Northeastern reveals plans to replace Matthews Arena with eye on 2028 opening
A rendering of the new facade at Matthews Arena.
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The project is awaiting final approval from the city and state, which will determine the timelines for deconstruction and construction. It likely will not begin until 2026, leaving room for both the men's and women's hockey teams to open the 2025-26 season at Matthews. The process is expected to take 30 months, with the expectation that the new venue would be ready for the 2028-29 season.
During construction, the basketball programs will move their games and practices to the Cabot Recreation Complex, as they did for the 2020-21 season during the pandemic. It will be a little more complicated for the hockey programs.
The school is looking to partner with a rink in the greater Boston area where both the men's and women's teams can practice, with the university investing in facilities to house the equipment for the teams and offices for the coaches, as well as maintaining an area on campus where the can gather and prepare for road games.
Northeastern officials intend to incorporate more practice space into the new Matthews Arena.
Perkins&Will
As for games, the school will look to some of the local universities for assistance, but will also spend a good chunk of time on the road, with the goal being to have an imbalanced schedule with more home games when the new building is finished.
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The schedule would also likely include more in-season tournaments over the next few years. You can expect to see the Huskies heading to Belfast, for one of the next iterations of the Friendship Four.
Playing away from campus for two-plus seasons will be a hit for the hockey programs in the short term, but the school believes the long-term gains of having the new arena should only help in recruiting as they look to keep up with the surrounding programs.
'We'll have amenities that all student athletes will want to be able to use, because it speaks to development, which is so big part of where they want to go,' said Northeastern athletic director Jim Madigan. 'They'll see the facilities, they'll see the amenities, and they'll see that that's going to help them reach their athletic goals.'
There's also the fan experience. Matthews Arena has all of the charm that you'd expect from a venue that opened in 1910, and while it can be a great old barn to watch a game, the quarters are tight in the lobby, leading to long lines for the concessions and the restrooms.
That will not be the case in the new building, Madigan assures, with a large lobby as you walk in, with plenty of concessions and restrooms.
'Plenty of the modern-day amenities,' said Madigan. 'Everything you could think of as a new facility for the fan experience, absolutely.'
Originally known as Boston Arena, it was rebuilt in 1918 after a fire, and went on to serve as the original home of the Boston Bruins, who
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And it wasn't just home for sports, hosting a Theodore Roosevelt presidential rally in 1912, receptions with celebrity pilots Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart in 1927 and 1928, respectively. It also hosted a rally for Franklin Roosevelt in 1932, a John F. Kennedy appearance during a veterans rally in 1946, a Jerry Lee Lewis concert in 1958, and other events.
The university bought the building in 1979 and renamed it Matthews Arena Nov. 14, 1982 after George J. Matthews, Class of '56, and his wife Hope.
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Chicago Tribune
4 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
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Honorable mentions: Gary Spani (Kansas State) No. 60: Chuck Bednarik, C/LB, Penn Few players in college football history have been as dominant on both sides of the ball as Bednarik — a standout at center on the offensive side of the ball and as a linebacker on the defensive side of the ball during his time at Penn. He was a two-time consensus All-American in 1947 and 1948 and finished third in the 1948 Heisman Trophy vote. In his honor, the Bednarik Award is presented annually to the best defensive player in college football. Honorable mentions: Tommy Nobis (Texas) No. 61: Greg Eslinger, C, Minnesota Eslinger was one of the most dominant interior linemen in college football history, starring for Minnesota from 2002-05. He was a four-year starter for the Gophers and a three-time All-Big Ten performer. Eslinger was also a three-time All-American and received the Jim Parker Trophy, the Rimington Trophy and the Outland Trophy during his senior year. Honorable mentions: Jim Lynch (Notre Dame), Joe Steffy (Army) No. 62: Jim Parker, G, Ohio State Parker was a star for the Buckeyes in the 1950s, starring as an offensive guard while also playing on the defensive line. During his sophomore season, he helped lead the Buckeyes to a perfect 10-0 record and the No. 1 ranking in the AP Poll. Parker finished his career at OSU as a two-time all-conference performer, a two-time All-American and the winner of the 1954 Outland Trophy Award. Honorable mentions: Terrence Cody (Alabama), Calvin Jones (Iowa) No. 63: Mike Singletary, LB, Baylor Singletary was a fierce competitor during his time at Baylor. He was known for his hard-hitting style and as an emotional leader for the Bears' defense. Singletary rewrote the school record books, holding the mark for most tackles in a season (232) and in a career (662). He was a two-time conference player of the year and a two-time All-American at Baylor. Honorable mentions: Justin Blalock (Texas) No. 64: Bob Brown, G, Nebraska Brown was a force on the interior of the Huskers' offensive line during the early 