Matthews Arena
Matthews Arena is a multi-purpose athletic facility in Boston, Massachusetts, owned and operated by Northeastern University, recognized as the world's oldest indoor ice hockey arena and multi-purpose sports venue still in use, having opened on April 16, 1910, originally as the Boston Arena.[1][2][3] It features the oldest artificial ice sheet in existence and has served as the home venue for Northeastern University's men's and women's ice hockey teams as well as the men's basketball team since the university acquired it in 1979.[1][4][2] Renamed in 1982 to honor former Northeastern trustees George J. Matthews and his wife Hope, the arena hosted the inaugural home games of the Boston Bruins in 1924, early Boston Celtics contests, and the New England Whalers, while also originating the annual Beanpot college hockey tournament in 1952.[5][3][4] Despite its historical significance, including survival of a 1918 fire and subsequent rebuild, the structure faces demolition by late 2025 due to structural deficiencies, with Northeastern planning a modern replacement facility to open in 2028 that will continue hosting Division I hockey, basketball, and university events.[6][7][8]Historical Development
Construction and Opening (1910)
The Boston Arena, later renamed Matthews Arena, was constructed as Boston's first major indoor multi-purpose venue for amateur athletics, boxing matches, and skating events. Development began in October 1909 under the auspices of the privately held Boston Arena Corporation, which promoted the facility as a cutting-edge hub for sports without relying on public funding or subsidies. Located at 238 St. Botolph Street in the Fenway neighborhood, the arena's design emphasized versatility for diverse activities, including the production of artificial ice for hockey and figure skating, positioning it as an innovative response to the growing demand for enclosed recreational spaces in early 20th-century urban America.[9][7][2] Engineering advancements defined the arena's construction, including an on-site power plant that generated electricity for operations, lighting, and two 100-ton ice-making machines to maintain a consistent artificial ice surface—one of the earliest such implementations in a multi-sport facility. These features allowed for year-round usability, distinguishing it from natural-ice dependencies and establishing it as the world's first purpose-built indoor arena with mechanical refrigeration for ice sports. The structure's robust framework supported an initial seating capacity of approximately 5,000 spectators, enabling it to host crowds for events like amateur hockey games and boxing bouts upon completion.[9][10] The arena officially opened to the public on April 16, 1910, with an inaugural event drawing around 300 attendees to witness its capabilities, marking the debut of a privately financed infrastructure project that underscored entrepreneurial initiative in addressing municipal recreational needs. This opening solidified the venue's role as a pioneer in indoor sports infrastructure, predating similar facilities in scale and technology, and setting a precedent for private investment in urban amenities amid Boston's expanding athletic culture.[2][7]Early Operations and First Milestones (1910s-1920s)
The Boston Arena, upon its opening on April 16, 1910, with an ice skating exhibition featuring performances by figures such as Irving Brokaw, immediately established itself as a premier venue for winter sports in the region.[2] Early programming emphasized amateur ice hockey, including games by Harvard University freshmen and local teams from the Boston City League, alongside skating events organized by clubs like the Skating Club of Boston.[4] Professional boxing matches also drew crowds, contributing to the arena's role as a multi-purpose facility catering to diverse athletic interests without initial dependence on extensive public subsidies beyond its municipal construction.[10] By the late 1910s, the arena hosted professional hockey exhibitions and practices, such as the first women's ice hockey session led by Ruth Denesha in December 1916, signaling growing interest in the sport amid the transition from amateur to professional leagues.[7] A pivotal milestone occurred on December 1, 1924, when the newly formed Boston Bruins played their inaugural National Hockey League game against the Montreal Maroons at the arena, securing a 2-1 victory and marking the first NHL contest held in the United States.[11] This event, broadcast locally by WBZ-AM, underscored the arena's significance in introducing professional hockey to American audiences and solidifying Boston's place in the league's expansion.[12] Throughout the 1920s, the Bruins continued to use the arena as their home ice until 1928, while boxing promotions featuring emerging talents sustained revenue through packed houses driven by market demand for live spectacles.[13] The facility's operational model relied on a mix of hockey, boxing, and skating events, fostering local sports culture and demonstrating economic viability via ticket sales and private event bookings rather than ongoing governmental support.[14] These early years positioned the Boston Arena as a foundational hub for professional athletics in Boston, predating larger venues and highlighting grassroots demand for competitive entertainment.The 1918 Fire and Reconstruction
