Demolition has begun at Boston’s Matthews Arena, which had been the world’s oldest multi-purpose athletic building and the oldest hockey arena.
Northeast University, which owns the property, announced the demolition will take about three months. The school plans to erect a new 310,000-square-foot arena that will open in 2028.
“We love Matthews Arena, but it is a single-use space,” said Ken Henderson, chancellor and senior vice president for learning at Northeastern. “It’s an arena where you can do one thing at a time. The new complex will have multiple events and activities going on at the same time. You could be having a hockey game at the same time as you’re having a club soccer game on the floor above — and perhaps a varsity basketball practice is being held, while other students are lifting weights and doing cardiovascular training at an individual level.”
Originally named Boston Arena, the facility opened in 1910 but was destroyed in a 1918 fire. It reopened in 1920. Over the years, it served as the original home of the NHL’s Boston Bruins and the NBA’s Boston Celtics. The venue also hosted boxing tournaments, political rallies, concerts, and special events. Northeastern University purchased the venue in October 1979 and renamed it Matthews Arena in honor of chairman emeritus George Matthews.
Photo: Boston Arena in 1920, via Wikimedia Commons