1960s. He was a two-time All-Big East performer and an All-American during the 1963 season after helping lead Nebraska to its first conference title since 1940. Honorable mentions: Jim Lachey (Ohio State) No. 65: Steve DeLong, DL, Tennessee DeLong was one of the most dominant defensive linemen in college football during the 1960s, starring for the Vols from 1962-64. He was a two-time all-conference performer, a two-time All-American and the winner of the 1964 Outland Trophy. Honorable mentions: Greg Roberts (Oklahoma), Pat Elflein (Ohio State) No. 66: George Gipp, RB, Notre Dame Gipp was a star at Notre Dame under Knute Rockne, who used Gipp's name in his legendary halftime speech of the 1928 Army game. The famous phrase "Win one for the Gipper" was later used by Ronald Reagan, who portrayed Gipp in "Knute Rockne, All American." The former Notre Dame standout led the Fighting Irish in passing and rushing in his final three seasons and his average of 8.1 yards per carry is still a program record. Honorable mentions: Granville Liggins (Oklahoma), Alan Faneca (LSU) No. 67: Les Richter, G/LB, Cal Richter was a two-way star for the Cal Golden Bears back in the early '50s. He was recognized as a two-time All-American in both 1951 and '52. He was known as one of the toughest players in college football during his time at Cal and was eventually selected with the No. 2 pick in the 1952 NFL Draft. Honorable mentions: Russell Maryland (Miami), Aaron Taylor (Nebraska) No. 68: Mike Reid, DT, Penn State A dominant defensive lineman for the Nittany Lions during the late 1960s, Reid was a two-time captain on both of Penn State's undefeated teams during the 1968 and 1969 seasons. During his senior season, Reid led the Nittany Lions with 89 tackles en route to being named a unanimous All-American and winning both the Outland Trophy and Maxwell Award. Honorable mentions: Tedy Bruschi (Arizona) No. 69: Jordan Gross, OT, Utah How good was Gross during his collegiate playing career? The former All-American offensive tackle was so dominant that he didn't allow a single sack in his final two seasons at Utah. His senior season was remarkable, being named first-team All-Mountain West, a consensus first-team All-American and finishing as a finalist for the Outland Trophy. Honorable mentions: Tom Brown (Minnesota) No. 70: Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama Considered one of the best centers in recent memory, Kelly enjoyed a standout collegiate career at Alabama under the great Nick Saban. He was a three-year starter for the Crimson Tide from 2013-15, earning first-team All-American honors and winning the Rimington Trophy in 2015 while helping lead the Crimson Tide to a national championship. Honorable mentions: Bob Gain (Kentucky) No. 71: Tony Boselli, OT, USC There are multiple USC standouts that appear on this list, and Boselli is among the best of the group. A massive offensive tackle, Boselli was a four-year starter for the Trojans from 1991-94. He was a three-time All-Pac-10 selection and a two-time first-team All-American. His senior season was among the greatest single seasons for an offensive lineman in program history as he was awarded the Morris Trophy, given to the Pac-10's best offensive lineman. Honorable mentions: Dean Steinkuhler (Nebraska), Merlin Olsen (Utah State) No. 72: Bronko Nagurski, DT/FB, Minnesota The Bronco Nagurski Trophy is awarded annually to the top defensive player in college football, so it should serve as no surprise that Nagurski himself appears on this list. The former Minnesota standout is considered to be one of the greatest defensive players in college football history. Not only did Nagurski star on the defensive line, but he also played fullback on offense, as well as spending some time at halfback and offensive guard. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and a consensus All-American in 1929. Honorable mentions: Joe Thomas (Wisconsin), Bob Lilly (TCU), Glenn Dorsey (LSU) No. 73: John Hannah, OG, Alabama When legendary coach Bear Bryant refers to you as "the finest offensive lineman I have ever been around," you rightfully deserve a spot on this list. Hannah was an exceptional offensive guard at Alabama from 1970-72, earning first-team All-American honors in 1971 and 1972. In addition to starring on the gridiron, Hannah was also a member of the wrestling team and track and field team during his college career. Honorable mentions: Mark May (Pitt) No. 74: John Hicks, Ohio State Another great Ohio State offensive lineman, Hicks was a four-year starter for the Buckeyes from 1970-73. He missed half of the 1971 campaign due to injury, but during his three healthy seasons, he helped guide OSU to a combined 28-3-1 record, which included three Big Ten championships and three Rose Bowl appearances. He became the first Buckeye to play in three Rose Bowls while being named a two-time All-American and the winner of the Outland and Lombardi Awards in 1973. He was so dominant during his senior season that he finished runner-up in the 1973 Heisman Trophy voting, becoming just the second offensive lineman to do so. Honorable mentions: Tracy Rocker (Auburn), Michael Oher (Ole Miss) No. 75: Orlando Pace, OT, Ohio State The trend of dominant offensive tackles from Ohio State continues here with Pace, who is considered to be one of the greatest O-linemen in college football history. Pace started as a true freshman in 1994 and was named a two-time unanimous All-American and two-time Lombardi Award winner during his collegiate career. He was so dominant that the term "pancake block" gained popularity due to his play. Honorable mentions: Joe Greene (North Texas), Aaron Taylor (Notre Dame) * Our four-part series continues on Thursday, July 24, with the greatest players in college football history to wear Nos. 76-99. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? 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Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Big Ten commish makes it clear: When it comes to College Football Playoff expansion, his No. 1 priority is inventory
