11, 1909
OpenedApril 25, 1910
Tenants
Northeastern Huskies (Hockey East, CAA) (1930–1943, 1946–present)
WIT Leopards (ECAC) (1992–present)
Harvard Crimson men's ice hockey (independent/IHL/TL/QL/PL) (1911–1917, 1921–1943, 1945–1956)
Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey (independent) (1917–1929, 1932–1943, 1945–1958)
Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey (independent/ECAC) (1918–1943, 1945–1971)
Boston Bruins (NHL) (1924–1928)
Boston Tigers/Cubs (CAHL) (1926–1936)
Boston Olympics (EAHL/QSHL) (1940–1952)
Boston Celtics (NBA) (1946–1955)
New England Whalers (WHA) (1972–1973)

Matthews Arena (formerly Boston Arena) is a historic multi-purpose arena in Boston, Massachusetts currently owned by Northeastern University. At over 120 years old, is the world's oldest multi-purpose athletic building still in use, as well as the oldest arena in use for ice hockey.[2] There are current plans to demolish the historic arena and replace it with a new facility.[3]

It is the original home of the National Hockey League (NHL) Boston Bruins—the only team of the NHL's Original Six whose original home arena still exists for the sport of ice hockey; the WHA New England Whalers (now the NHL Carolina Hurricanes); and the NBA's Boston Celtics.

Today is used by the Northeastern Huskies men's and women's ice hockey teams, and men's basketball team as well as various high school ice hockey programs in the city of Boston. The venue also hosts Northeastern's graduation ceremonies, its annual Springfest concert, and other events.

History

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Early years

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Originally named the Boston Arena, groundbreaking took place on October 11, 1909. The 1896 United States skating champion Herbert S. Evans dug the first portion of earth. The arena was to have a capacity of 5,000 and was to be used for ice skating, curling, horse shows, and a variety of sporting events.[4] The arena had its own power plant, which powered the two 100-ton ice machines and all of the arena's lighting. Charles C. Abbey was the first president and treasurer of the Boston Arena Company and William T. Richardson was the building's first general manager.[5]

The arena was scheduled to open on Christmas Day 1909, but construction delays pushed back the opening until April 25, 1910.[4] The arena's inaugural event was an ice carnival to benefit the Sharon Sanatorium. Skating events were held throughout the day, including a performance by Irving Brokaw. The arena's first ice hockey game was won by the Harvard Freshmen hockey team, who defeated Newton High School, 4–0. The Harvard varsity squad played later that evening, losing to Crescent H. C., 1–0.[6] The Arena's original ice surface was larger than the current standard at 220-by-90-foot (67 m × 27 m).[7]

The first games of professional ice hockey at the Arena took place in March 1911 when a two-game $2,500 competition between two NHA teams, the Montreal Wanderers and the Ottawa Senators took place.[8] The Arena was the home ice for a number of amateur and college hockey teams, including the Boston Athletic Association, Boston Arenas, Westminster Hockey Club, Boston College, Boston University, Harvard, and MIT.[9][10]

Fire and reconstruction

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Interior of Boston Arena in December 1920.

The Arena was destroyed by fire on December 18, 1918.[11] It was rebuilt, and the new facility opened January 1, 1921, with an ice show.[12]

The NHL's first US-based franchise, the Boston Bruins, made the Boston Arena their home from 1924 to 1928. Before the team began play, the Arena reduced its ice surface from 190 feet to 80 feet to conform to NHL regulations. This also allowed the Arena to add 1,000 seats.[13] The Bruins played their first-ever NHL regular season game at the Arena on Monday, December 1, 1924.[14][15][16] with the Bruins' most historic rivalry with the Montreal Canadiens being initiated only one week later.[17]

In 1925, professional basketball made is debut at the Arena when the Boston Whirlwinds of the American Basketball League played their inaugural home game on November 30, 1925. Unable to meet its financial obligations, the team moved its games first to the Mechanics Hall and then to the Mount Benedict Knights of Columbus Hall in Somerville, Massachusetts.[13]

