Historic Matthews Arena to Close After Final Season
Matthews Arena, one of the oldest hockey venues in North America and the original home of the Boston Bruins, is reportedly set to close after the upcoming winter sports season at Northeastern University.
According to the Northeastern Hockey Blog, this iconic arena, known as Boston Arena when it first opened, will cease operations 125 years after its inauguration. It served as the Bruins’ home from 1924 to 1928 and hosted the Boston Celtics from 1946 to 1955.
Besides professional teams, Matthews Arena was the starting point for several college hockey programs, including those of Boston College, Boston University, Harvard, MIT, Northeastern University, Tufts University, Boston State College (now UMass Boston), and Wentworth Institute of Technology.
NEW: Northeastern has informed the BDPA of their intent regarding the destruction of Matthews Arena and building a new multipurpose arena. After years of speculation, a staple of sporting history is entering its final season as NU prepares for a new home. https://t.co/t3WvC7IRvP
— Northeastern Hockey Blog (@NUHockeyBlog) May 29, 2024
The arena on Huntington Avenue witnessed the birth of the famous NHL rivalry between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens on December 1, 1924. This game marked the Bruins as the first U.S.-based NHL team to play an NHL game. The Bruins played there until moving to the original Boston Garden in 1928, where they remained until 1995. After a memorable farewell event on September 26, 1995, the Boston Garden was replaced by the FleetCenter, now known as TD Garden.
In addition to sports, Matthews Arena hosted numerous legendary concerts, political rallies, and significant speeches over the years.
The report indicates that Matthews Arena will be demolished following the upcoming athletic season, as per a Letter of Intent filed by Northeastern University with the Boston Planning and Development Authority. A new facility for the university’s hockey, basketball, and potentially other athletic programs will be constructed on the same site.
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