View source for Agganis Arena

{{short description|Arena in Boston, Massachusetts, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Agganis Arena
| image = [[File:Agganis arena logo.png|Agganis Arena]]<br>[[File:Inside Agganis Arena.jpg|300px|Inside of Agganis Arena after a BU Hockey Game]]
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=300|zoom=15|type=point}}
| location = 925 [[Commonwealth Avenue (Boston)|Commonwealth Avenue]]<br>[[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]] 02215
| coordinates = {{coord|42|21|08.03|N|71|07|04.05|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| publictransit = {{rint|boston|rail}} {{rint|boston|green}}<br/>at [[Babcock Street station|Babcock Street]]
| nickname = "The Greek"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://goterriers.com/documents/2013/8/11/1314mbbRecordBook.pdf|title=1314mbbRecordBook (PDF)|website=Boston University Athletics}}</ref>
| broke_ground = 2003
| built = 
| opened = January 3, 2005
| closed = 
| demolished = 
| owner = [[Boston University]]
| operator = [[Boston University]]
| construction_cost = [[United States dollar|$]]97 million
| architect = [[CannonDesign]]
| structural engineer = [[LeMessurier Consultants|LeMessurier Consultants Inc.]]<ref name="construction">{{cite web|url=https://www.buildings.com/article-details/articleid/5270/title/boston-university-fitness-recreation-center-agganis-arena-boston-ma|title=Boston University Fitness & Recreation Center & Agganis Arena, Boston, MA|website=www.buildings.com}}</ref>
| general_contractor = Walsh Brothers/Barton Malow<ref name="construction"/>
| tenants = [[Boston University athletics|Boston University Terriers]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) (2005–present)
| seating_capacity = Center Stage Concert: 8,000<br>End Stage Concert: Up to 7,500<br>Basketball: 6,411<br>Ice Hockey: 6,150<br>Theatre Configuration: 1,500-3,500<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.agganisarena.com/business-opportunities/book-the-arena/capacity-specifications/|title=Capacity & Specifications|publisher=Agganis Arena|website=agganisarena.com|access-date=November 29, 2019}}</ref>
| former_names = 
| dimensions = Arena total size = 286,134 gross square feet<br>Ice sheet: 90 ft<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shinzawa |first1=Fluto |title=Open ice - The Boston Globe |url=https://archive.boston.com/sports/articles/2005/01/02/open_ice/ |website=archive.boston.com |publisher=Boston.com |access-date=30 October 2022 |language=en |date=January 2, 2005}}</ref> × 200 ft<br>Basketball floor (portable): 112' × 60'<br>Portable insulating deck: 90' × 200'
| website = {{URL|http://www.agganisarena.com}}
}}

'''Agganis Arena''' is a 7,200-seat<ref>{{cite web|url=https://goterriers.com/facilities/agganis-arena/11|title=Agganis Arena|publisher=Boston University Athletics|website=goterriers.com|access-date=November 29, 2019}}</ref> multi-purpose [[arena]] in [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], United States, on the campus of [[Boston University]], built on the location of the former [[Commonwealth Armory]]. It is home to the five-time national champion [[Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey]] team. It is named after [[Harry Agganis]], a football and baseball player for BU.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.bu.edu/news/2004/04/13/agganis-statue-unveiling/|title=Bronze Statue Honoring Famed BU Sports Legend Harry Agganis to be Unveiled - Public Relations|website=www.bu.edu}}</ref> The ice hockey rink is named [[Jack Parker (ice hockey)|Jack Parker]] Rink, after the legendary BU hockey player and coach.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|author=Scott Weighart |url=http://www.uscho.com/2005/10/07/bu-dedicates-jack-parker-rink/ |title=BU Dedicates Jack Parker Rink &#124; College Hockey |publisher=USCHO.com |date=2005-10-07 |access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref> The arena is part of Boston University's [[John Hancock Student Village]], which also includes [[dormitory|dormitories]] and the university's five-story [[Fitness and Recreation Center]].