Competition from the Boston Garden

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In 1927, Homer Loring, chairman of the Boston & Maine Railroad, announced that the construction of a new sports arena at their North Station facility. The Madison Square Garden Corporation signed a 25-year lease for the arena.[18] The Boston Garden opened in 1928 and replaced the Arena as the city's venue for premier boxing, wrestling, and track events.[19] The Bruins broke their contract the Arena to move to the Garden, which to a legal battle between the two sides that ended in 1933, when Bruins owner Charles F. Adams agreed to pay the arena $54,000.[20] Boston Arena general manager George V. Brown was able to keep the venue running with college hockey, figure skating, and professional wrestling cards promoted by Paul Bowser and Price and Dellamano Promotions.[21][22] The Arena was also home to the American Basketball League's Boston Trojans during their only season.[13]

The Garden ran their shows at a loss in order to keep events away from the Arena.[19] In 1934, the smaller Boston Arena Corporation, led by Henry G. Lapham, purchased a controlling interest in the Boston Garden.[23] In 1936, the Boston Garden-Arena Corporation bought out the remaining stock owned by the Madison Square Garden Corporation.[24]

On November 5, 1946, the Boston Celtics played their first ever game in front of 4,329 fans at the Boston Arena.[25]. The team split its home games between the Garden and the Arena until 1955.[15][26]

In 1952, the Arena served as the first home to the annual Beanpot tournament between Boston's four major college hockey programs.[27][28]

Metropolitan District Commission ownership

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Entrance to the arena, showing the original arch from Boston Arena now enclosed by bricks.

In April 16, 1953, the Boston Garden-Arena Corporation sold the Boston Arena to Samuel L. Pinsly for $240,000. He planned on doubling the size of the building and converting it into a garment manufacturing facility, as the purchase agreement included a five-year ban on sports or events at building unless it was acquired by a government entity.[29] Three months later, the building was purchased by the Metropolitan District Commission for $280,000, which planned on using it for high school sports and other athletic events.[30]

The Arena hosted the 1960 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament.[31] In 1962, Tony Santos began promoting wrestling at the Arena.[32] The venue was also home to the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1974.[13]

In 1975, the MDC offered to sell the Arena to the city of Boston for $450,000.[33] The city leased the building from the MDC pending completion of the purchase. The sale never took place and in 1977, the MDC leased the Arena at no cost to Northeastern University.[34][35]

Northeastern University's Matthews Arena

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The Arena was purchased by Northeastern University on October 3, 1979.[36] The arena was known as Northeastern Arena until November 14, 1982, when it was renamed Matthews Arena in honor of the university's chairman emeritus George Matthews.[13]

A 1995 renovation expanded the ice surface from 200 by 80 to 200 by 90 feet (61 m × 24 m to 61 m × 27 m).[2]

Threat of Demolition

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Mathews Arena converted for basketball for a Northeastern Huskies men's basketball game.

In May 2024, Northeastern University filed a letter of intent to the Boston Planning & Development Agency to construct a new multi-purpose athletics facility designed that would tear down and replace the historic Matthews Arena instead of making the efforts to restore it.[37]

This came as concerns surrounding the structural integrity of Matthews Arena increased: scaffolding was erected to support the east end of the arena in 2024, part of the student section as well as the Varsity Club (home to the arena's only licensed bar) were closed, and the foundation, built on reclaimed land once part of a wharf, was found to be sinking.[38]

