Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell (formerly
Paul E. Tsongas Arena) is a multi-purpose facility, on the campus of the
University of Massachusetts Lowell, in
Lowell, Massachusetts. The Arena was opened and dedicated to the memory of prominent local and national politician
Paul Tsongas (who died in 1997) on January 27, 1998. The arena was built with $4 million funding from both the city and the university, plus another $20 million contributed from the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, largely in support of UMass.
The facility is home to the
NCAA Division I University of Massachusetts Lowell
River Hawks ice hockey team, who compete in the
Hockey East Association. The facility was also home to the
Lowell Devils ice hockey team, who competed in the
American Hockey League from 1998 to 2010. The Devils ended their stay in Lowell due to financial difficulties and the arena's new ownership and has moved to
Albany, NY to compete as the
Albany Devils. Hockey
seating capacity is approximately 6,496, while concert seating capacity is approximately 7,800.
Tsongas Center also hosts concerts and other public events, including the graduations of several local high schools. In 2004,
alternative music pioneers
Pixies recorded their live concert
DVD and
high-definition television special "The Pixies: Come Home Live 2004 World Tour" at Tsongas Arena. In the same year, the group
Yes released a DVD of their 35th anniversary tour performance at the...
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