MassMutual Center

MassMutual Center
The Nest
Former names Springfield Civic Center
(1972–2005)
Location 1277 Main Street
Springfield, Massachusetts 01103
Coordinates 42°6′8″N 72°35′13″W / 42.10222°N 72.58694°W / 42.10222; -72.58694Coordinates: 42°6′8″N 72°35′13″W / 42.10222°N 72.58694°W / 42.10222; -72.58694
Public transit Springfield Amtrak
PVTA
Owner City of Springfield (1972–1997)
Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (1998–present)
Operator Global Spectrum
Capacity Center Stage: 8,000
Basketball: 7,331
Hockey: 6,866
Construction
Broke ground March 18, 1970[1]
Opened September 5, 1972[2]
Renovated 2003–2005
Construction cost $10.3 million[2]
($58.4 million in 2016 dollars[3])
$71 million (renovation)
($86.2 million in 2016 dollars[3])
Architect Catalano Architects Inc.[4]
Sasaki Associates[5] (renovation)
Tenants
Hartford Whalers (NHL) (1978–1980)
Springfield Indians (AHL) (1972–1994)
Springfield Falcons (AHL) (1994–2016)
Springfield Armor (NBDL) (2009–2014)
Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) (2016–present)
American International College (NCAA) (2016-present)
Website
Venue Website

MassMutual Center (formerly Springfield Civic Center) is a multi-purpose arena and convention center located in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts, in the city's Metro Center across from Court Square. The facility opened in 1972 and was at that time the largest arena in the region.

It was owned and operated by the City of Springfield and various management groups until 1997, when the city transferred ownership of the facility to the Massachusetts Legislature. Shortly after, ownership was given to the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) who in turn began working on plans to renovate and expand the facility. The two-year project, which began in 2003, included renovations to the 8,000 seat arena and the addition of a state-of-the-art convention center. Global Spectrum was chosen by the MCCA to operate the venue for 5 years in 2005 and again in 2010.

In 2005, the venue was renamed when Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company entered into a 15-year naming rights agreement for the arena and convention center. The name change took place on September 29, 2005.

The venue is home to the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League and American International College who competes in NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey.

Renovations

Arena

In the fall of 2003, the renovation project was publicly announced and demolition of the bank sitting next to the building, along with the facility's plaza and exhibit hall began. In the fall of 2005, the $71 million renovation project was completed. The renovation included a new arena floor with new pipelines for the ice rink and new chillers installed. Upgrades to the buildings electrical system as well as the heating and air conditioning system with a new dehumidification system were also installed. Audio and Video upgrades were made with a new four-sided center hung scoreboard with video display and a new sound system. The project also included a new seating arrangement with 6,455 permanent seats and 222 club seats. New amenities to the arena include a bar and lounge, clubroom, an executive suite, new larger restrooms, and 11 newly refurbished concession stands. The main entrance was relocated from Main Street to Falcons Way where a new box office and lobby were added. The arena was still operational during the two-year project which was funded by city and state tax payers and other state funds.[6]

The main entrance for the arena is located on Falcons Way. The arena has 3 levels:

In early 2015 the MCCA approved a $3.2 million technology upgrade to the venue. The first of the 3-phase project was completed in the summer of 2015 and consisted of a new 18-foot by 12-foot 4 sided center hung LED video board that replaced the existing scoreboard in the arena as well as the replacement of the arena lighting system to new LED lighting. Other improvements planned include replacing existing arena advertisement boards to new LED boards, installing a new 85-foot LED board in the arena, as well as a new LED marquee on the exterior of the building.

Convention Center

With renovations to the existing arena, a brand new state-of-the-art convention center was added. With 100,000 sq ft (9,300 m2), it is the largest convention center in Western Massachusetts. It includes two exhibition halls, which total over 40,000 sq ft (3,700 m2), 3 ballrooms that total 15,000 sq ft (1,400 m2) with back of house kitchen, 5 meeting rooms that total some 9,000 sq ft (840 m2), and 21,000 sq ft (2,000 m2) of pre-function space. Its unique design connects both the convention center and arena to add an additional 19,000 sq ft (1,800 m2) of floor space. Additionally, the pre-function space overlooks the city skyline, including a viewing area known as the glass alcove which gives panoramic views of downtown. The convention center is able to host galas, weddings, consumer and trade shows, concerts, conventions, conferences, and many other functions of various sizes.

