Amica Mutual Pavilion - Providence Friars
- Paul Baker
- Dec 20, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Dec 21, 2025
Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14
Amica Mutual Pavilion 1 LaSalle Sq Providence, RI 02903
Year Opened: 1972 Capacity: 12,410
When the Saints Go Marching In
Providence College is a small liberal arts college located about two miles from downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It is the only college in North America administered by the Dominican Friars. With a total enrollment of just over 4,500 students, Providence College is the smallest school in the Big East Conference.
Back in the late 1960s and early 1970s Providence College was an emerging national powerhouse on the collegiate basketball scene. During this time the team played their home games in the cozy on-campus Alumni Hall, which seated only 2,620. Demand for Friars tickets was so great that a downtown arena was built to house the Friars’ basketball team and the American Hockey League’s Providence Reds. The Providence Civic Center, now named the Amica Mutual Pavilion (Its nickname, the “AMP,” hasn’t really caught on yet), has been home to the Friars since its opening in 1972.
Ironically, the AMP, which was built to house the growing Providence basketball program, replaced the venerable Rhode Island Auditorium, which served as home to the Providence hockey team. When the basketball team moved off campus the hockey team moved back on campus into Schneider Arena.
Basketball has been played at Providence College almost as long as there has been a Providence College. An informal team represented the school in 1921, when PC was only four years old. The Friars are a founding member of the Big East Conference, and Providence has been the home base of the circuit since its founding in 1979. The Friars have qualified for 22 NCAA Tournaments, reaching the Final Four in 1973 and 1987. In addition, Providence has made the NIT Tournament 20 times and are the only two-time champions (1961 and 1963). 31 Friar alumni have played in the National Basketball Association.
Food & Beverage 4
Most of the concessions at the AMP are located in a pair of food courts on either side of the arena. Stands are operated by local favorites Sal’s Pizza and Saugy Franks. You’ll find all your arena standards here, including burgers, chicken tenders and oversized pizza slices. Hot dogs come in regular and jumbo sizes.
The snack game is strong at Amica Mutual Pavilion, highlighted by the most popular items at Friar games, Dough Boys and Del’s Lemonade. Both are so in-demand that they get multiple carts scattered around the concourse. Of course, nachos, pretzels, popcorn, fries and more can be found at all the stands.
Coca-Cola products are featured at the AMP. A wide variety of macro beers can be found all over the facility alongside many local brews, including Friar American Golden Ale, brewed by Newport Craft Brewing and Distilling Company.
Atmosphere 5
Providence may be a mid-sized city and the AMP may be a mid-sized facility, but there’s nothing mid-sized about the game day presentation at a Providence College basketball game. Friars hoops are undoubtedly the crown jewel of Rhode Island sports, and something Ocean Staters are proud to call their own.
A Friar game is a non-stop assault on the senses. The crowd here can get LOUD! The Friars cheer team, dance squad and pep band are all present to perform during play stoppages. DJ Finesse keeps the music pumping and the Friars employ an emcee who makes sure the fans are engaged. Contests during time outs give fans a chance to be part of the action. And of course, Friar Dom roams the arena throughout the game, interacting with fans, posing for pictures, and even partaking in some of the promos. You may even see him on top of the cheerleaders’ pinwheel.
The Friars gameday staff use the AMP’s large video board well, with hype videos throughout the game, using new light effects on the court in tandem with music and video. The student sections, located on both ends of the court, make sure this building never gets too quiet, and the local Friar Fanatics proudly follow suit. It’s an electric, intimidating atmosphere that’s carried the Friars for decades.
Neighborhood 5
The Amica Mutual Pavilion is located in downtown Providence, within walking distance of a great number and variety of restaurants and attractions. Providence has a reputation as one of the top destinations in the country for foodies, and the area within walking distance of The AMP reflects the diversity and quality of options in the city as a whole.
Federal Hill, Providence’s Little Italy, is located a short walk from the arena. Several nationally renowned Italian restaurants can be found here. Closer to the front entrance of the AMP are local mainstays such as Blake’s, Murphy’s Pub and the Vig.
