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 |
Capacity | Ice hockey: 4,666 Basketball: 5,066[1] |
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 multi-purpose arena in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the world's oldest multi-purpose athletic building still in use, as well as the oldest arena in use for ice hockey.[2][3]
The arena opened in 1910 on what is now the east end of Northeastern University's campus. 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, Matthews Arena is owned by the university. It 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.
The closest MBTA station is the Massachusetts Ave Orange Line subway station; the Green Line E branch's underground Symphony station is two blocks northwest.