MassMutual Center

Former names	Springfield Civic Center
Location	1277 Main St, Springfield, MA 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
Opened	1972
Renovated	2005 ($71 million)
Owner	Massachusetts Convention Center Authority
Operator	Global Spectrum
Capacity	Hockey: 6,889
Tenants
Hartford Whalers (NHL) (1978–1980) Springfield Indians (AHL) (1972–1993) Springfield Falcons (AHL) (1994–present) Springfield Armor (D-League) (2009-present)

The MassMutual Center is a multi-purpose arena and convention center in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. It is home to the Springfield Falcons ice hockey team and the Springfield Armor of the NBA Development League.

Formerly known as the Springfield Civic Center, the facility opened in 1972 and was at the time one of the largest arenas in the region. It was owned and operated by the city for eighteen years before going into private hands for the next six. In 1996, it reverted to city control. A few years later, the Massachusetts Legislature authorized a major renovation of the facility and transferred ownership to the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority. The renovation included work on the arena and construction of a convention center facing Main Street. A plaza and bank used to be on that plot of land. In 2005 the Center was renamed when MassMutual Financial Group entered into a naming rights agreement for the arena and convention center. Its grand opening (or reopening depending on perspective) occurred on Oct 1, 2005.

The arena will be hosting the 2012-2014 MAAC Basketball Championships.^[1]

Contents 1 Convention Center 2 History 3 External links 4 References

[edit] Convention Center

With renovations to the existing arena, a brand new convention center was added. With 100,000 square feet, it is the largest convention center in western massachusetts. It includes two exhibition halls, which total over 40,000 square feet, 3 ballrooms that total 15,000 square feet, and 5 meeting rooms that total some 9,000 square feet. Its unique design connects both the convention center and arena to add an additional 19,000 square feet of floor space. The convention center is able to host galas, weddings, consumer and trade shows, conventions, conferences, and many other functions of any size.

[edit] History

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. It also hosted the 19th WWF In Your House pay-per-view in 1997. It 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 building has hosted an American Hockey League franchise since it opened in 1972. Between 1972 and 1993, the the building hosted the Springfield Indians franchise, which is now known as the Peoria Rivermen. Since 1994, the Center has been the site of home games of the Springfield Falcons, the AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers.

The building, located in the "Birthplace of Basketball", has also hosted numerous NCAA Division II basketball championships, first from 1980–94 and now for the last two years.

[edit] External links

• MassMutual Center Website

[edit] References

Preceded by Hartford Civic Center

Home of the New England/Hartford Whalers 1978 – 1980

Succeeded by Hartford Civic Center

v • d • e Current arenas in the American Hockey League Eastern Conference Arena at Harbor Yard · Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena · Cumberland County Civic Center · DCU Center · Dunkin' Donuts Center · Giant Center · Glens Falls Civic Center  · MassMutual Center · Norfolk Scope · Times Union Center · Tsongas Arena · Verizon Wireless Arena · Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza · XL Center Western Conference Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre  · Allstate Arena · AT&T Center · Blue Cross Arena · Bradley Center · Carver Arena · Cedar Park Center  · Copps Coliseum  · MTS Centre · Quicken Loans Arena · Ricoh Coliseum · Rockford MetroCentre · Toyota Center · Van Andel Arena · War Memorial at Oncenter

v • d • e Current arenas in the NBA Development League Eastern Conference Allen County War Memorial Coliseum · Bismarck Civic Center · Louis J. Tullio Arena · MassMutual Center · Portland Exposition Building · Sioux Falls Arena · Wells Fargo Arena Western Conference Austin Convention Center · Dodge Arena · Jam Events Center · McKay Events Center · Qwest Arena · Reno Events Center · Staples Center · Tingley Coliseum · Tulsa Convention Center 2010-11 Dr Pepper Arena

v • d • e Hartford Whalers Franchise Hartford Whalers • Carolina Hurricanes • Expansion draft • Players • Coaches • Seasons • Draft picks • Brass Bonanza • NHL–WHA merger Championships Avco World Trophy: 1972-73 • Division Championships: 1972–73 • 1973–74 • 1974–75 • 1986-87 Arenas Boston Arena • Boston Garden • The Big E Coliseum • Springfield Civic Center • Hartford Civic Center

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