Hart Center Arena - Holy Cross Crusaders
- Paul Baker
- Dec 18, 2025
- 7 min read
Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
Hart Center Arena at Luth Athletic Complex 1 College Street Worcester, MA 01610
Year Opened: 1975
Capacity: 3,536
The Hart of New England Basketball
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 “WUH-stuh” 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, and the college’s strength and conditioning facilities. 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.
Holy Cross has a long and storied basketball history, hosting teams since 1900. The Crusaders won the national championship in 1947 and made it to the Final Four in 1948. Two additional Elite Eight appearances followed in 1950 and 1953. In 1954 the team won the National Invitational Tournament. Overall, the Crusaders have qualified for the NCAA Tournament 13 times, most recently in 2016. Ten Crusader alumni have played in the National Basketball Association, most notably Hall of Famers Bob Cousy and Tom Heinsohn. The Crusaders’ women’s team has appeared in 14 NCAA tournaments themselves.
Holy Cross basketball was so highly regarded that they could have joined the Big East Conference when it formed in 1980. The school vetoed the move for academic reasons. Today, Holy Cross competes in the Patriot League, a mid-major conference made up of northeastern schools with high academic standards.
Food & Beverage 4
A pair of concession stands, christened “Crucessions ‘Sader Kitchen” are located in the Hart Center lobby. One window focuses mainly on food, one on beverages. Be aware that cash is not accepted at the Hart Center.
The menu has undergone an upgrade in recent years. In addition to arena standards such as hot dogs, chicken tenders, pizza slices, fries and nachos, premium sandwiches such as steak and cheese and grilled chicken bacon ranch on naan are available. Enjoy a cup of hot chili, or add some to your dog, fries or nachos for an upcharge. A selection of snacks can be purchased at either stand, including soft serve ice cream (Stadium Journey is lobbying hard for Holy Cross ice cream helmets). If you’re looking for a healthier item to eat, a variety of wraps and salads are sold here too. It’s quite a selection for such small stands.
Pepsi products are featured at the Hart Center. Hot drinks, including coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and lattes are popular choices on cold Worcester winter nights. Fans looking for adult beverages will be pleased to find a nice selection of beer, including Sam Adams and Holy Cross Lazy IPA brewed by local favorite Harpoon.
Here’s a Stadium Journey insider’s tip: there are some vending machines located in an alcove just past the concession stands in the main lobby. Bottles of soda can be found here for a cheaper price than at the concession stands. This can be our secret.
Atmosphere 3
Any seasoned college basketball fan will tell you that the small gyms across the country contain some of the most rabid fans and the best game day atmospheres in the country. While the Hart Center doesn’t draw large enough crowds to measure up to the legendary gyms in the nation, there’s no doubt that if this place filled up, it would be a great place to experience a game.
Holy Cross does have all the elements needed to produce an elite game day atmosphere. The student sections are behind the baskets, just waiting to be filled with rowdy students. The dance and cheer teams are present most nights to perform during timeouts, and when the pep band is in attendance, it adds a lot to the atmosphere in such a cozy gym. A large video board is located on the far side of the gym, along with two smaller boards on the near side. They are put to good use with game information, videos, graphics, and promos. The PA announcer adds energy to the proceedings without being too over the top.
Younger fans and students take part in contests during time outs. Youth teams take the court during halftime, and fans are right on top of the action. The Crusaders would have an incredible home court advantage if the Hart Center were packed. But since it isn’t, you can hear the sneakers squeak on the court and the coaches barking out instructions to their teams. It’s a great place to visit for basketball purists.
Neighborhood 3
Worcester is the second largest city in all of New England, but has never enjoyed 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 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 Polar Park, is rapidly growing and also worth a look. Likewise, fans looking for lodging options should head downtown.
Traditionally overshadowed by its neighbors in Boston and Providence, Worcester is carving out its own niche as an affordable alternative to those cities. For fans visiting during ski season, Wachusett Mountain is located just ten miles outside of city limits
Fans 2
For the 2024-25 season, Holy Cross averaged about 1,250 fans per game. This put them just above the attendance average for the Patriot League. This figure marks a slight increase over previous seasons. Thus far in 2025-26 (this review was written over the semester break) Holy Cross is averaging about 800 fans per game, but hoops attendance traditionally picks up after the new year.
One thing that you may notice about the crowd at a Holy Cross basketball game is that the crowd tends to skew older. You’ll find plenty of seniors in the stands here, some of whom have been following the Crusaders faithfully for decades. There are plenty of families and locals to be found here too, as this is certainly a place where you can feel comfortable bringing the whole family.
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 which houses the ticket booths and restrooms. The basketball arena and hockey rink share a concourse, which is where you’ll find the concession stands and Holy Cross Athletic Hall of Fame.
The basketball arena is located to your left as you enter the Hart Center. Fans holding lower-level seats will enter the arena at floor level, while fans holding reserved or upper-level seats will head to the staircases. 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.
There is a concourse inside the arena that circles the entire court. At points, the concourse overlooks the Hart Center’s meeting rooms and practice court. Standing room is available on this concourse at either end of the court.
Be sure to time your visit to the concession stand and/or restrooms carefully, as lines can form at halftime.
Return on Investment 5
Tickets to Crusader basketball games start at $17 for bleacher seats, with chairback seats priced at $24 and floor seats available for only $30. Discounts are available for youths and seniors. Parking is free in the large lot adjacent to the Hart Center, and concessions are reasonably priced. A Crusader basketball game is a most affordable entertainment option for central Massachusetts sports fans.
Extras 2
Extra points are awarded for the sense of history here at the Hart Center. While the glory days of Holy Cross hoops did not occur here (the Crusaders used to play at the old Boston Garden regularly), there are reminders of the school’s success everywhere. A statue of Bob Cousy greets visitors outside, and the Athletic Hall of Fame is filled with names of Crusader greats. Banners commemorating Crusader tournament appearances and retired numbers hang from the Hart Center rafters.
Final Thoughts
The Hart Center is one of the nicer small basketball facilities in this part of the country. Watching a Crusaders game is an affordable experience in an intimate setting. While Holy Cross no longer competes among the giants in the sport, college basketball historians will enjoy looking around the Hart Center at the reminders of the Crusaders’ glory days.
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