If the plans are approved by the Boston Planning & Development Agency, it will result in the loss of the oldest hockey arena in the United States, that was the first home of the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Carolina Hurricanes (then the New England Whalers) and numerous college hockey teams.[39]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Matthews Arena". Northeastern University. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Northeastern University Athletics Official Website". Gonu.com. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
  3. ^ "Northeastern Files Letter of Intent to Build New Multipurpose Arena". The Northeastern Hockey Blog. May 29, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Work Begun on New Arena". The Boston Daily Globe. October 12, 1909.
  5. ^ "Building to be Pushed". The Boston Daily Globe. November 29, 1909.
  6. ^ "Crowd Out for Ice Carnival". The Boston Daily Globe. April 26, 1910.
  7. ^ Ross 2015, p. 113.
  8. ^ "Wanderers lose the $2,500 purse". Montreal Gazette. March 27, 1911. p. 10.
  9. ^ "George V. Brown". U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  10. ^ "Arena Sale Big Blow to Schools, Colleges". The Boston Globe. December 21, 1952.
  11. ^ "Fire Destroys Boston Arena". The Meriden Daily Journal. December 18, 1918. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  12. ^ "New Arena Ice Palace Opens". Boston Post. January 2, 1921. p. 19.
  13. ^ a b c d e Foulds, Alan (2005). Boston's Ballparks & Arenas. UPNE Inc. pp. 76–85. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  14. ^ "NHL hockey came to the U.S. on Dec. 1, 1924". nhl.com. National Hockey League. December 1, 2008. Retrieved December 4, 2016. The National Hockey League celebrates another historic anniversary...remembering the first NHL game played in the United States, as the Boston Bruins hosted the Montreal Maroons, both expansion teams, at the Boston Arena on Dec. 1, 1924.
  15. ^ a b Katy Fitzpatrick (October 2, 2009). ""New Season Brings Renovated Arena for Northeastern," USCHO.com, October 2, 2009". Uscho.com. Archived from the original on January 9, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
  16. ^ "Official Boston Bruins Website | Boston Bruins". www.nhl.com.
  17. ^ "Canadiens Downed Boston, Rallying in Final Period". The Montreal Gazette. Boston, MA USA. Canadian Press. December 9, 1924. p. 16. Retrieved June 12, 2017. The world champion Canadiens defeated Boston in a fast game here tonight, 4-3, incidentally giving 5,000 Boston hockey fans the best exhibition of the Canadian game on record here.
  18. ^ "Coliseum Will Top New Boston Station". The Boston Daily Globe. November 16, 1927.
  19. ^ a b "What About It?". The Boston Globe. December 18, 1939. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  20. ^ "Owners of Bruins Settle With Arena". The Boston Globe. February 2, 1933.
  21. ^ "Boston Wrestling Card On Thursday Should Draw Fans". The Lewiston Daily Sun. January 6, 1932. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  22. ^ "School Playmates Join To Promote Wrestling". The Boston Globe. June 5, 1936.
  23. ^ Hurwitz, Hy (September 7, 1934). "Garden-Arena Plan Adopted". The Boston Daily Globe.
  24. ^ "Boston Garden Is On Its Own". The Boston Daily Globe. November 8, 1936.
  25. ^ Boston Celtics (1946–Present)
  26. ^ "On this day: Cs' 1st home game; Walton born; Radja, Earl, Rivas, Hemric, Loscutoff debut; Englund passes". Celtics Wire. November 5, 2021.
  27. ^ Klein, Jeff Z. (December 29, 2009). "Matthews Arena, the Ice Rink That Changed Boston Hockey". New York Times. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
  28. ^ Shimano, Mihiro (February 1, 2021). "The Beanpot: What it means to the Boston hockey community and beyond". The Huntington News.
  29. ^ "New York Group Buys Boston Arena". Lewiston Evening Journal. April 17, 1953. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  30. ^ "Tax Abatement Problem Arises After Arena Sale". The Boston Globe. July 18, 1953.
  31. ^ "D1 Men's Ice Hockey". NCAA.
  32. ^ "Schmidt Defends Title vs. Scarpa In Arena Match". The Boston Globe. December 31, 1961.
  33. ^ Jordan, Robert (June 24, 1975). "Boston Arena offered to city for $450,000". The Boston Globe.
  34. ^ McDonough, Will (January 21, 1977). "The Arena: Schools don't need it... Northeastern wants it". The Boston Globe.
  35. ^ "MDC leases Arena to NU". The Boston Globe. November 10, 1977.
  36. ^ "Northeastern buys arena". The Morning Record and Journal. October 4, 1979. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  37. ^ "Northeastern University - Matthews Arena Project | Boston Planning & Development Agency". www.bostonplans.org. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  38. ^ Ballingall, Amelia (May 9, 2024). "'Reaching the end of its useful life': As historic Matthews Arena faces foundational issues, Northeastern weighs new arena". The Huntington News. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  39. ^ Ballingall, Amelia (May 9, 2024). "Where it all began: A look back at Matthews Arena as Bruins reach centennial season". The Huntington News.

Bibliography

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  • Ross, J. Andrew (2015). Joining the Clubs: The Business of the National Hockey League to 1945. Syracuse University Press. ISBN 9780815633839.
[edit]
Preceded by
none
 Home of
Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey
1917 – 1971 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
none
 Home of the
Boston Bruins
1924–1928 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
none
 Home of the
Boston Celtics
1946–1955 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
none
 Home of the
New England Whalers
1972–1973 		Succeeded by
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