Hart Center Arena - Holy Cross Crusaders Volleyball
- Paul Baker
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71
Hart Center Arena at Luth Athletic Complex
1 College Street
Worcester, MA 01610
Year Opened: 1975
Capacity: 3,600
Crusader Volleyball’s Second Home
The Reverend Francis J. Hart Recreation Center is part of the Luth Athletic Complex, a multi-purpose facility located on the campus of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA (pronounced “Wustah” by locals). Reverend Hart was the guiding force behind intramural athletics at the College for more than 40 years, and his legacy is honored in this athletic center. John and Joanne Luth donated $32.5 million to the college in 2015 towards expanding and renovating the athletic department. Their donation largely funded the massive renovations to the complex in 2016.
The Hart Recreation Center houses not only the Holy Cross basketball arena, but a 1,400-seat hockey rink, a six-lane swimming pool with separate diving area, rowing tanks, racquetball and squash courts, a full-sized gymnasium for competition or practice, a sports medicine center, an auditorium, the college’s strength and conditioning facilities, office and meeting space. Behind the Hart Center is a full-size track, practice fields, soccer field and a lighted turf field which service numerous varsity sports and intramural programs.
The Holy Cross volleyball team plays the majority of their matches in the Coach George Blaney ’61 Gymnasium, a 300-seat gym located right across the hall from the Hart Arena in the Luth Complex. The school moves marquee games that may feature larger crowds to the larger basketball arena. During the 2025 season, the Crusaders played seven matches in the Blaney Gym and five in the Hart Arena.
Volleyball started at Holy Cross as a club sport in 1974, just two years after the college became co-ed. In 1976 the program became a varsity sport, going 3-10 at the Division Three level. In 1982 the Crusaders elevated to Division One, competing initially in the MAAC conference and then the Colonial Conference, the predecessor to the Patriot League, where Holy Cross continues to compete today. The Crusaders have yet to qualify for the NCAA tournament.
Food & Beverage 1
A pair of concession stands are located in the main lobby. Unfortunately, these are usually not open for Crusader volleyball games. Even during Stadium Journey’s most recent visit, when a women’s hockey game was happening on the other side of the lobby, they remained shuttered.
Luckily, there are some vending machines located a bit past the concession stands in the main lobby. Bottles of Pepsi products and some snack foods are sold in these machines. Also, fans are allowed to bring in their own snacks to enjoy during the match.
Atmosphere 3
College volleyball is a sport that is growing in popularity in leaps and bounds. It’s fast-moving, filled with action, and even five-set matches don’t take a real long time. Holy Cross supports the action on the court with a solid, if unspectacular, game presentation. There are video boards on either end of the gym that display graphics, videos and basic game information. The excellent sound system is put to good use with music during play stoppages, and the PA announcer provides game information while injecting a little energy into the proceedings. Unfortunately, with a large gym that is largely empty, it can be a bit hard to understand him at times.
While there is a decent crowd on hand at the Hart Center, the facility is just too large. While this allows fans to spread out, it does dampen any noise made by the fans in attendance. Volleyball fans do tend to be a boisterous bunch, as are the teams themselves. The antics of the players on the benches can be quite entertaining.
Neighborhood 3
Worcester is the second largest city in all of New England, but has never enjoyed much of a reputation as a destination location. That all began to change when the city announced that the Pawtucket Red Sox would be moving to the brand-new Polar Park, located just 2.5 miles from the Holy Cross campus.
Holy Cross is located in southwestern Worcester about three miles from downtown. There isn’t much in the immediate area of campus in terms of dining or lodging options, but the city of Worcester contains many excellent options.
Worcester’s acclaimed “Restaurant Row” on Shrewsbury Street is home to over forty different eateries, shops and salons. It’s a favorite destination for locals looking to enjoy a night on the town. Fans will find additional options in the downtown area around the DCU Center. The up-and-coming Canal District, anchored by the new Polar Park, is rapidly growing and worth a look. Likewise, fans looking for lodging options should head downtown, as there is nothing around Holy Cross.
Traditionally overshadowed by its neighbors in Boston and Providence, Worcester is carving out its own niche as an affordable, attractive alternative to those cities.
Fans 2
Since the Blaney Gym only seats 300, games that may attract larger crowds are moved next door to the larger Hart Arena. For the 2025 season, the five games held in the larger gym averaged 189 fans, with a high of 341 present for the season finale and Senior Day. Compare that figure to the average of 146 fans who showed up for the seven matches played at Blaney Gym.
Volleyball crowds in the northeast generally fall into what we here at Stadium Journey call the “friends and family” category. The majority of the fans in the stands have some sort of connection to the players on the court, and as a result are very knowledgeable about the team and very passionate in their support. Volleyball fans are very enthusiastic and vocal throughout a match, and Crusader fans are no different. While vocal, this is not a rowdy crowd. You’ll find fans of both teams coexisting peacefully in the stands here in Worcester.
Access 4
The Holy Cross campus is located in southwestern Worcester, at the junction of Interstate 290 and Route 146. Hart Recreation Center is located at the southern edge of campus atop Mount Saint James, adjacent to many of the school’s athletic facilities. There is a large parking lot adjacent to the arena. The College of the Holy Cross’ location gives it spectacular views of the city below.
2016 renovations greatly expanded and modernized the facility. Fans enter into a bright, modern lobby. All the center’s facilities share a concourse, which is where you’ll find the concession stands, restrooms and Holy Cross Athletic Hall of Fame. Long gone are the 70’s style carpeting, trophy cases and stained-glass windows of the old Hart Center.
The Hart Center Arena is located to your left as you enter the building. Fans will enter the arena at floor level. Only the seats on the north side of the court are utilized for volleyball matches. Lower-level seats consist of molded plastic bleachers. There are three rows of individual plastic stadium seats at the top of the lower level, and metal bleachers make up the balcony seating. All seats at the Hart Center are painted purple and enjoy great views of the court.
Return on Investment 5
There is no charge to attend a volleyball game at Holy Cross, even when marquee games are moved from the Blaney Gym to the Hart Arena. Parking is free in the large lot adjacent to the Luth Complex, and with no concessions on site, you won’t have to reach for your wallet even once when taking in a Crusader volleyball match.
Extras 1
Extra points are awarded for the sense of history here at the Hart Center. A bronze statue of the school’s most famous athletic alumnus, Bob Cousy, greets visitors, and the Holy Cross athletic Hall of Fame is filled with names of Crusader greats.
Even though all the banners in the Hart Center Arena honor the school’s basketball team, we’ll still award an extra point for all the sporting history that happened at this small school back in the day.
Final Thoughts
While the Hart Arena is not the primary home of Holy Cross volleyball, it’s a more than adequate place for the Crusaders to set up shop for their marquee games. If anything, it might be too big for their needs.
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