Clark Athletic Center - UMass Boston Beacons
- Paul Baker
- 10 hours ago
- 6 min read
Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71
Clark Athletic Center
100 William T. Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125
Year Opened: 1979
Capacity: 2,000
Welcome to Beaconville
The University of Massachusetts Boston (more commonly known as UMass Boston) is the third largest of the five schools in the University of Massachusetts system. The University of Massachusetts Boston was established in 1964 to accommodate the growing number of college applicants from the Greater Boston area, who were overwhelming the UMass Amherst location (at the time, the only school in the state’s university system).
The college was initially located downtown on Arlington Street before moving to its present location on Columbia Point. Today, the university boasts approximately 15,000 students enrolled in over 200 academic programs across the undergraduate and graduate divisions.
The Clark Athletic Center is named in honor of Catherine “Kit” Clark, a prominent community member from Dorchester. She was known for her contributions to sports and community service, leaving a lasting legacy through her involvement in the Savin Hill neighborhood and her advocacy for building sports facilities in the area. The Clark Center hosted the first debate between George W. Bush and Al Gore during the 2000 presidential Debates.
Members of Division Three’s Little East Conference, the UMass Boston men’s basketball team has qualified for seven NCAA Tournaments, advancing as far as the Elite Eight in 1977. The women’s team has qualified for one tournament in 2018.
Food & Beverage 1
There are no concessions sold at Beacons basketball games. However, there are a pair of vending machines in the lobby, should you need a drink or a snack during the game. It’s not much, but it will do. Fans are welcome to bring in their own snacks into the Clark Athletic Center if they wish.
Atmosphere 3
The atmosphere at a UMass Boston basketball game is fairly typical of the smaller Division three gyms that dot the New England landscape. It’s an entertaining time, if not an experience that’s going to overwhelm you.
The Clark Athletic Center Gym does have a nice video board at the far end of the gym, but it’s so far away from the stands that it really adds little to the experience. That’s too bad, because it’s a nice screen, and it shows replays and has some nice graphics. Small scoreboards at either end of the gym display only basic game information. Otherwise, the gym’s sound system is put to good use with music during play breaks. The PA announcer does a nice job of providing game information without being too intrusive.
The Beacons cheerleading squad leads the cheers from the stands and performs some routines during timeouts. They’re assisted by UMass Boston’s most unique mascot, Bobby the Beacon, who roams the sidelines interacting with fans and tossing swag into the stands. The fans here do a nice job supporting the team, but the vastness of the gym kind of swallows up much of the noise generated.
Neighborhood 3
Despite its location in Boston, UMass Boston’s location, isolated on a peninsula in the harbor, means that the campus is fairly self-contained and there is not much in the immediate vicinity of campus for visiting fans. There is a DoubleTree by Hilton close to the campus, but for most dining or lodging options, fans will have to venture out into Boston. Luckily, there are more than enough options for visitors to the city to find there.
Fans 2
UMass Boston attracts what we at Stadium Journey like to call a “Friends and Family” type of crowd. A typical Beacons basketball crowd here numbers between 200 and 300 fans. As the name suggests, just about every person in the stands enjoys a personal connection with the players on the court.
So, as you might expect, the fans on hand are very knowledgeable and passionate about the players on the court, and very enthusiastic in their support. Stadium Journey visited the Clark Athletic Center for the Beacon’s season finale in 2026, which happened to be Senior Day. A crowd of over 400 fans was there to cheer on the Beacons.
One thing that is worth noting is the presence of an actual student section here, which is something not often seen at this level of basketball. The far sections of the bleachers were filled with students there to support their peers and heckle the opposition. Whether this is a nightly occurrence or just due to the occasion of Senior Night, can’t be said, but it was still great to see. With UMass Boston’s schedule consisting primarily of teams from throughout New England, it’s not unusual to see plenty of visiting fans in the stands.
Access 3
The UMass Boston campus is located on the Columbia Point peninsula on the shores of Boston Harbor. Also located on the grounds of the campus are the John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum and the Commonwealth Museum.
The campus is easily accessible by car via Interstate 93, which runs north/south into downtown Boston about a mile away from the campus’ entrance. Traffic is heavy virtually all the time in this area, so driving may not be the best way to reach UMass Boston.
For those looking to utilize public transportation, the MBTA, known in Boston as the “T,” also serves the area. The red line’s JFK/UMass stop is located about a mile from campus. Three Commuter Rail Lines also stop at JFK/UMass. Due to the heavy traffic in the area and the distance from the subway stop to campus, shuttle buses run from the T-station to campus. A one-way Red Line fare costs $2.45.
The Clark Athletic Center is located in the center of campus. Also located in the Center is the Edward T. Barry Ice Rink. The UMass Boston Softball Field and Monan Park are right outside the Center. Parking is available in the Quad Lot right by the Center, or in the West Garage, a short walk away on the back side of the athletic complex.
Fans will enter the Clark Athletic Center on the second floor. Stairs and an elevator are directly in front of you as you enter the building. The gym is located at the bottom of the stairs. Seating consists of molded plastic bleachers that run along either side of the court. Only the bleachers on the far side of the gym are typically used for Beacons games.
Restrooms are located directly across the hall from the entrance to the gym. Although a bit cramped, they are plenty large enough for a typical Beacons crowd.
Return on Investment 4
There is no charge for admission to a Beacons basketball game. Parking in the lot adjacent to the Clark Athletic Center requires a campus permit or payment through ParkingApp.com. Failure to pay through the app will result in your car being ticketed. I’m not proud to say that I neglected to pay for my parking during my visit and returned to my car to find a ticket for $15 on my windshield.
A search of the UMass Boston website showed that four hours plus parking in either the Quad Lot (by the Clark Athletic Center) or the West Garage will run you $15. So it’s really a wash. But I am not advocating trying to skirt the system, just expressing my gratitude that UMass Boston did not gouge me with a parking ticket.
Extras 3
The displays in the Clark Athletic Center earn the Beacons basketball experience an extra point. The UMass Boston Athletic Hall of Fame is located here, as are several display cases filled with hardware accumulated by Beacon teams over the years. Augmenting these displays are video screens and retired jerseys. A display of the school’s 1,000-point scorers hangs inside the gym.
Charlie Titus’ number 40 hangs above the court. 40 represents the number of years Mr. Titus coached the Beacons men’s basketball team. In addition to serving as a coach, Titus was the Athletic Director, Vice Chancellor for the Division of Athletics and Recreation, a key figure in the founding of the Little East Conference, and a member of its inaugural Hall of Fame class.
A final extra point is awarded for UMass Boston’s unique mascot, Bobby the Beacon. When it was decided that the school would be built on the shores of Boston Harbor, it was decided that a beacon would ideally highlight the university’s connection between the city and higher learning and would be the ideal symbol to represent the school’s athletic teams. Today, Bobby is a member of the Mascot Hall of Fame.
Final Thoughts
The Clark Athletic Center, while looking like a product of its time, still offers traveling fans a chance to take in quality basketball at an affordable price. While far from the bright lights of big-time college hoops, small gyms like this make for interesting Stadium Journeys. Don’t sleep on Division Three sports!
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