| Stadium Name: | MassMutual Center |
| Pushpin Map: | Massachusetts#USA |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within Massachusetts##Location within the United States |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Pushpin Label: | MassMutual Center |
| Address: | 1277 Main Street |
| Location: | Springfield, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates: | 42.1022°N -72.5869°W |
| Broke Ground: | March 18, 1970[1] |
| Opened: | September 5, 1972[2] |
| Renovated: | 2003–2005 |
| Owner: | City of Springfield (1972–1997) Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (1997–present) |
| Operator: | MGM Springfield |
| Construction Cost: | $10.3 million ($ in dollars) $71 million (renovation) ($ in dollars) |
| Architect: | Catalano Architects Inc.[3] Sasaki Associates[4] (renovation) |
| Former Names: | Springfield Civic Center (1972–2005) |
| Tenants: | Springfield Indians (AHL) (1972–1994) Hartford Whalers (WHA/NHL) (1978–1980) Springfield Fame (USBL) (1985–1986) Springfield Falcons (AHL) (1994–2016) Springfield Armor (NBA D-League) (2009–2014) Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) (2016–present) Springfield Spirit (NWBL) (2002–2004) American International Yellow Jackets (NCAA) (2016–present) |
| Seating Capacity: | Center Stage: 8,300 Basketball: 7,300 Ice hockey: 6,800 |
| Publictransit: | Springfield Union Station |
The MassMutual Center (formerly Springfield Civic Center) is a multi-purpose arena and convention center complex located in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, in the city's Metro Center. The arena opened in 1972 and the convention center opened in 2005. It serves as a venue for meetings, conventions, exhibitions, sporting and entertainment events.
Previously owned and operated by the City of Springfield and various management groups until 1997, 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 convention center. Its unique design allows for 3 to 4 concurrent events or one large event.
MGM Springfield began operating the venue on behalf of the MCCA in July 2017 in advance of its casino/hotel/retail development opening the next year.
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 Yellow Jackets who compete in NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey.
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 building’s 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 Bruce Landon 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.[5]
The main entrance for the arena is located on Bruce Landon Way. The arena has 3 levels:
In the summer of 2015 the MCCA approved a multimillion-dollar technology upgrade to the venue. This project consisted of a new 18foot12foot 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.
With renovations to the existing arena, a new convention center was added. With 100000square feet, it is the largest convention center in Western Massachusetts. It includes two exhibition halls, which total over 40000square feet, three ballrooms that total 15000square feet with back of house kitchen, five meeting rooms that total some 9000square feet, and 21000square feet of pre-function space. It connects both the convention center and arena to add an additional 19000square feet 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 Bruce Landon Way. There are 2 levels:
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 World Wrestling Federation's Saturday Night's Main Event XVI (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, formerly 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.[6]
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.[7]
| Date | Away | Score | Home | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 19, 1979 | 3–6 | Hartford Whalers | 7,626 | |
| October 26, 1979 | New York Islanders | 2–1 | Hartford Whalers | 7,267 |
| November 2, 1979 | 3–5 | Hartford Whalers | 7,643 | |
| November 9, 1979 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–2 | Hartford Whalers | 7,618 |
| November 17, 1979 | 0–4 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 | |
| November 21, 1979 | 3–5 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 | |
| November 24, 1979 | 4–4 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 | |
| November 25, 1979 | 2–4 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 | |
| November 30, 1979 | 5–7 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 | |
| December 7, 1979 | New York Rangers | 7–4 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 |
| December 19, 1979 | Washington Capitals | 5–4 | Hartford Whalers | 7,100 |
| December 22, 1979 | Buffalo Sabres | 4–2 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 |
| December 26, 1979 | 4–4 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 | |
| January 4, 1980 | Washington Capitals | 6–3 | Hartford Whalers | 7,623 |
| January 6, 1980 | Detroit Red Wings | 2–1 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 |
| January 17, 1980 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 1–7 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 |
| January 19, 1980 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–5 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 |
| January 21, 1980 | 2–7 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 | |
| January 24, 1980 | Montreal Canadiens | 7–2 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 |
| January 28, 1980 | Atlanta Flames | 1–6 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 |
| January 30, 1980 | 2–8 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 | |
| February 3, 1980 | New York Islanders | 3–7 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 |
| Date | Away | Score | Home | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3–4 | United States | – | ||
| Russia | 5–2 | – | ||
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. On April 6, 1986, the KISS "Asylum" tour concert overloaded the power system and the concert was halted after the first song. The band exited the stage, but returned 30–40 minutes later and resumed the show without incident.