On December 18, 1918, a fire ravaged the Boston Arena, originating from a smoldering cigarette believed to have been ignited by a defective cigar lighter used by the night watchman.[7] The blaze destroyed the roof, collapsed the ceiling, and gutted much of the interior structure, causing an estimated $250,000 in damages—equivalent to approximately $5.3 million in 2025 dollars—while the exterior walls remained largely intact.[7] [15] No fatalities occurred, as the building was unoccupied at the time, and the Boston Fire Department's prompt response contained the spread beyond the arena itself.[9] The destruction rendered the facility unusable for over two years, leading to the cancellation of numerous scheduled events, including hockey games and public gatherings. Reconstruction efforts, funded primarily through insurance payouts and private investments without reliance on public taxpayer money, commenced soon after and transformed the venue's design for enhanced resilience.[9] Engineers rebuilt the arena using reinforced materials, including the removal of the second floor to simplify the structure and reduce vulnerability to future fires, thereby improving overall durability while preserving its capacity for artificial ice production—a pioneering feature since its 1910 opening.[7] The rebuilt Boston Arena reopened on January 1, 1921, with upgraded fireproofing measures and restored ice-making capabilities that maintained its role as an early leader in indoor artificial ice rinks. This rapid recovery demonstrated the venue's operational resilience amid post-World War I economic challenges, allowing it to resume hosting professional hockey and other events without prolonged absence from Boston's sports landscape.[9][16]Competition from Boston Garden and Operational Shifts (1920s-1940s)
The opening of the Boston Garden on November 17, 1928, with its inaugural boxing event, marked a significant competitive challenge for the Boston Arena, as the newer venue's larger capacity—initially around 13,900 for hockey—drew major professional tenants away.[10] The Boston Bruins, who had played their home games at the Arena since joining the National Hockey League in 1924 and consistently sold out its approximately 5,000 seats, relocated to the Garden for their first game there on November 20, 1928, prioritizing the modern facility's superior amenities and accessibility via North Station.[7] This shift diminished the Arena's role in professional hockey, compelling operators to pivot toward amateur leagues, college teams, and local hockey clubs to fill programming gaps.[17] In the ensuing years, the Arena sustained operations through a niche focus on non-professional ice sports, hosting events for groups like the Skating Club of Boston and various collegiate squads amid the free-market pressures of venue rivalry.[18] Boxing matches, rodeos, and indoor athletic competitions provided additional revenue streams, as the facility's established infrastructure in Boston's Fenway-Kenmore area appealed to community-oriented audiences less drawn to the Garden's high-profile spectacles.[19] The Arena avoided reliance on government subsidies, navigating the era's competitive landscape through private management adaptations rather than structural overhauls. The Great Depression exacerbated financial strains across Boston's entertainment sector, yet the Arena's operators diversified further into varied public gatherings and skating exhibitions without recorded defaults or bailouts, underscoring the viability of scaled-down, market-responsive programming over expansionist models.[9] World War II introduced additional disruptions, including material shortages and reduced civilian attendance due to rationing and mobilization, prompting temporary emphases on wartime-appropriate events like military exhibitions while maintaining core hockey tenancy.[20] These adaptations preserved the venue's functionality into the late 1940s, highlighting resilience amid economic volatility and the Garden's dominance in professional draws.[17]Metropolitan District Commission Ownership (1940s-1970s)
The Boston Arena transitioned to public ownership when the Massachusetts Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) acquired it in July 1953 for $450,000 from the Boston Garden-Arena Corporation, which had sold it privately three months earlier for $398,000.[9][21] This purchase, authorized by state legislation, aimed to repurpose the venue for non-commercial public recreation and athletics, aligning with post-war expansions in state-managed infrastructure for community sports access.[21] Under MDC oversight, the arena functioned as a multi-purpose facility emphasizing ice-based activities, including collegiate hockey games and public skating sessions, while also accommodating limited entertainment events such as jazz and folk concerts in the 1950s and 1960s.[9] Operational focus shifted toward subsidized public use, with management handling scheduling for local teams and recreational programs, though challenges arose from event-specific issues, including a 1958 rock concert organized by Alan Freed that resulted in violence—one stabbing and twelve robberies—prompting local authorities to impose a temporary ban on similar rock performances due to perceived inadequate crowd control.[9] By the mid-1970s, sustained public operation highlighted fiscal strains on the MDC, as evidenced by the agency's 1975 offer to sell the property to the City of Boston for $450,000, reflecting efforts to alleviate budgetary pressures amid competition from newer venues like the Boston Garden and ongoing maintenance demands for the aging structure.[9] This period underscored the trade-offs of government stewardship, prioritizing broad access over profit-driven agility seen in prior private eras, though specific comparative operational cost data remains scarce in available records.[21]Northeastern University Acquisition and Modernization (1970s-2000s)
