Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86
Matthews Arena 238 St. Botolph St Boston, MA 02115
Year Opened: 1910
Capacity: 4,666
Last Call at the Doghouse
The city of Boston has a rich sports history, and its venues are some of the most revered in the nation - Fenway Park, Boston Garden, Harvard Stadium. But there is an arena that pre-dates all of them that is still in use today - Matthews Arena on the Northeastern University campus.
Originally named Boston Arena, the facility was renamed for George and Martha Matthews in 1982. Mr. Matthews, class of 1956, served as the Chairman of the Northeastern Board of Trustees for ten years. He passed away on January 11, 2024 at the age of 93.
The arena was the original home of both the Boston Bruins in 1924 and the New England Whalers in 1972, as well as the site of the first home game for the Boston Celtics in 1946. Virtually every college hockey team in the area, including all four Beanpot schools, have called this arena home. In fact, Matthews Arena is the oldest indoor hockey rink in the world still in use today.
Muhammed Ali trained here, and many of boxing’s biggest names, such as Gene Tunney, Joe Louis, Marvin Hagler and Jack Dempsey fought here. The Frozen Four was held at Matthews Arena in 1960, as was the original Beanpot hockey tournament. More recently, the World Junior Hockey Championships were held here in 1995.
Matthews Arena has always been more than just a sporting venue. Every president from Theodore Roosevelt to John Kennedy visited the venue, as did Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton. Charles Lindberg and Amelia Earhart hosted events here. Concerts by artists as diverse as The Doors, Jerry Lee Lewis, Marvin Gaye, Ludacris, Bob Dylan, The Roots, Chuck Berry and Phish were held at Matthews Arena.
Today, Matthews Arena serves as home to Northeastern men’s and women’s hockey teams, as well as the men’s basketball team. Several area high-school teams also call this old barn home.
The Northeastern men’s hockey team is the least decorated of the four “Beanpot” schools located within Boston city limits. Northeastern has won the prestigious Boston hockey tournament nine times, least among the four participating schools. However, the Huskies have won five out of the last six Beanpots. The team has qualified for the NCAA tournament eight times, reaching the Frozen Four in 1982. 31 former Huskies have played in the National Hockey League.
Northeastern began sponsoring women’s hockey in 1980. The women’s team has qualified for six NCAA Tournaments, reaching the Frozen Four on three occasions. 24 Husky Alumni have played professionally in the CWHL, NWHL/PHF and the PWHL. Northeastern has won 19 Women’s Beanpot championships.
In May 2024 Northeastern filed a letter of intent to the Boston Planning and Development Agency to construct a new multi-purpose athletics venue, which included plans for the demolition of Matthews Arena. These plans came as concerns surrounding the structural integrity of the facility increased: scaffolding had been erected to support the east end of the arena earlier in 2024, parts of the arena had been closed off, and the foundation, which was built on reclaimed land that was once part of a wharf, was found to be sinking.
Food and Beverage 3
There are a pair of concession stands in the lobby. A larger stand offers a full menu while a second, smaller stand in the back of the lobby serves snacks. Hungry Husky fans can choose from hot dogs, veggie burgers, chicken fingers and grilled chicken sandwiches. Sides, including french fries, nachos, pretzels and popcorn are also available. Coca-Cola products are featured at Matthews Arena.
While the menu at Matthews Arena is not extensive, the prices are affordable, and the quality of food served is decent.
Atmosphere 5
We at Stadium Journey like to say the game day experience at any college hockey rink is driven by the student section and pep band. Northeastern does not disappoint in either of these areas. The student section, known as “The Doghouse,” dominates the atmosphere at Matthews Arena. Students fill the balcony sections at the west end of the arena, hanging over the ice and filling the old barn with noise throughout the action. Armed with a repertoire of chants, traditions and routines, the students are as much as part of the action as the players on the ice. They are supported by an excellent pep band, who perform during most play stoppages. Not content with letting the band play alone, the students will sing along, not stopping even as play continues.
Conspicuous by its overwhelming presence is the giant video board installed at Matthews Arena in 2019. Measuring 50 feet long by 13.5 feet high, the scoreboard is put to good use throughout the game with replays, game stats, promotions and social media shout outs. Fans with old-school sensibilities may not enjoy the intrusion of modern technology in the old barn, but Northeastern staff have done a nice job integrating modern technology in this historic location.
Neighborhood 4
Northeastern University is located on the edge of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, one of the city’s most popular tourist and shopping destinations. The Fens neighborhood and South End are also within walking distance of the University. Many of Boston’s major attractions are located close to Matthews Arena.
While there are many dining and lodging options near Matthews Arena, most of them will involve a short walk or drive from the facility, which may not be what you want to do on a chilly winter night in Boston. Fans visiting from out of town will want to check out the Prudential Center and Copley Place, located just a few blocks from Matthews Arena. Symphony Hall is just around the corner, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts is a short walk away. In addition, most of Boston’s attractions are easily accessed by a short subway ride. Both the Green and Orange lines have stops less than a block from Matthews Arena.