Agganis was dedicated in 2004 and hosted its first event in 2005.<ref>[http://www.agganisarena.com/about/arena/index.html Agganis Arena | About | Agganis Arena<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216044544/http://www.agganisarena.com/about/arena/index.html |date=December 16, 2013 }}</ref> It replaced [[Walter Brown Arena]], located at the [[Case Athletic Center]], as the home of BU Men's Ice Hockey, though Walter Brown Arena is still in use as the home of [[Boston University Terriers women's ice hockey|BU Women's Ice Hockey]]. The [[Boston University Terriers men's basketball|BU basketball team]] played games at the arena until 2015, before moving back to [[Case Gym]]. {{stack|[[Image:Agganis Arena Exterior.jpg|200px|thumb|The exterior of the Agganis Arena]]}}
Agganis serves as a regional auditorium for large events, including concerts, ceremonies of other schools such as [[Berklee College of Music]],<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Berklee College of Music Commencement {{!}} Berklee College of Music |url=https://college.berklee.edu/commencement |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=college.berklee.edu |language=en}}</ref> musicals, awareness events, and appearances by speakers such as [[Barack Obama]] and [[Dave Chappelle]].

Since 2008, Agganis has hosted the annual [[CRASH-B]] World Indoor Rowing Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crash-b.org/about/c-r-a-s-h-b-history/|title=C.R.A.S.H.-B. History|website=www.crash-b.org}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Development ===
BU's men's ice hockey team had previously played at [[Walter Brown Arena]] for 33 years. The arena only has a capacity of 3,806, and so a larger, newer arena was desired by university leaders. Walter Brown was known for being extremely loud during high attendance games due to its low ceiling, creating a [[home advantage]]. Coach [[Jack Parker (ice hockey)|Jack Parker]] consulted with architects when designing the rink to ensure that the volume level would remain high.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=B.U. Bridge: Boston University community's weekly newspaper |url=https://www.bu.edu/bridge/archive/2004/12-10/parker.html |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=www.bu.edu}}</ref> The ice rink in the arena would eventually be dedicated to him.<ref name=":1" />

The arena was constructed as part of BU's $325 million [[John Hancock Student Village]], a 10-acre site hosting sports, fitness, and residential facilities for students. The location borders [[Commonwealth Avenue (Boston)|Commonwealth Avenue]], on the site of the old [[Commonwealth Armory]], which was purchased by BU in the 1980s and demolished in 2002.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=B.U. Bridge: Boston University community's weekly newspaper |url=https://www.bu.edu/bridge/archive/2005/04-01/landmark.html |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=www.bu.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=B.U. Bridge: Boston University community's weekly newspaper |url=https://www.bu.edu/bridge/archive/2002/08-30/armory.htm |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=www.bu.edu}}</ref> In 2004, the [[Boston University Fitness and Recreation Center|Fitness and Recreation Center]] was completed next door as part of the village project.<ref name=":3" /> The arena was completed in 2004 at a cost of $97 million and held its first ice hockey game in 2005.<ref name=":2" />

=== Naming ===
The arena is named after [[Harry Agganis]], a two-sport [[American football|football]] and baseball athlete for BU and a player for the [[Boston Red Sox]]. Agganis died at 26 from a massive [[pulmonary embolism]]. A life-size [[Bronze sculpture|bronze statue]] of Agganis sculpted by [[Armand LaMontagne]] stands outside the arena at the corner of [[Commonwealth Avenue (Boston)|Commonwealth Avenue]] and Harry Agganis Way.<ref name=":0" /> The hockey rink is named [[Jack Parker (ice hockey)|Jack Parker]] Rink, after the legendary BU hockey player and coach.<ref name=":1" />

