Tsongas Center - Boston Fleet
- Paul Baker
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86
Paul E. Tsongas Center
300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Lowell, MA 01852
Year Opened: 1998
Capacity: 6,500
Finally, One League - Boston
For many years, the women’s hockey world has been at war with itself. While the stated goal of all parties was the same – a single league where all the world’s best players could compete – the plans for achieving this goal diverged greatly, and the factions went their own separate ways, with the PWPHA Dream Gap Tour and the Premier Hockey Federation the results. For several years the groups operated in direct competition with each other.
In the summer of 2023, a group of investors backed by the Mark Walter Group, who included such notable names as Los Angeles Dodgers owner Stan Kasten and Billie Jean King, purchased the PHF and effectively dismantled it, creating the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). They established six teams in the United States and Canada. The league began play in January of 2024. The league stated goals of playing in professional quality facilities and providing salaries that would allow players to work as professional hockey players, not needing part time jobs to supplement their hockey income.
For season two the league rebranded all the teams, scrapping the generic “PWHL-city name” monikers used in season one. The Boston team was christened the Fleet to reflect the city’s maritime heritage and to evoke a sense of unified strength and resilience. The name also alludes to the concept of an armada, symbolizing the collective spirit of Bostonians, players and fans.
The Boston team announced they would be playing the majority of their schedule at the Paul E. Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell. The arena, named for Lowell native and United States Senator Paul Tsongas, is located on the UMass Lowell campus on the banks of the Merrimack River. Senator Tsongas, who was instrumental in securing funding for the facility, died in 1997 just before the opening of the arena. Since opening, the Tsongas Center has served as the home for a pair of American Hockey League teams, the Lock Monsters and Devils, as well as the UMass Lowell Riverhawks hockey team.
Food & Beverage 4
Concessions have traditionally not been the strength of the Tsongas Center game day experience. However, the facility continues to expand and improve the options, all of which are available for PWHL games.
There are concession stands on either side of the facility which offer your basic arena fare. Hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken nuggets are sold at these stands, along with a wide variety of snacks. You can package your chosen item with some chips and a drink to save a few dollars. Sal’s Pizza operates a stand at the south end of the arena, where they sell oversized cheese, sausage and pepperoni slices.
For the most unique concession items at Tsongas Center, head to the small BBQ stand at the north end of the arena, where brisket, pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches are sold. You can also top your fries or nachos with your choice of meat. Judging by the lines seen all game long at this stand, this is your best bet for a bite at a Fleet game.
Pepsi products are featured at the Tsongas Center. The craft beer selection is strong, with a wide variety of beers sold at all concession stands. Among the brews featured are beers from Fiddlehead, Lord Hobo and Harpoon Brewing.
Atmosphere 5
The PWHL has enjoyed incredible support and large crowds throughout its first two seasons. Let’s hope the trend continues, as the sporting landscape is littered with teams and leagues that started strong and faded into obscurity. With the financial support enjoyed by the PWHL, here’s betting the success will continue.
The crowds that have come out to Lowell have been enthusiastic and vocal in support of the Boston squad. Like every other sport, women’s hockey has its share of dedicated and knowledgeable fans. The turnout from local youth squads is impressive and bodes well for the future of the league.
Fans visiting the Tsongas Center can expect a professional game day presentation. There is a video board hanging at center ice that is put to good use with hype videos, replays and graphics. It’s a solid board but seems a bit small when compared to those in similarly sized buildings. There’s a good sound system which fills the arena with music during play stoppages, and contests held throughout the game to keep fans engaged. Judging by the noise created by the crowd, they don’t seem to need much help in this area.
Neighborhood 3
The University of Massachusetts-Lowell campus straddles the Merrimack River near downtown Lowell. Located on the south bank of the river, Tsongas Center is a short distance from LeLacheur Park, home of UMass Lowell baseball. Other UMass Lowell athletic facilities, including Costello Athletic Center and Cushing Field, are located on the opposite side of the river.
