William D. Mullins Memorial Center, Multi-purpose arena at University of Massachusetts Amherst, United States
The William D. Mullins Memorial Center is a multipurpose facility at the University of Massachusetts Amherst featuring a main arena with a basketball court positioned above an Olympic-sized hockey rink measuring 200 feet by 95 feet. The complex also houses three racquetball courts, multiple purpose rooms for various activities, and a separate building containing a permanent ice rink available for recreational skating.
State Representative William D. Mullins proposed construction of this arena in 1985 to expand the university's athletic programs, and the facility opened in 1993 following his death. It replaced the earlier Curry Hicks Cage gymnasium from the 1930s and allowed the university hockey team to transition from club status to Division I competition.
The center serves as a major event venue where concerts with national performers, theatrical productions, and family shows take place regularly throughout the year. University graduation ceremonies are also held here, making it central to the campus community's key moments.
The facility is located on the university campus and is accessible for visitors attending sports events or concerts, with parking available nearby. The different areas within the complex are clearly marked, making it straightforward to find your way between the main arena, the racquetball courts, and the separate ice rink building.
What stands out is the dual-use design of the main arena: the basketball court sits directly above the ice hockey rink, an ingenious space solution that allows both sports to thrive in the same building. This vertical arrangement was innovative when it opened and remains a defining feature that visitors often miss.
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