As Matthews Arena is prepared to be demolished after more than a century of hosting historical events, Northeastern Athletics unveiled on its social media pages a commemorative logo to mark its last semester.
Designed with the Northeastern colors, the logo honors the arena’s final season hosting the Northeastern’s men’s and women’s ice hockey teams and the men’s basketball team. It’s also the world’s oldest multi-purpose athletic building that remains in use.
The circular logo features an outline of the entrance to Matthews Arena in the center, sporting Northeastern’s name and including its iconic arch. Underneath, in tan, reads “Farewell Season,” with the date of the arena’s lifespan— 1910-2025— printed below in black.
For many, the logo is a nostalgic and proper way to send off Matthews Arena.
“I think [the logo is] awesome, because the front entryway is beautiful, it’s unique, it’s old and it’s got a lot of rich history in it,” said Jefferson Mills, Matthews public address announcer who has been announcing at the arena since 2017. “That stadium was [used] for the Bruins in 1924, so a lot of people don’t realize that, and when you do tell them that, they’re like, ‘Wow.’”
Second-year health sciences major Kaitlin Lew said while it was well known the area was deteriorating, she was still sad that this is Matthews’ final season.
“I was kind of sad, because it is such a big part of Boston’s history and also our school’s history,” Lew said. “Most of the games I’ve been to have been in the student section, which I think is the most memorable part — just being with lots of other fans and being part of that energy.”
While Lew appreciated the university’s efforts to commemorate the arena’s last season, some, including fifth-year mechanical engineering and design combined major and DogHouse leader Ruby Rodriguez, have reservations about the farewell logo.
“I honestly think it’s a bit plain. It doesn’t do the [monumental] occasion justice,” Rodriguez said. “I wouldn’t say that I get a full concept of the sports that play in here from the logo itself. I think it’s more so about the arena in its current state, but I wish it almost showed a bit more of the older versions of the arena, the more historic version of it.”
The logo has been used for several pieces of Northeastern merchandise, including hoodies and T-shirts.
According to Northeastern bookstore assistant manager Cooper McGonigal, who typically runs the merchandise table during matches at Matthews Arena, the table will feature 24 pieces of apparel of each size from small to 2XL during games inside the building.
“The merch provides a great opportunity for us to capitalize on the event, and a lot of people seem to like it,” McGonigal said. “We sell out of stuff every game, so it’s been kind of hard to keep it in stock.”
McGonigal says that the high demand was unexpected.
“Because so many people have bought it, we now are trying to scramble and figure out what else we can get with the logo on it, like a [hockey] puck,” McGonigal said. “I know we’re in talks to get a commemorative ticket as well with that logo on it.”
Fourth-year data science and economics combined major and DogHouse leader Misha Ankudovych appreciates the sentiment of the merchandise.
“I think it’ll definitely be a conversation starter, especially in years to come, to have stuff with that [logo] on [it],” he said. “I think it’s cool to have something that’s unique to the last season, like something you can buy and then five years from now you’re like, ‘Oh, right, I was there for that.’”
For the most part, students said the logo and the merchandise encapsulates the memories behind every game at Matthews Arena.
“This was one of the first big arenas I’ve been able to announce in when I started in 2017, so just awesome memories. It’s sad that it’s going to go away, but I know it’s time,” Mills said. “The building, it’s had everything it could possibly have, and it’s really just maxed out its output.”
