Matthews Arena

This place is kind of old and is really more for hockey and not basketball. I went here for basketball, so my review is solely based on my basketball experience.
I sat at section 24 row 1, right behind the visitor’s bench. While it is front row to the action, the cooler behind the team bench was a big distraction (see picture). The seat is kind of small and there is a railing in front of you. The railing is not tall enough to obstruct my view, but it could definitely be obstructing for a shorter person. Like I said, this place is really build for hockey. You can see some of the hockey boards that are still up while the basketball game is in play. My only recommendation for a basketball game is to not sit on the first row for a basketball game because there can be things placed on the court that can obstruct your view. Get second row or further for better view. Also keep in mind, some of the last row could have obstructed view due to certain poles placed in the stands.
The amosphere is pretty good, with the student mostly into the game and cheering.

definitely no frills but I will say there really isn’t a bad seat in the house for a hockey game. Im gonna guess that the students are still on break cus the place wasn’t even half full. but that gave me a chance to change seats a few times and really get a feel for the arena. Ill go again but ill pick a bigger game so I can get more of a feel of the atmosphere with a full house

I am updating this review to say that the Open Skate during the winter is now a little earlier in the day, generally 11:45 to 1 on weekdays.
The hours are listed here

I’ve been here twice, once for a hockey game and once for a comedy show for homecoming and both were great. You can’t get good seats every time (I couldn’t see the camera zoom in for the comedy show), but I feel like it’s that way with any stadium.
Great sound.
Not freezing when it’s not hockey :)

Matthews is a large hockey rink that also functions as an auditorium on the off season. Main dilemma — TOO COLD!

I guess I’m biased because my son goes to school here, but I liked the arena for what we went to see. It was a fundraiser for Northeastern featuring the Boston Pops and Kelly Clarkson. I liked it because it was small and no matter where you sat, you had a good view of the stage. I took away the star because the people that were sitting in the tables at the bottom, had cocktails servers going around. Those of us in the bleachers couldn’t get any drinks because they closed the concessions.

Maybe I’m biased because I went to Northeastern University for 5 years, but I think NU alum or not, I’d love Matthews Arena anyway.
First, the bad: This place is old. Very old. If you have a large bum, the seats will not accommodate you. The place is over a century old and was made for bum sizes of 1910, not 2012. I don’t think I have a very bony arse, but I’m always a bit uncomfortable in the seats in general.
Now, for the rest…
The history this place has is epic and you will feel a part of the history when you walk through the doors. The Bruins used to play here. The Celtics used to play here. Pretty much every area college from BU to BC to MIT to Harvard to Wentworth all played NCAA hockey here. Now it’s Northeastern’s. :)
The arena is fairly small, but that means pretty much every seat is a good one. There are a couple of moderately-​priced concession stands in the lobby. The bathrooms are a good size and they are clean, but prepare to stand in line between hockey game periods (even the guys!).
The location is pretty stellar, too. There are a few parking garages nearby, and being nestled right by the Symphony area of Back Bay, you have lots of restaurant options before and after the game. There are Orange Line stops (Mass Ave and Ruggles) as well as Green Line stops (Symphony is probably the closest E line stop, though I’ve walked the 10 minutes to Hynes Convention Center to get on the B line). Accessibility is no issue!

I understand the history and such behind this old rink, but seriously it is time to for a renovation! The place is cold and the seats were very uncomfortable. The food options were also very poor. Several pucks came over the shallow glass walls as well. Have to be on your guard when you come to this place! Oh, and dress WARM! I wore my coat the whole game! The crazy fans who took their shirts off during over time were insane…
This place does not compare to the Tsongas Arena in Lowell! Now there is a hockey experience! It feels like you’re at a professional rink even though it is college hockey.

This dive arena is legendary. Original home to the Bruins and Celtics. The home court for Reggie Lewis during his college days.
Great experience to see a college hockey game. Despite being a fan of a rival team, I love coming to Matthews for the experience, sense of history and pride.

Matthews Arena is a great place to see a hockey game. The history is great, prices aren’t bad (MUCH cheaper than agganis or conte), and the student section is awesome. If you don’t like the chants, you probably shouldn’t go to college hockey– or go to games at a school where the students don’t care.
If you want to sit down during the game, get a ticket in the lower level. The students sit in the balcony and stand for the whole game. If you’re rooting for the opposing team, avoid the Doghouse, or if you have to visit someone there, keep your head down and be polite. Many superfans and candy canes have come in there solely to be rude and obnoxious, and security kicks them out when things look like they might get out of hand.
As of the 2010 – 2011 season, they’ve stopped allowing backpacks and camera bags. The enforcement of this is weird– sometimes I’ve been let in with a small purse, other times no. I also can’t tell if they only enforce it for students (because they don’t trust us) or if it’s everyone, because I’ve definitely seen middle aged women inside with purses that are bigger than my backpack.
Also, if you have kids who are Northeastern fans, the Doghouse will love them if they participate in the chants. Little kids doing a good job for the dance cam get the loudest cheers.

In my travels, I’ve seen college hockey games at BC, BU, Northeastern, UNH, Maine, Vermont, Merrimack, UMass, UMass-​Lowell, Providence, UConn, Brown, Dartmouth, Harvard, RPI, St. Lawrence, and Minnesota.
Nothing…absolutely nothing… compares to the experience at Northeastern’s Matthews Arena. The atmosphere, sightlines (sit in the balcony), and history (original home of the Boston Bruins) are unparalleled. For $ 10-​$ 15 it’s the best deal in local sports.
Just be careful if you’re an opposing fan. I’ve learned to either travel in a pack or go incognito. Otherwise someone might cut you.

This arena is BEAUTIFUL, everyone should experience a hockey game here. I went for a NU v UMass game (cheering for UMass of course). The crowd was passionate but to the point of physical or personal attacks.
One warning, the seats are impossibly small, I’m 6’2 and couldn’t sit down if I wanted too. So I stood, but then people behind me complained about being in their sight-​lines. Weird situation, we ended up moving against a wall so we could both see and not piss off the elderly. Thus, one star reduction for not being able to sit

Walk into this place. It oozes history. The oldest hockey arena in the world, you say? The Bruins used to play here, you say? It’s a fantastic experience, like watching a baseball game at Fenway Park. The crowd is mixed, and beware, you may be yelled at for standing by some of the less devoted fans and the rowdy student section might even throw something at you if you’re a visiting fan (oh well, an empty soda cup, is that the best you can do?). Security here is very even-​handed though, and you will get the same treatment as a Northeastern student will from them. All the other staff here are professional and courteous as well, I’ve had quite a few conversations with staff members there and they are always extremely friendly, even to away fans. A top notch experience, if you are a fan of hockey you must visit this arena!

Open Skate at Matthew’s arena is a wonderful experience. I have been to a few rinks and nothing is like skating at Matthew’s. There is so much history behind the arena and to skate there is just really cool.
They take really good care of the rink compared to many of the DCR rinks in Boston that are free skating. When you go you walk in the Zamboni entrance door which is located near the parking lot. You can go right to either of the benches where the players sit to lace up your skates. There is no ID check. Times for skating at Matthew’s is located on the NU recreation website. This is the link to the site to check the days and times:

There usually isn’t a lot of people skating when you go. I think there was approx like 10 people there which is nice. There were no kids. Mostly adults and students.