=== Ice Hockey ===
The arena's main tenant since it was opened is the [[Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey|BU men's ice hockey]] team. The student section for the team sits in Section 118 and is called the "Dog Pound". The upper level of section 118 is reserved for the BU [[Pep band|Pep Band]]. The Dog Pound is known for chants directed at opposing goaltenders.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-17 |title=The Dog Pound: the fan experience at Boston University – The Daily Free Press |url=https://dailyfreepress.com/2022/08/17/the-dog-pound-the-fan-experience-at-boston-university/ |access-date=2023-09-29 |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Agganis arena full.jpg|alt=A full hockey arena with a clean ice surface. The arena is full of people. We are looking straight ahead from the home bench.|thumb|View from the student section between periods at a hockey game]]
The [[Boston University Terriers women's ice hockey|women's]] team continues to play in Walter Brown Arena, but select tournaments and games have been played at the arena. The arena hosted the [[2009 NCAA National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Tournament|2009 Women's Frozen Four]]. The venue was also scheduled to host the [[2020 NCAA National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Tournament|2020 Women's Frozen Four]]<ref>{{cite web |title=BU to Host 2020 Women's Frozen Four at Agganis |url=http://goterriers.com/news/2017/4/18/womens-ice-hockey-bu-to-host-2020-womens-frozen-four-at-agganis.aspx |website=Boston University Athletics}}</ref> before the tournament was cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |date=March 12, 2020 |title=NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships due to coronavirus concerns |url=https://www.ncaa.com/live-updates/ncaa-cancels-remaining-winter-and-spring-championships-due-coronavirus-concerns |accessdate=March 12, 2020 |website=NCAA.com}}</ref> The [[Professional Women's Hockey League]] (PWHL) played two [[Boston Fleet]] games at the arena: March 8 against the [[Montreal Victoire]] and March 26 against the [[Toronto Sceptres]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Conor |title=Boston Fleet to play two home games in March at Agganis Arena |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/pwhl/2025/01/20/boston-fleet-bu-lowell-agganis-arena-pwhl-womens-hockey/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=www.boston.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Basketball ===
In the arena's first decade, [[Boston University Terriers men's basketball|Boston University basketball]] played select home games at Agganis, with the remainder being played at [[Case Gym]]. The school made the decision before the [[2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2015–2016 season]] to move all home games back to Case Gym due to poor attendance at Agganis.<ref>{{cite web |title=Men's basketball team moves all conference games to Case, hopes to increase attendance – The Daily Free Press |url=https://dailyfreepress.com/blog/2015/11/06/mens-basketball-team-moves-all-conference-games-to-case-hopes-to-increase-attendance/}}</ref> The last BU basketball game played at Agganis was a 77-70 loss to [[Boston University–Holy Cross rivalry|rival]] [[Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball|Holy Cross]] on Feb. 28, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Men's Basketball vs Holy Cross on 2/28/2015 - Box Score |url=http://goterriers.com/boxscore.aspx?id=353&path=mbball |website=Boston University Athletics}}</ref>

Agganis Arena hosted the first rounds of the [[2007 America East men's basketball tournament]] and the [[2011 America East men's basketball tournament|finals in 2011]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-02-26 |title=AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD ANNOUNCED |url=https://ualbanysports.com/news/2007/2/26/859931.aspx |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=University at Albany Great Danes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=2018 |title=Men's Basketball Record Book |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/americaeast.sidearmsports.com/documents/2019/2/14/MBB_Champ_Records.pdf |access-date=September 29, 2023 |publisher=[[America East Conference]] |page=12}}</ref>

=== Other Events ===
Agganis is used for various graduation ceremonies at BU and other schools.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=MET Convocation Ceremony {{!}} BU MET |url=https://www.bu.edu/met/current-students/graduation/convocation-ceremony/ |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=www.bu.edu}}</ref>

The arena hosted [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling|TNA Wrestling]]'s anniversary show [[Slammiversary XI|Slammiversary]] on June 2, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=PWTorch.com - TNA NEWS: Date & Location announced for Slammiversary |url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_69224.shtml |website=www.pwtorch.com}}</ref>

In January 2018, the arena hosted the playoff stage for the [[ELEAGUE Major: Boston 2018|ELEAGUE Major]] tournament for [[Counter-Strike: Global Offensive]]. It was the first time in the game's history that a North American team ([[Cloud9]]) won a major-level tournament.