The main entrance for the convention center is located on Main Street and Falcons Way. There are 2 levels:

History

The MassMutual Center arena

The arena hosted the Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League, while the Hartford Civic Center was undergoing renovations, because of a 1978 roof collapse.

The arena hosted the 16th edition of the World Wrestling Federation's Saturday Night's Main Event (the first episode following Wrestlemania IV, taped on April 22, 1988, aired on April 30). It also hosted the 19th WWF In Your House pay-per-view in 1997. The center has also hosted WWE Monday Night RAW and two WWE SmackDown! shows; the first one was on October 26, 1999 aired for that Thursday and the second was on December 13, 2005 aired for that Friday. The center was also where The Mountie (Jacques Rougeau) defeated Bret "Hitman" Hart for the WWF Intercontinental Championship on January 17, 1992. He would lose the title two days later to Rowdy Roddy Piper at the Knickerbocker Arena in Albany, New York at the Royal Rumble.

The building has hosted an American Hockey League franchise, since it opened in 1972. Between the 1972–73 AHL season and 1993–94 AHL season, the building hosted the Springfield Indians franchise. Since 1994, the Center was the home of the Springfield Falcons. The Falcons won the Northeast Division Championship in the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons while serving as the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team was sold in May 2016 to the Arizona Coyotes and relocated to Tucson, Arizona. The Falcons were immediately replaced with the Springfield Thunderbirds for the 2016–17 season.

The building, located in the "Birthplace of Basketball", has also hosted numerous NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championships, first in 1977, then from 1980 to 1994, and finally 2006 through 2011. The tournament moved to the Kentucky suburbs of Cincinnati in 2012 and 2013. It also hosted the first six NCAA Women's Division II Basketball Championships from 1982 to 1987.

The UMass Minutemen basketball team, under head coach and Springfield native Derek Kellogg, has used the building for a home game since 2010. In 2011, the Basketball Hall of Fame created the Holiday Showcase which feature the UMass Minutemen basketball team. Brigham Young University visited the UMass Minutemen during the 2013 showcase with a sold out crowd of 7,331.[7]

The Springfield Armor of the NBA D-League joined the building's roster of home tenants in the fall of 2009. The franchise was purchased by the HWS Group in early 2009, and was quickly moved to Springfield for the start of the 2009–2010 season. It was affiliated with the NBA's New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the New Jersey Nets for two years. The New Jersey Nets, now known as the Brooklyn Nets as of 2012, became the sole affiliate of the Armor in the start of the 2011–2012 season. The Armor received their first Eastern Division Championship during the 2011–2012 season under its new head coach Bob MacKinnon. They won their final home game on March 21, 2014 in front of a sold out crowd of 7,111.[8]

Notable Events

The MassMutual Center has hosted numerous events over the years ranging from professional and college sporting events, concert and comedy tours, ice skating and family shows, commencement ceremonies, and other functions both private and public.

Sports

Concerts

Other Events

Conventions and Conferences

References

  1. ↑ "Ground Broken for Civic Center". The Morning Union. Springfield, Massachusetts. March 18, 1970.
  2. 1 2 "Airport Expansion Upsets RI". The Boston Globe. September 10, 1972. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Images by Catalano, Eduardo of Springfield, Massachusetts, United States". North Carolina State University. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Don Vitters, AIA". Sasaki Associates. Archived from the original on July 12, 2007. Retrieved July 1, 2007.
  6. ↑ Freebairn, William (September 25, 2005). "MassMutual Center Downtown Springfield's Sparkling New Jewel". The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts). p. J01.
  7. ↑ Beswick, Michael (December 7, 2013). "For UMass Basketball and Springfield, a Sold-Out Arena and a Very Good Day". The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts). Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  8. ↑ Berry, Conor (March 26, 2014). "A Basketball Goodbye: The Armor Is Leaving Springfield for Michigan". The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts). Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  9. ↑ "1975 ECAC Men's Basketball Tournaments". Varsity Pride. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  10. ↑ "1976 ECAC Men's Basketball Tournaments". Varsity Pride. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
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Events and tenants
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Cross Insurance Arena		 Home of the
Springfield Thunderbirds
2016–present 		Succeeded by
current home
Preceded by
none		 Home of the
Springfield Falcons
1994–2016 		Succeeded by
Tucson Convention Center
Preceded by
Anaheim Convention Center		 Home of the
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Hartford Civic Center		 Home of the
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Hartford Civic Center
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