Boston Arena
	Title: The Arena, St. Botolph's Street, Boston Date: circa 1930 Creator: Not identified Original Media: 7" x 9¼" silver gelatin print on 11" x 14" mount
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	Located on St. Botolph Street at the edge of Boston’s Back Bay, the Boston Arena was built by the City of Boston in 1909 and opened it doors in 1910. The building’s original facade was in the elaborate Art-Deco style with a dramatic archway, connecting twin capped towers and a gilded Victorian lobby. The first event held was an ice carnival, and the facility has the distinction of being the world’s first artificial ice rink. The Boston Arena long served as Boston’s major ice sports venue and is still home to ice hockey games and figure skating competitions and performances. The facility has served as the home ice for the Boston Bruins, the New England Whalers and of many Boston-area collegiate hockey teams. Major ice skating competitions and performances have graced the Arena and greats such as Sonja Henie and Dick Button have awed its crowds. The Boston Arena is Boston's oldest multi-use athletic and special events facility. Almost from its opening, it hosted world class boxing, including fights with such legendary pugilists as Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey, and Gene Tunney. As a forum for oratory and politics, the rafters of the Boston Arena have rung to the voices of such American leaders and politicians as Teddy Roosevelt, James Michael Curley, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. The Boston Arena has also had a longtime connection with its neighbor, Northeastern University, and was purchased by Northeastern in 1977 and renamed the Matthews Arena in 1982.
	Sources: Northeastern Centennial Path Northeastern's Matthews Arena (from the Stadiums listing at this URL, click on "Alumni Stadium" to see information)
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