On October 9, 2019, professional wrestling promotion [[All Elite Wrestling]] (AEW) held the second episode of its live weekly television show ''[[AEW Dynamite]]'' at the arena.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/aew-tnt-premiere-date-1203277974/|title = All Elite Wrestling to Launch on TNT Wednesdays in October|date = 24 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/wwe/2019/08/06/aew-on-tnt-locations-boston-agganis-arena-philadelphia-liacouras-center/|title=AEW Announces Locations for Second and Third TNT Episodes}}</ref> AEW returned to the Agganis Arena for its October 27, 2021 episode of ''Dynamite.''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gagnon|first=Joshua|date=October 27, 2021|title=AEW Dynamite Results: TNT Title Match, Two Tournament Bouts, The Elite Vs. Dark Order|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/10/aew-dynamite-live-coverage-tnt-title-match-two-tournament-bouts/|url-status=live|access-date=December 16, 2021|website=[[Wrestling Inc.]]|language=en-us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027230739/https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/10/aew-dynamite-live-coverage-tnt-title-match-two-tournament-bouts/ |archive-date=October 27, 2021 }}</ref> That week's episode of ''[[AEW Rampage]]'' was also taped at the arena following the ''Dynamite'' taping.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gagnon|first=Joshua|date=October 27, 2021|title=Spoilers For AEW Rampage (10/29): Bryan Danielson Vs. Eddie Kingston|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/10/spoilers-for-aew-rampage-10-29-bryan-danielson-vs-eddie-kingston/|url-status=live|access-date=December 16, 2021|website=[[Wrestling Inc.]]|language=en-us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028033243/https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/10/spoilers-for-aew-rampage-10-29-bryan-danielson-vs-eddie-kingston/ |archive-date=October 28, 2021 }}</ref> AEW returned once again on April 6, 2022 for a live episode of ''Dynamite'', as well as tapings of ''AEW Rampage'' and ''AEW Dark: Elevation''. 

The [[Rocket League Championship Series]] 2023 Spring Major was held at the arena from July 6 to 9, 2023, with a live audience present on July 8 and 9.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Chlo |date=June 29, 2023 |title=RLCS Spring Major Primer + On-Site Guide |url=https://esports.rocketleague.com/news/rlcs-spring-major-primer-plus-onsite-guide/ |website=Rocket League Esports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718170808/https://esports.rocketleague.com/news/rlcs-spring-major-primer-plus-onsite-guide/ |archive-date= Jul 18, 2023 }}</ref> The event was won by [[Team Vitality]], who beat fellow European side Team BDS in the Final to completely sweep the Spring Split, having previously won the EU Spring Open, Spring Cup and Spring Invitational. 

==See also==
* [[List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
 
==External links==
*[http://www.agganisarena.com/ Official website]
*[https://goterriers.com/facilities/agganis-arena/11 Agganis Arena]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of <br>[[Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey]]
 | years = 2005 &ndash; Current
 | before = [[Walter Brown Arena]]
 | after = incumbent
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Host of [[Slammiversary]]
 | years = 2013 ([[Slammiversary XI|XI]])
 | before = [[College Park Center]]
 | after = College Park Center
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Hockey East}}
{{Boston University}}
{{Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey navbox}}
{{Boston University Terriers men's basketball navbox}}
{{Patriot League basketball venue navbox}}
{{Greater Boston sports arenas}}
{{Music venues of Massachusetts}}

[[Category:College ice hockey venues in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:College basketball venues in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Basketball venues in Boston]]
[[Category:Boston University Terriers sports venues]]
[[Category:Boston University Terriers men's basketball]]
[[Category:Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey]]
[[Category:Wrestling venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Ice hockey venues in Boston]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:2005 in Boston]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 2005]]
[[Category:University and college buildings completed in 2005]]