Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71
MassMutual Center 1277 Main St Springfield, MA 01103
Year Opened: 1972
Capacity: 6,866
Welcome to the Thunderdome
The MassMutual Center was built in 1972 as the Springfield Civic Center. Attached to the arena is the largest convention center in western Massachusetts, which was built in 2005. In addition to serving as the home to several minor league hockey teams over the years, this was the home of the Hartford Whalers for a few months in 1978 when a roof collapse at the Hartford Civic Center forced the Whalers to look for a temporary home.
The city of Springfield is a charter member of the American Hockey League, with a professional hockey history that goes back to 1926. Seven Calder Cup Championship teams have called Springfield home. The original AHL team here, the Indians (who were rebranded as the Kings from 1967-74), played in Springfield for 60 seasons before moving to Worcester in 1994.
Ex-Indian players Bruce Landon and Wayne LaChance secured an expansion franchise for the following season, but the team, named the Falcons, was plagued by inconsistent attendance and a revolving door of affiliations. After the 2015-16 season, it was announced that the Coyotes were purchasing the franchise and moving the team to Arizona and the Tucson Arena as part of the AHL’s westward expansion.
On May 4, 2016, a consortium of local business owners announced they were purchasing the Portland Pirates and relocating them to Springfield for the 2016-17 season. The name Thunderbirds was chosen to evoke not only images of the mythological bird but also to honor the Air Force's presence in the region. The T-Birds have qualified for the AHL playoffs once in their eight seasons, reaching the Calder Cup Finals in 2022.
Food & Beverage 5
For a long time, the concessions at MassMutual Center were little more than an afterthought, offering up only arena basics at the many stands that line the inner ring of the concourse. However, that has changed in recent years as new concessionaires have brought increased quality and signature items to Thunderbird games.
Highlighting the offerings is a stand run by Bear’s BBQ, where hungry fans can grab their popular Mac Attack bowls topped with brisket or pulled pork. Randy’s Wooster Street offers its specialty pizza slices and craft beer, and Nathan’s Hot Dogs sells their legendary dogs nearby.
Fenway Park’s legendary Sausage Guy operates a cart on the concourse, and fans can also hit up the Chick-fil-A stand for a sandwich or the Casa del Sol Cantina for some loaded nachos. Stadium Journey recommends getting yours in a souvenir goalie helmet. Fans looking for a healthier alternative can head to the Jugitos stand, where assorted smoothies and acai bowls are sold.
Fans looking for a pub-type atmosphere can visit the Breakaway Lounge or the Center Grille, where a selection of drinks and arena classics are served up. If you have a sweet tooth that needs a fix, Crumble serves up their oversized gourmet cookies, and Dippin’ Dots sells assorted flavors and other snacks.
Pepsi products are featured at the MassMutual Center. Fans looking for adult beverages will find no shortage of options, headlined by the Wormtown State Street Taproom.
Atmosphere 4
After decades of sporadic crowds and a lackluster game day atmosphere in Springfield, the Thunderbirds front office has found the magic formula to attract fans and energy to the MassMutual Center.
The Thunderbirds staff put on a high-energy show with a lot of noise and distraction to keep the casual and younger fans interested. The team’s mascot, Boomer, is the center of attention from the moment he takes the ice riding an ATV for pregame introductions. Since there’s nowhere to hang ribbon boards at the MassMutual Center, they’ve taken a unique approach, with several ribbon strips lowered from the rafters to create a tunnel that the starters skate through as they are introduced.
There’s a large video board that is put to great use with replays, fan cams, advertisements, and graphics. T-shirts are tossed into the crowd at every opportunity (watch out for the t-shirt cannon rolled out during intermission), the sound system is fantastic, and the energy is high. On the concourse, fans can purchase tickets for the 50/50 or jersey raffle, and younger fans can head to the kid’s area at the back of the arena, where there are coloring stations, a video game screen, and a slap shot cage.
Neighborhood 4
The MassMutual Center is located in downtown Springfield, long considered an area to avoid, but that reputation is changing as the area goes through a metamorphosis. Central to the area’s rejuvenation is the MGM Springfield Casino, located just a block from the arena.
Despite the many new places going up around the casino, Stadium Journey recommends a trio of old dining options for visiting fans. First and foremost is Red Rose Pizzeria, located downtown since 1963, where diners can enjoy quality pizzas and enormous servings of Neapolitan fare.