The city of Lowell was a major center for manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution. As a result of this rich history, Lowell contains many buildings of historical significance, several of which have been preserved by the National Park Service and have been preserved as the Lowell National Historical Park. Fans arriving early to Tsongas Center can walk along the Riverwalk and observe some of the rapids that powered the old mills. Fans of American literature should be sure to check out the memorial for native son Jack Kerowac, located within the national park just a short distance from the arena.
Fans looking for a place to gather before or after a game for a bite to eat or drink will have to travel into downtown Lowell or beyond. The area around Market Street, about a mile from the ballpark, has some good and varied options. Lowell suffers from a bad reputation that lingers from decades ago. As is the case with many cities, there are safe areas and areas to avoid. Statistically, Lowell is as safe or safer than most New England cities of similar size. You can feel safe visiting the area around the ballpark and the downtown area.
Fans 4
The Fleet are averaging over 4,500 fans per game near the end of their second season. While this figure places them below the league average, the Fleet have garnered solid support, as evidenced by merchandise sales and growing crowds.
Boston was arguably the home of the most successful teams in previous women’s professional leagues, supporting the PHF’s Pride and the CWHL’s Blades in strong numbers. The Boston area has always been a women’s hockey hotbed, and there should be no worries about support for professional hockey, as the region supports numerous college and youth programs. The teal held two games inside Boston city limits at Agganis Arena, which drew sellout crowds.
Access 4
The Tsongas Center is located on the south bank of the Merrimack River a short distance from UMass Lowell’s baseball stadium, LeLacheur Park. Interstate 495 travels a few miles to the south of Lowell, meaning that to reach the Tsongas Center one has to drive through the city. Between the adjacent Ayotte Garage, several surface lots and some on-street spaces, there is plenty of parking nearby.
Fans will enter Tsongas Arena into a large indoor lobby, which houses ticket booths and a merchandise stand. A pair of staircases bring fans up to the concourse, which runs along the top of the seating bowl. The former 360-degree concourse is now blocked at one end by the Durkin Pavilion. It is not possible to completely circle the rink, nor can you view the rink from all points on the concourse due to the presence of luxury boxes lining one side of the venue. All seats at the Tsongas Center consist of plastic folding stadium seats and offer excellent views of the action.
Access around the facility is decent, although the concourses can get crowded and lines can get long at times. Restrooms at the Tsongas Center are plentiful and clean. There is ample handicapped seating along the top of the seating bowl. Fans should be aware that the stairs leading from the concourse to the seats are not of uniform size. If one is not paying attention, there exists the very real possibility of tripping or worse, spilling your beverage.
The Tsongas Center has implemented a new clear bag policy as of March 2025. You can find the details here.
Return on Investment 3
Tickets to PWHL Boston games are affordable, ranging in price from $22-$62 dollars. The majority of seats are priced at under $40. Parking in the Ayotte Garage adjacent to the arena will cost you an additional $25. There is on-street parking in the neighborhood around Tsongas Center, which will run you $20 during games.
Concessions are similarly priced to other mid-sized arenas in the area. It is recommended that you take advantage of the combo meals offered at all the stands to save a few dollars.
Extras 4
An extra point is awarded for the next step in the evolution of women’s professional hockey and the great support it has received in its first two seasons. While the transition from the PHF to the PWHL has not been entirely smooth, the crowds and media attention received by the new league has been nothing short of amazing.
While the initial reaction to the rebranding of the Fleet was mixed due to the similarity of the logo and colors to the Whalers, it’s kind of refreshing to see a Boston hockey team in colors different from the traditional black and gold.
If you are a fan of local hockey, check out the displays of Lowell and UMass Lowell hockey located all around the arena. The lobby contains a tribute to Senator Paul Tsongas, who was instrumental in the building of the facility.
If you visit Lowell on a day where the weather cooperates, do yourself a favor and take a walk behind the Tsongas Center and explore the Riverwalk. A stroll along the river to view the rapids and the historic mill buildings is highly recommended.
Final Thoughts
While the Tsongas Center has not been an ideal location for the Fleet due to its location far outside of Boston, it is a quality home for professional hockey. The PWHL has been an overwhelming success in its first two seasons, and the Boston market has proven to be worthy of inclusion in the league.
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