Matthews Arena
Interior of arena in 2009 | |
| Former names | Boston Arena (1909–1982) |
|---|---|
| Location | 238 St. Botolph Street, Boston, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates | 42°20′28″N 71°5′4″W / 42.34111°N 71.08444°W |
| Public transit | Orange Line at Massachusetts Avenue Green Line at Symphony |
| Owner | Northeastern University |
| Operator | Northeastern University |
| Designation | National Register and Boston Landmark eliglible |
| Capacity | Ice hockey: 4,666 Basketball: 5,066 |
| Surface | 200 ft × 90 ft (61 m × 27 m) (hockey) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | October 11, 1909 |
| Opened | April 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. It is the world's oldest multi-purpose athletic building still in use, as well as the oldest arena in use for ice hockey. There are current plans to demolish the historic arena and replace it with a new facility.
It is the original home of the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Boston Bruins (the only team of the NHL's Original Six whose original home arena still exists for the sport of ice hockey), the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s Boston Celtics, and the World Hockey Association (WHA)'s New England Whalers (now the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes)
Today it is used by the Northeastern Huskies men's and women's ice hockey teams, and the 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.