Northeastern University Reveals Replacement for Boston’s Matthews Arena
Northeastern University plans to replace the historic 114-year-old Matthews Arena with a new multipurpose athletics and recreation complex. In May 2024, Northeastern had informed the city of Boston about its plans to replace Matthews Arena, which once served as the home of the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics.
On Thursday morning, March 6, university officials unveiled plans to replace Matthews Arena with a new complex that will span 310,000 square feet and accommodate 4,050 spectators for ice hockey and 5,300 for basketball competitions, according to a report by NewsCenter 5 WCVB Boston.
In addition to the main arena, the complex will include dedicated practice courts for men’s and women’s basketball and spaces to support various athletic activities. It’s also being billed as a true multipurpose facility, permitting several events simultaneously under one roof.
“This is a place where memories will be made,” Northeastern University Chancellor Ken Henderson said in a statement published on Northeastern’s website. “This will be a place where we hold convocation, where we hold graduations, where we hold events for recreation, club sports and varsity sports. It will also be a place where students are coming together in small groups and large crowds.”
The new complex, designed by the architectural firm Perkins&Will, aims for net-zero carbon certification. Suffolk Construction is the project’s contractor. The project awaits final city and state approvals, which will determine the timeline for deconstructing Matthews Arena and building the new facility.
Located on Saint Botolph Street near Massachusetts Avenue, Matthews Arena is the “world’s oldest multipurpose athletic building” and home to the “world’s oldest artificial ice sheet,” according to the university. Northeastern took possession of the structure in 1979 and uses the arena for basketball and hockey games.
When it opened in 1910, the structure was known as the Boston Arena. The university renamed it to recognize George J. Matthews, a Class of 1956 alum, and his late wife. Matthews is the chairman emeritus of the Northeastern Board of Trustees.