Also within walking distance is the Providence Place Mall, an upscale shopping center with several national stores and several more choices for the hungry basketball fan. If visiting during the fall or spring, you may be able to check out Waterfires, an outdoor festival which has been held several weekends every year since 1994, during which eighty cauldrons lining the Providence, Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck Rivers are lit on fire. Many other cities have copied Waterfire, but the original started right here in Providence. The full schedule of Waterfire lightings can be found here.
Entertainment options in downtown Providence vary from the nationally renowned Trinity Repertory Company and Providence Performing Arts Center to historic sites such as the Arcade, the nation’s first enclosed shopping center, and the Rhode Island State House.
Fans 5
Attendance for Friars basketball remains consistent year after year, averaging around 10,500 fans per game. This figure puts them on the fringes of the top 50 schools nationwide. PC hoops are the crown jewel of sports in Rhode Island, and you’ll be sure to find a loud and enthusiastic crowd at the AMP, whether you’re attending a Big East game against a traditional rival or a game against a local New England squad.
Anchoring the crowd at The AMP are the student sections, which fill up the floor seating and several sections on either end of the building. Despite the fact that The AMP is located two miles from campus and students must be bussed to the arena, they turn out in very impressive numbers. One of Stadium Journey’s other writers who visited Providence commented that he was not expecting the crowd here to be as “spicy” as they were.
As the most popular team in the state, Providence College attracts more than just alumni. Locals, some of whom have been attending games since the team’s glory days of the 1970s, turn out in force to root on the Friars. Providence College puts out a high energy gameday experience, which attracts families and younger fans as well.
Access 4
The Amica Mutual Pavilion is located in downtown Providence, easily accessed via Interstate 95. Be warned that traffic in and around Providence can be quite heavy if visiting on a weekday, so prepare to take some extra time to arrive. The recent demolition of half of the Washington Bridge, the main access into the city from the East Bay, has exacerbated traffic around Providence.
There is ample parking in the many surface lots and garages around the Amica Mutual Pavilion. Downtown Providence can be a busy place, particularly around the holidays. Fans utilizing public transportation will be pleased to know that both Kennedy Plaza, the hub of the local RIPTA bus service, and Union Station, the local Amtrak stop, are located a short walk from the Amica Mutual Pavilion.
The Amica Mutual Pavilion features a large seating bowl with excellent views of the court. All seats at the arena are individual folding arena seats. The concourse and restrooms received a makeover in 2008, and the arena is fairly easy to get around. Expect lines to form in the food court and restrooms during halftime, so plan your trips accordingly.
Return on Investment 3
Providence College utilizes variable pricing for their home games, meaning that prices can vary wildly depending on game, day and opponent. Ticket prices start at $30 and go up from there. While the Friars attract solid crowds, there are usually some seats available at game time. More information can be found at the Providence College ticketing site.
Parking is available in lots and garages around The Dunk, ranging in price from $20-40. Locals will search the streets around downtown for on-street parking. Just be sure to pay attention to meter hours and other restrictions. Another option is to park at the nearby Providence Place Mall, which will validate your parking for five dollars. Enclosed walkways connect the mall with the arena, meaning you can avoid the cold Rhode Island winter.
Concession prices at The Dunk are expensive, but generally in line with other major venues in the area. With the quality and variety of dining options in the area, it is recommended that if visiting Providence, you eat somewhere in the neighborhood before or after the game.
Extras 3
An extra point is awarded for the sense of history at the AMP. Banners hang from the rafters commemorating Final Four appearances, conference championships and tournament appearances. In addition, several notable alumni are honored with banners.
Providence College is notable for the effect it had on college basketball today. As a founding member of the Big East, today’s superconferences can trace their roots directly to Providence College. In the front offices of the arena is the table where the Big East conference was formed, commemorated by a plaque. The great majority of the fans who visit here will never see this piece of history, but the AMP played a very important role in today’s college basketball landscape.
A final extra point for Friar Dom, one of the most unique mascots in the country. Widely considered to be one of the most terrifying mascots in all of sports, Friar Dom has been known to frighten children and startle unsuspecting adults who come too close. But don't worry, Friar Dom is friendly, and will gladly pose for that selfie with you.
Final Thoughts
For the most part, the sports scene in tiny Rhode Island is ruled by the nearby Boston professional teams. Providence College basketball gives Ocean State residents something to call their own. The Friars rule the local sports scene. The Amica Mutual Pavilion is an outstanding mid-sized arena which fits the needs of Providence perfectly.
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