Northeastern University Tears Down Matthews Arena

Northeastern University is tearing down Matthews Arena in Boston to make way for a new 310,000-square-foot arena planned to open in 2028. University officials said the demolition is expected to take about three months.

Matthews Arena, also known as the Boston Arena, opened in 1910. According to a NewsCenter 5 report, it was the world's oldest ice hockey arena and the original home of the Boston Bruins, Celtics, and the Beanpot.

WRE News also noted that the Boston Arena opened in 1910 but was destroyed by fire in 1918. A new arena reopened in 1920. In addition to sporting events, the facility also hosted political rallies and concerts over the decades. Northeastern University purchased the venue in October 1979 and renamed it Matthews Arena in honor of chairman emeritus George Matthews.

University officials said that the new complex, replacing the former Matthews Arena, will be multi-use. The planned arena will hold approximately 4,050 spectators for ice hockey games and 5,300 for basketball, according to NewsCenter 5.

"This is a place where memories will be made," Chancellor Ken Henderson said in a statement by the university. "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."