Tsongas Center
| Company type | Public (owned by University of Massachusetts Lowell) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Sports venue management |
| Founded | January 27, 1998 in Lowell, Massachusetts, United States |
| Headquarters | Lowell , United States |
| Owner | University of Massachusetts Lowell |
Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, previously known as Tsongas Arena, is a versatile venue owned by the University of Massachusetts Lowell located in Lowell, Massachusetts. It officially opened its doors on January 27, 1998, and was named in honor of Paul Tsongas, a U.S. senator and native of Lowell. The construction was financed through a combination of $4 million contributed by the city and university, alongside $20 million provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
About the arena
The Tsongas Center serves as the home arena for the NCAA Division I UMass Lowell River Hawks men's ice hockey team, competing in the Hockey East Association, as well as the men's basketball team within the America East Conference. Additionally, it hosts the Massachusetts Pirates from the Indoor Football League and the Boston Fleet representing the Professional Women's Hockey League. Previously, it was the base for the Lowell Lock Monsters/Devils of the American Hockey League until 2010, when ownership shifted to UMass Lowell and the franchise relocated.
With a seating capacity ranging from roughly 6,500 for hockey games to 7,800 for concerts, this facility accommodates a wide array of events including major musical performances, employment fairs, figure skating contests, and graduation ceremonies. University-related functions such as commencements, open houses, and the Chancellor's Speaker Series—initiated in 2012 featuring Stephen King—also take place here. That same year, the arena hosted a prominent U.S. Senate debate between Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren, drawing an audience exceeding 5,000 and significant media attention.
Distinguished performances at this venue include the Pixies' 2004 live concert DVD titled "The Pixies: Come Home Live," Yes's "Songs from Tsongas" DVD recording, and a concert by rapper Drake in 2010. The boxing sequences for the 2010 movie The Fighter were filmed within this arena.
In 2009, UMass Lowell entered negotiations to assume ownership from the city, completing a $1 purchase agreement in early 2010. Since acquiring control, more than $5 million has been devoted to upgrades such as LED ribbon displays (2010), installation of a high-definition video scoreboard coupled with an enhanced sound system (2010), introduction of premium club seating with an upscale bar area, modernization of ice-making machinery (2011), and addition of luxury suites along with a new press box (2012).
The arena has hosted notable sporting occasions like the 2017 Premier Hockey Federation Isobel Cup finals and WWE’s NXT Battleground event in May 2023. It was also the site for Ring of Honor’s Death Before Dishonor pay-per-view in July 2022 and TNA Wrestling’s Lockdown pay-per-view event in 2008. Furthermore, it is scheduled to host TNA’s Bound for Glory pay-per-view in October 2025.