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  MassMutual Center Location within Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts MassMutual Center Location within the United States Show map of the United States | |
| Former names | Springfield Civic Center (1972–2005) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1277 Main Street |
| Location | Springfield, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates | 42°6′8″N72°35′13″W / 42.10222°N 72.58694°W /42.10222; -72.58694 |
| Public transit | Springfield Union Station:  Hartford Line |
| Owner | City of Springfield (1972–1997) Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (1997–present) |
| Operator | MGM Springfield |
| Capacity | Center Stage: 9,300 Basketball: 7,300 Ice hockey: 6,800 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | March 18, 1970[1] |
| Opened | September 5, 1972[2] |
| Renovated | 2003–2005 |
| Construction cost | $10.3 million[2] ($77.4 million in 2024 dollars[3]) $71 million (renovation) ($114 million in 2024 dollars[3]) |
| Architect | Catalano Architects Inc.[4] Sasaki Associates[5] (renovation) |
| Tenants | |
| Springfield Indians (AHL) (1972–1994) New England/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) | |
| Website | |
| massmutualcenter | |
TheMassMutual Center (formerlySpringfield Civic Center) is a multi-purposearena andconvention center complex located in downtownSpringfield, 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 theMassachusetts 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 whenMassachusetts 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 theSpringfield Thunderbirds of theAmerican Hockey League andAmerican International Yellow Jackets who compete inNCAA 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.[6]
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 18-by-12-foot (5.5 m × 3.7 m) 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 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), three ballrooms that total 15,000 sq ft (1,400 m2) with back of house kitchen, five meeting rooms that total some 9,000 sq ft (840 m2), and 21,000 sq ft (2,000 m2) of pre-function space. It 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 Bruce Landon Way. There are 2 levels:
The arena hosted theHartford Whalers of theWorld Hockey Association andNational Hockey League and theHartford Hellions Of theMajor Indoor Soccer League (1978-1992) while theHartford Civic Center was undergoing renovations, because of a 1978 roof collapse. The arena hosted 59 regular season WHA games alongside playoff games in1978 and1979.[7]
The arena hostedWorld Wrestling Federation'sSaturday Night's Main Event XVI (the first episode followingWrestlemania IV, taped on April 22, 1988, aired on April 30). It also hosted the 19th WWFIn Your House pay-per-view in 1997. The center has also hostedWWEMonday Night RAW and two WWESmackDown! 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 whereThe Mountie (Jacques Rougeau) defeatedBret "Hitman" Hart for theWWF Intercontinental Championship on January 17, 1992. He would lose the title two days later toRowdy Roddy Piper at theKnickerbocker Arena inAlbany, New York at theRoyal Rumble.
The building has hosted anAmerican Hockey League franchise, since it opened in 1972. Between the1972–73 AHL season and1993–94 AHL season, the building hosted theSpringfield Indians franchise. Since1994, the center was the home of theSpringfield Falcons. The Falcons won the Northeast Division Championship in the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons while serving as the AHL affiliate of theColumbus Blue Jackets. The team was sold in May 2016 to theArizona Coyotes and relocated toTucson, Arizona. The Falcons were immediately replaced with theSpringfield Thunderbirds for the2016–17 season.
The building, located in the "Birthplace of Basketball", has also hosted numerousNCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championships, first in 1977, then from 1980 to 1994, and finally 2006 through 2011. The tournament moved tothe Kentucky suburbs of Cincinnati in 2012 and 2013. It also hosted the first sixNCAA Women's Division II Basketball Championships from 1982 to 1987.
TheUMass Minutemen basketball team, formerly under head coach and Springfield nativeDerek 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.[8]
TheSpringfield 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 theNBA'sNew York Knicks, thePhiladelphia 76ers, and the New Jersey Nets for two years. The New Jersey Nets, now known as theBrooklyn 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.[9]
| Date | Away | Score | Home | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 19, 1979 | Los Angeles Kings | 3–6 | Hartford Whalers | 7,626 |
| October 26, 1979 | New York Islanders | 2–1 | Hartford Whalers | 7,267 |
| November 2, 1979 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 3–5 | Hartford Whalers | 7,643 |
| November 9, 1979 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–2 | Hartford Whalers | 7,618 |
| November 17, 1979 | Edmonton Oilers | 0–4 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 |
| November 21, 1979 | Buffalo Sabres | 3–5 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 |
| November 24, 1979 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–4 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 |
| November 25, 1979 | Atlanta Flames | 2–4 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 |
| November 30, 1979 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 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 | Philadelphia Flyers | 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 | Winnipeg Jets | 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 | Boston Bruins | 2–8 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 |
| February 3, 1980 | New York Islanders | 3–7 | Hartford Whalers | 7,627 |
| Date | Away | Score | Home | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 29, 1995 | Switzerland | 3–4 | United States | – |
| Russia | 5–2 | Sweden | – |
| Date | Away | Score | Home | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 20, 2010 | New Mexico State | 57–71 | UMass Minutemen | 2,274 |
| November 22, 2010 | TCU | 48–67 | UMass Minutemen | 1,512 |
| December 9, 2011 | Siena | 78–82 | UMass Minutemen | 4,236 |
| December 15, 2012 | Elon | 73–78 OT | UMass Minutemen | 3,085 |
| December 7, 2013 | BYU | 96–105 | UMass Minutemen | 7,331* |
| December 7, 2014 | Florida Gulf Coast | 84–75 | UMass Minutemen | 5,235 |
| December 5, 2015 | Ole Miss Rebels | 74–64 | UMass Minutemen | 3,765 |
| December 17, 2022 | North Texas | 62–44 | UMass Minutemen | 3,426 |
| December 16, 2023 | West Virginia | 79–87 | UMass Minutemen | 4,264 |
| December 21, 2024 | Arizona State | 78-62 | UMass Minutemen | 3,252 |
| December 10, 2025 | Boston College | 74-76 | UMass Minutemen | 5,853 |
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.
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Home of the Springfield Thunderbirds 2016–present | Succeeded by current home |
| Preceded by none | Home of the Springfield Falcons 1994–2016 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Home of the Springfield Armor 2009–2014 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Home of the New England Whalers 1978–1980 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Home of the Springfield Indians 1972–1994 | Succeeded by |
Authority control databases: Geographic |
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