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MassMutual Center

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Vorlage:Infobox stadium The MassMutual Center is a multi-purpose arena and convention center complex located in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts, USA in the city's Metro Center across from Court Square. The facility opened in 1972 as the Springfield Civic Center and was at that time considered to be 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. Its grand opening as the MassMutual Center occurred on September 29, 2005.

The venue is home to the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League and the Springfield Armor of the NBA Development League. It is nicknamed "The Nest", because it is home to the Falcons.

Renovation

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.

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

  • Event Level - Comcast Box Office, Administrative Offices, Falcons Office and Team Store.
  • Concourse Level - Lower and Upper Bowl Seating, Center Grille Restaurant, Breakaway Bar & Lounge.
  • Upper Level - Press Boxes, The Executive Perch.

Convention Center

With renovations to the existing arena, a brand new state-of-the-art convention center was added. With Vorlage:Convert, it is the largest convention center in Western Massachusetts. It includes two exhibition halls, which total over Vorlage:Convert, 3 ballrooms that total Vorlage:Convert with back of house kitchen, 5 meeting rooms that total some Vorlage:Convert, and Vorlage:Convert of pre-function space. Its unique design connects both the convention center and arena to add an additional Vorlage:Convert 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:

  • Event Level - Meeting Rooms 1-5, Exhibition Halls A & B
  • Upper Level - Ballrooms A, B, and C, Glass Alcove

History

Inside the MassMutual Center

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, which is now known as the Peoria Rivermen.Vorlage:Update after Since 1994, the Center has been the site of home games of the Springfield Falcons, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Falcons were the Northeast Division Champions for the 2012-2013 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 1980–94, and finally 2006 through 2011. The tournament will move 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 has used the building for a number of home games in recent years under head coach Derek Kellogg, a Springfield native.

The Springfield Armor of the NBA D-League joined the buildings 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.

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

References

Vorlage:Reflist

Vorlage:S-start-collapsible Vorlage:Succession box Vorlage:Succession box Vorlage:Succession box Vorlage:Succession box Vorlage:End

Vorlage:AHL Arenas Vorlage:D-League Arenas Vorlage:Hartford Whalers

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