Also worth a look is The Student Prince Café and the Fort, where German-styled food and drink have been served since 1935. Finally, can head over to Theodore’s Blues, Booze, and BBQ, where local and national blues acts perform every Friday and Saturday while the staff serves up some of the area’s best BBQ.
Of course, Springfield’s biggest attraction may be the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, located a mile from the MassMutual Center. Also located nearby are the Springfield Armory and the Amazing World of Dr. Suess Museum. Located near the museum are several life-sized statues of Dr. Suess characters.
Fans 4
During the 2023-24 season, Springfield averaged over 6,300 fans per game, which ranked them 13th in the 32-team AHL. Stadium Journey visited the MassMutual center for the Thunderbird's opening game of the 2024-25 season, which featured a sellout crowd of 8.179 fans. The Thunderbirds have seen attendance increase every year since they arrived, from a low of 4,664 in 2017 to last year’s high water mark of 6,321.
So why have the Thunderbirds succeeded when the Falcons struggled to attract fans? The team has worked hard to integrate themselves into the fabric of the community, have attracted groups with ticket deals, and have enriched the game day experience with improvements to the facility.
Overall, a Thunderbirds crowd looks similar to many others across the minor league hockey landscape. You’ll find lots of families, groups, and diehard fans who’ve been coming downtown for hockey games for decades. There’s a lot of enthusiasm and noise in the crowd here, especially when fans from the nearby Bruins or Rangers farm teams descend on Springfield.
Access 2
The MassMutual Center is located in downtown Springfield, MA, a city of over 155,000 residents. Springfield is the third largest city in Massachusetts and the fourth largest city in all of New England. The MassMutual Center is easy to get to, as it is just a few blocks from Interstate 91. Interstates 291 and 90 (the Mass Pike) run just a few miles away. Springfield refers to itself as “The Crossroads of New England.”
Springfield’s Union Station, with hubs for Greyhound, Peter Pan, and Pioneer Valley Transit bus lines, as well as Amtrak and CT Rail trains, is located only a half mile from the arena. Several Pioneer Valley Transit bus routes stop at Court Square, right across the street from MassMutual Center. Plentiful parking can be found at the MGM Casino garage, in surface lots in the area, or on-street for fans who want to search for it.
So, why the sub-par access score? Two reasons. First, the Civic Center parking garage across the street from the arena’s front entrance is being rebuilt. The $35 million project, which began in 2022, is expected to be completed sometime during the 2024-25 season.
The new garage will feature retail and restaurant space at ground level, an outdoor plaza, and parking for 800-900 cars. But for now, construction has shut down Bruce Landon Way, altering traffic and entry patterns for visitors. If you don’t know the area well, your easiest option is to park at the MGM Casino and walk to the arena.
The other factor that brings down the overall score is the cramped quarters of the MassMutual Center. A happy consequence of the increased attendance is that the facility has a hard time handling crowds that large. There’s just not enough room for everyone on the concourse during intermissions, so time your trips to the concession stands and restrooms wisely.
Return on Investment 4
Prices for Thunderbird tickets start at $20, escalating to $40 for the most expensive seats. The team offers several ticket deals, including Sunday Fundays, where fans can purchase four tickets and food vouchers for $80; Deuces Wild Fridays, featuring $2 domestic drafts, hot dogs, and sodas, and Winning Wednesdays, where a T-Birds win gets you a ticket for another weekday game.
Parking will cost an additional $15-20 in local lots, with free parking on local streets for those patients enough to search for it. With concessions generally priced in line with other local venues, a night at a Thunderbirds game is an affordable entertainment option for Western Massachusetts sports fans.
Extras 3
Fans of hockey history will want to check out the Springfield Hockey Hall of Fame display, where significant persons in the area’s hockey heritage are honored. Among the familiar names you’ll find here are Eddie Shore and Willie O’Ree.
The Thunderbirds also honor the city’s hockey heritage with banners honoring all of Springfield’s Calder Cup champions and a display featuring numerous jerseys worn by the different teams to call Springfield home.
If you can, be sure to check out the tiny team store in the northwest corner of the arena. Throwback merchandise from the Indians and Falcons can be found here, as well as the popular Simpsons crossover merchandise featuring the Thunderbirds’ alternate identity, the “Ice-O-Topes.” Time your trips well, as lines can last throughout the game here.
Final Thoughts
Springfield is an original AHL city, but it looked like their time in the league was done when the Falcons left town. That all changed when a new team and new ownership arrived, reinvigorating interest in minor league hockey in the city. The MassMutual Center may have a definite 70s vibe to its design, but the game day experience here is all new.
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