Northeastern plans to replace historic Matthews Arena

Northeastern University is seeking to replace its historic Matthews Arena with a new multi-purpose athletics facility, it said in a letter of intent filed with the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) on Tuesday.

The letter, sent by the university’s Vice President of Planning, Real Estate, and Facilities Kathy Spiegelman to the BPDA, said Matthews would be replaced by a 290,000 square foot facility for Northeastern’s sporting events. Matthews is the world’s oldest multi-purpose athletic building and was purchased by Northeastern in 1979, the school’s website reads. 

If approved, the new facility would include an arena, a field house with multi-purpose turf, basketball courts, recreational courts, and “other accessory uses” to support Northeastern’s athletic needs, according to the letter. 

“The Project will also include site improvements, including new street trees, pedestrian improvements, and public realm improvements,” Spiegelman wrote. 

In a statement to The Boston Globe, university spokesperson Renata Nyul said that Matthews is “more than a century old and reaching the end of its useful life.”

“It has recently undergone structural modifications that will temporarily extend its use. Simultaneously, the university has been making long-term assessments regarding the increasing demand for state-of-the-art athletic and recreational facilities on our Boston campus. This is why we’re beginning the process to explore new options with the BPDA,” Nyul told the Globe. 

The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Boston.com Thursday afternoon.

“Jewel of the community”: Century-old Matthews Arena has hosted numerous prominent events

Matthews Arena, originally the Boston Arena, opened in 1910. In 1982, it was renamed Matthews Arena after George Matthews, a Northeastern graduate and former chair of the school’s Board of Trustees. Matthews, who died in January, helped fund the refurbishment of the arena when the school purchased it.

The building has undergone several renovations under Northeastern’s ownership. Tts ice rink was expanded in 1995, and in 2010, the arena received a new roof and seats.

Matthews has been the site of numerous significant political and sporting events, including presidential rallies by both Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt, the receptions of Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart, and Reggie Lewis’s funeral service. 

The building also survived two fires, one in 1918 and another in 1948. Northeastern’s website calls the arena a “stationary jewel of the community.”

The proposed facility is part of Northeastern’s new 10-year master plan, Spiegelman said in the letter.

“We look forward to working with the City of Boston agencies, Northeastern University Task Force members, elected officials, and members of the community as we undertake the review of this Institutional Master Plan renewal and the Project,” Spiegelman wrote. 

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