Northeastern University purchased the arena from the Metropolitan District Commission in 1979, transitioning it from public ownership to dedicated use as a facility for university athletics.[22][23] The acquisition enabled Northeastern to centralize its ice hockey and basketball programs, with the venue serving as the home ice for the men's and women's hockey teams and the men's basketball team in NCAA Division I competition.[2] Initially operated as Northeastern Arena, it supported the growth of these programs amid the university's emphasis on Hockey East conference participation.[24] On November 14, 1982, the arena was renamed Matthews Arena in recognition of Northeastern alumnus George J. Matthews (class of 1956), chairman emeritus of the university's board of trustees, and his wife, Hope M. Matthews, whose contributions funded initial refurbishments following the purchase.[25][24] These early upgrades focused on essential maintenance to ensure viability for collegiate-level events, preserving the structure's historic wooden framework while adapting it for modern student-athlete needs.[2] Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Northeastern invested in multiple renovations to extend the arena's service life, including a major 1995 project that expanded the ice surface to standard NCAA dimensions of 200 by 85 feet, along with updates to seating and infrastructure.[2][22] This marked the third significant overhaul since acquisition, prioritizing functional enhancements over expansive redevelopment to support ongoing hockey operations, where the venue hosted home games drawing consistent crowds for Hockey East matchups.[2] Into the 2000s, additional targeted improvements sustained its role as a competitive asset, accommodating the physical demands of Division I athletics without incurring the costs of a full replacement.[22]Physical Structure and Facilities
Architectural Design and Engineering Features
The Boston Arena, later renamed Matthews Arena, was originally designed by the architectural firm Funk and Wilcox and constructed in 1910 as a pioneering multi-purpose venue capable of hosting ice skating, hockey, boxing, and public assemblies.[26] Its exterior featured a brick facade with prominent arched entryways evoking late-19th-century industrial aesthetics, providing a durable envelope suited to Boston's climate while allowing for the internal flexibility required of early 20th-century athletic facilities.[27] A key engineering innovation was the installation of an on-site power plant that supplied electricity to two 100-ton ice-making machines, enabling the creation and maintenance of an artificial ice surface—a rarity at the time that distinguished it from natural-ice dependencies and supported year-round operations.[9] This self-contained refrigeration system, likely utilizing ammonia-based cooling pipes embedded in the concrete rink floor, represented an early application of mechanical engineering to sports infrastructure, ensuring reliable freezing despite variable ambient conditions and contributing to the arena's status as host to the oldest surviving artificial ice sheet in use.[2] The design's emphasis on integrated utilities minimized external dependencies, a pragmatic choice that extended operational viability amid the era's limited grid infrastructure. Following a devastating fire in December 1918 that destroyed much of the interior and roof, reconstruction completed in 1920-1921 preserved the foundational engineering principles while incorporating reinforced structural elements to enhance fire resistance and load distribution.[6] The rebuilt framework relied on heavy timber and early steel trusses to span the rectangular rink area, optimizing sightlines and accommodating variable flooring setups for non-ice events, though specific load-bearing capacities from the period remain undocumented in available records. Over time, these adaptations—necessitated by settling soils comprising clay, sand, and fill beneath the site—demonstrated the limits of pre-modern foundation engineering, with causal factors including inadequate compaction of Back Bay reclamation materials leading to differential settlement that required ongoing shoring without compromising the original modular versatility.[28]Capacity, Layout, and Technical Specifications
Matthews Arena has a seating capacity of 4,666 for ice hockey and 5,066 for basketball.[29] The ice surface measures 200 feet long by 90 feet wide, exceeding the NHL standard width of 85 feet while adhering to NCAA regulations for collegiate play.[29]
| Event Type | Seated Capacity |
|---|---|
| Ice Hockey | 4,666 |
| Basketball | 5,066 |