Fans 4
Husky fans can be a fickle lot, avoiding less glamourous matchups while packing the old barn for marquee matchups. Average attendance in recent seasons numbers about 3,300 fans per game, placing Northeastern right in the middle of all Division One hockey schools in the country.
Northeastern’s membership in Hockey East guarantees that many of the school’s local rivals will visit Matthews Arena every year. These games are well attended, with the proximity of the teams in the conference guaranteeing a solid turnout by visiting fans. When Matthews Arena is full, there is an incredible atmosphere in the old barn.
Hockey is the marquee sport at Northeastern, and a solid turnout from the student body can be expected on most nights. Led by the antics of the Doghouse, there’s a ton of energy and noise in the building.
Access 3
Matthews Arena is located on the eastern edge of Northeastern’s urban campus, near the intersection of Massachusetts and Huntington Avenues. Despite the fact that Matthews Arena is easy to find, that doesn’t make it easy to get to. The ever-present Boston traffic, never-ending construction projects and streets that date back to colonial days make Boston a tough city to drive in. If you must drive, it is best to bring a local along who is familiar with the city landscape. Directions to Matthews Arena can be found here.
Many local fans will choose to take public transportation to Matthews Arena. The MBTA, known locally as the “T”, drops fans off just a couple of blocks from the arena. The E-train of the Green Line has a station at Symphony Hall, and the Orange Line has a stop on Massachusetts Avenue. At just $2.75 for a fare, the T is an affordable alternative for visiting Husky fans.
Fans visiting Matthews Arena will pass under an ornate entry arch into the main lobby. The ticket office, concession stands, and restrooms are all located here. The arena will be located to your right, accessible by a pair of walkways. Seats at Matthews Arena are separated into loge and balcony sections. All seats have excellent views of the action, although some lower-level seats will have an obstructed view of the scoreboard and banners due to the overhang of the balcony.
Fans will have no problem navigating Matthews Arena during a typical game. Expect some long lines when accessing concessions or rest rooms during intermissions.
Return on Investment 3
Northeastern uses dynamic pricing for men’s hockey games. Prices start at $15 for most games, with the most expensive tickets priced at $25. Add five dollars for premium games, and an additional $3.75 in ticketing fees when purchasing online.
Parking can be had for no charge (yes, you read that right, free parking in Boston) at the Columbus Street Lot located about a half mile away on the other side of the train tracks from the Arena. As you can imagine, this lot fills quickly. Prices at the lots adjacent to Matthews Arena start at $27 for gameday parking.
Many fans will opt to skip the congestion and cost of driving in Boston, and simply take the T to Matthews Arena. Both the Orange and Green Lines pass within a few blocks of Matthews Arena, and a one-way fare is just $2.75. The Number One bus also has a stop at the arena.
Extras 5
They just don’t build them like this anymore, and that alone is worth an extra point. The exposed brick, the steel tresses, the entry arch that has greeted Boston sports fans for over a century all harken to an earlier time.
The history of Matthews Arena is worth another point. It bears repeating that this is the oldest indoor rink still in used anywhere in the world. The Boston Bruins started here. The Carolina Hurricanes played their first games here (as the New England Whalers of the WHA). The Boston Celtics played here frequently. Presidents, dignitaries, as well as athletes and musicians have visited this site. There is a history here that just can’t be duplicated elsewhere.
Some of this history is on display at Matthews Arena. In addition to banners honoring the success achieved by Northeastern’s basketball and hockey teams, there are banners reminding fans of where the Celtics and Bruins got their starts. Pictures of every varsity hockey team to represent the school are displayed in the lobby. There is also a banner honoring Reggie Lewis, the local basketball star who studied at Northeastern and went on to become an All-Star and captain with the Celtics before passing away of a heart condition while still playing for the team. His funeral was held at Matthews Arena.
A final extra point is awarded to the Doghouse, one of the most active and entertaining student sections in the country. While the Doghouse may not be completely filled every night, the students here never fail to deliver. They may be worth the price of admission all by themselves.
Final Thoughts
While it’s been widely reported that the 2024-2025 season will be Matthews Arena’s last, the final chapter for this old barn has yet to be written. Bureaucratic red tape has already delayed any demolition plans until the end of 2025, meaning the Husky teams may at least begin next season at Matthews. Rumors have begun to circulate that new plans are in the works that will involve a renovation rather than a complete replacement of the facility, given the building’s historic designation. Northeastern has been predictably silent about any future plans, as well as temporary homes for the Husky squads that will be replaced by construction. Despite Matthews Arena’s unclear future, hockey fans should come to Boston to take a last look at this historic rink before it’s too late.
Comments