MassMutual Center

MassMutual Center
The Nest
Former names	Springfield Civic Center (1972 – 2005)
Location	1277 Main Street 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	September 5, 1972[1]
Renovated	2003-2005
Owner	Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (1998-present) City of Springfield (1972-1997)
Operator	Global Spectrum
Construction cost	$10.3 million[1] ($54.1 million in 2011 dollars[2]) $71 million (renovation) ($79.9 million in 2011 dollars[2])
Architect	Sasaki Associates[3] (renovation)
Capacity	Hockey: 6,875 Basketball: 7,630 Centerstage: 8,600
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 downtown Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. Built in the city's metro center across from Court Square, the facility opened in 1972 as the Springfield Civic Center and was at the time considered to be the largest arena in the region. It was owned and operated by the City of Springfield for eighteen years, before going into private hands for the following next six years. 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 (MCCA). The project included a renovation of the 8,000 seat arena and construction of a new 100,000 sq. ft. convention center facing Main Street where a plaza and bank once occupied. In 2005, the Center was renamed when Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company entered into a naming rights agreement for the arena and convention center. Its grand opening occurred on October 1, 2005. It 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.

The arena will be hosting the 2012-2014 MAAC Basketball Championships.^[4]

Renovation

In 1997, the City of Springfield transferred ownership of the facility to the Massachusetts Legislature in which they announced plans for a renovation and expansion of the facility. In 1998, the Legislature turned ownership of the building over to the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA). In the fall of 2003, the 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 new seats, handrails, signage, sound system, HVAC system, plumbing, and electrical to the existing arena. The arena floor was redone with new pipelines for the ice rink and new chillers were installed. The project also included 222 club seats, a bar and lounge, clubroom, an executive suite, along with larger restrooms and 11 newly refurbrished concession stands. A new box office and lobby were also 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 is located on Falcons Way. The arena has 3 levels:

• Level 1- Box office, Administration, Falcons office and team store.
• Level 2- Lower and upper bowl seating, Center Grille restaurant, Breakaway Bar & Lounge.
• Level 3- Press Boxes, Executive Perch.

Convention Center

With renovations to the existing arena, a brand new state-of-the-art convention center was added. With 100,000 square feet (9,300 m²), it is the largest convention center in Western Massachusetts. It includes two exhibition halls, which total over 40,000 square feet (3,700 m²), 3 ballrooms that total 15,000 square feet (1,400 m²), 5 meeting rooms that total some 9,000 square feet (840 m²), and 21,000 square feet (2,000 m²) of pre-function space. Its unique design connects both the convention center and arena to add an additional 19,000 square feet (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 panaramic 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.

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 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 Columbus Blue Jackets. 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 Nets, however, became the sole affiliate of the Armor for the 2011-2012 season.

Inside the MassMutual Center

External links

• MassMutual Center Website

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Expansion Upsets RI". Boston Globe. September 10, 1972. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/1947883542.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+10%2C+1972&author=&pub=Boston+Globe+(1960-1979)&desc=Airport+expansion+upsets+R.I.&pqatl=google. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2008. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
3. ^ http://www.sasaki.com/who/people.cgi?m=5&pid=2675
4. ^ http://www.maacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87906&SPID=10446&DB_OEM_ID=17400&ATCLID=204861913

Events and tenants
Preceded by none	Home of the Springfield Falcons 1994 – present	Succeeded by current
Preceded by none	Home of the Springfield Armor 2009 - present	Succeeded by current
Preceded by Hartford Civic Center	Home of the New England/Hartford Whalers 1978 - 1980	Succeeded by Hartford Civic Center
Preceded by Eastern States Coliseum	Home of the Springfield Indians 1972 - 1994	Succeeded by Worcester Centrum