Remember all the thrilling games of the 2024-25 College Football Playoff? Texas' two-overtime victory against Arizona State in the Peach Bowl! Notre Dame's walkoff field goal to defeat Penn State in the Orange Bowl! And … and … hey, how about that Peach Bowl? The sad truth about the debut of the expanded College Football Playoff was that from a competitive standpoint, it was pretty much a wet firework. Only two of the 11 games — those two above — finished with a one-possession margin of victory. Five of the games were decided by a margin of two touchdowns or more, and three were 20-plus-point blowouts. (Thanks for stopping by, SMU, Tennessee and Oregon.) More, in other words, didn't come anywhere near better. Yes, these were college football playoff games … but more importantly, they were inventory created to meet demand. And if people are going to buy as much of the product as you put on the shelves, what's the incentive to limit that product? Why worry about quality when quantity is your overall goal? College power conference leaders know this, which is why they're angling so hard for representation in the CFP's bracket — now at 12, almost certain to expand to 16. If — no, let's be honest, when — that expansion comes, most conferences favor a 5+11 bracket. That would comprise five conference champions, 11 at-large teams, and would seem to be as meritocratic as possible: Play well and you're in. (Win those winnable games, Alabama.) But meritocracy isn't the endgame here, aristocracy is. And so now you have Tony Petitti, Big Ten commissioner, backing a '4-4-2-2-1-3' idea, which would give the Big Ten and the SEC four automatic bids apiece, the Big 12 and the ACC two apiece, and the remaining conferences a single bid, with three more at-larges. (It's like one of those ridiculous old word problems — 'If the Big Ten gets four automatic berths in the playoffs, and the SEC gets four automatic berths … how can they screw the ACC and the Big 12 out of three more?') 'At the end of the day, I think there's been a lot of concern about how [the playoff selections] are made. I focus on that piece,' Petitti explained. 'How are we differentiating from teams that don't have head-to-head play, teams that don't play common schedules across leagues that do different things? I think that's a really hard, tall order.' It's quite the rhetorical trick Pettiti is playing there, saying that because his conference is so big, you can't adequately determine strength by head-to-head matchups alone. And whose fault is that? It wasn't the selection committee that expanded the Big 'Ten' to 18 teams. Petitti isn't interested in creating a more equitable playoff, or in creating the conditions for better competition. He wants to pack the bracket with his schools, damn the optics or the on-field results. (Worth noting: the talent dropped off fast in the Big Ten after the top four last year. Would Iowa or Illinois, with their 6-3 conference records, be more deserving of an at-large spot than a whole range of other options? No.) Petitti understands that there are spots that need to be filled — both now and in the 16-team playoff to come — and he wants those guaranteed for his conference, not subject to the whims of a playoff selection committee. But guaranteed bids are the very antithesis of 'settle it on the field,' and run counter to literally every 'you gotta earn it!' mantra preached by every coach from the beginning of time. It's no surprise why the ACC and Big 12 hate the idea, and it's also no surprise what's driving the Big Ten's push to claim as much inventory as possible. We're not exactly breaking news here to note that money trumps tradition at every single level of college sports now. Tradition only has value for universities, and especially for broadcast partners, to the extent it can be monetized. Yes, it's wonderful that you can hum along to your alma mater's fight song … but maybe you can kick in a few bucks to the ol' athletic capital campaign while you're at it? That rivalry you enjoyed your entire life … well, your rival just didn't have deep enough pockets to join a new conference. Shame to lose that, really, but how about a replacement conference game against a school from halfway across the country? That's almost as good, right? Tradition has no place in the College Football Playoff. This is about inventory, plain and simple, and every business wants to create enough inventory to meet demand. Except here, instead of cereal boxes on a grocery shelf or burgers on a restaurant warming tray, the inventory in question is college football playoff games. Broadcasters want more inventory because each playoff game is a highly monetizable asset. Universities want more inventory because each nationally televised game means more exposure, more alumni goodwill, more broadcast dollars. Fans might want more inventory because … well, more football is good football, right? Yeah, not so much. Sure, there's always the chance that a Cinderella will knock out a Goliath, to mix literary metaphors, but given the wide variance between college football haves and have-lesses, the more likely outcome is what we saw last year: the big dogs carving right through the happy-to-be-here teams. You know the best way to ensure competitive playoff games? Narrow the field down to the best four and let them have at it. Wild idea, right? We're never going back there, meaning college football fans are now living a truth that plagues everything from pizza to music to Marvel movies: As quantity goes up, quality goes down.
