Pieri Gymnasium - Dean Bulldogs
- Paul Baker
- 19 hours ago
- 6 min read
Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.29
Louis A.P. Pieri Gymnasium
60 School St.
Franklin, MA 02038
Year Opened: 1958
Capacity: 900
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The Dean Doghouse
Dean College is a private college located in the town of Franklin, Massachusetts. Founded in 1865, it has an enrollment of about 1,100 students who work toward bachelor’s and associate degrees at the college’s four schools. Long known as Dean Junior College, the school transitioned to a four-year college in 1995.
Pieri Gymnasium is named after former Boston Celtics minority owner Louis A.R. Pieri. Pieri was a graduate of Dean College and at one point a member of its board of trustees. Pieri has a long and colorful history in local sports, as he served as the General Manager of the Providence Reds beginning in 1929. Under his leadership, the team won four Calder Cups. Pieri is a member of the American Hockey League Hall of Fame, and the League awards the Louis A.R. Pieri Award annually to its coach of the year. Pieri was also the owner of the Providence Steamrollers basketball team, the Rhode Island Auditorium and coached Brown basketball for a season. Pieri was one of the co-founders of the Ice Capades.
Dean began their transition to Division Three in 2016, becoming full members in 2020. The Bulldogs basketball teams currently compete in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. They have yet to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
Food & Beverage 0
There are no concessions at Pieri Gymnasium. Fans are welcome to bring their own refreshments in to enjoy during the game.
Atmosphere 2
The atmosphere at a Bulldogs game is about as bare bones as you’ll ever see at a college basketball game. Music plays over some portable speakers pregame and during play stoppages. The PA announcer adds some energy to the proceedings without being too over the top. Old-school scoreboards hang at either end of the gym and provide basic game information. The fans don’t add a lot of noise or energy, not that a bunch of rowdy fans would make sense in this tiny gym. If you enjoy hearing the squeak of sneakers on the court, coaches barking instructions to their teams, and the trash talk of the players during the action, you’ll enjoy your time at Pieri Gymnasium.
Neighborhood 2
The city of Franklin has a population of about 36,000 residents. The town (Franklin is technically a city, but the locals still refer to it as a town) was named after founding father Benjamin Franklin, who helped establish the first library in the United States here in 1790.
Even though Dean College is located right near downtown Franklin, visiting fans won’t find much in the way of dining or lodging options in the immediate vicinity. Much of the area surrounding the college is residential. There are a few dining options downtown, including Rome Restaurant and Teddy Gallagher’s Irish Pub. The majority of the dining and lodging options in the area are located by I-495 and a little further away in neighboring Foxboro where Interstates 495 and 95 meet. More complete information about the town of Franklin and things to do around town can be found here.
If you’re visiting the area and looking for other sporting options, Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots and New England Revolution, is only nine miles away. Of course, options are endless in the nearby cities of Boston, Providence and Worcester.
Fans 1
Attendance at Dean basketball is certainly what we at Stadium Journey would describe as a “friends and family” type of crowd. This means that virtually everyone in attendance has a connection to the players on the court. Stadium Journey visited Dean College on a frigid December weeknight during finals week, and reported attendance was a paltry 55 fans. A head count taken by this writer confirms this total was accurate. A perusal of the box scores from the 2025-2026 season shows that crowds range between 50-150 fans per game for Dean basketball games. Crowds have been relatively consistent since Dean moved to Division Three.
You’ll find some students in the stands at Pieri Gymnasium, but no organized student section. With the Bulldogs’ schedule loaded with teams from around New England, you’ll also see some fans representing the visiting teams in attendance.
Access 3
Pieri Gymnasium is located on the northern edge of the Dean College campus, close to downtown Franklin, a small city roughly equidistant to the cities of Boston, Providence and Worcester. Interstate 495 runs right through the city, intersecting with I-95 just a few miles from the city. The gymnasium is located about two miles from I-495 but is easily reached through the town’s suburban streets.
The Franklin station of the MBTA’s Commuter Rail, which connects the area to South Station in Boston, is located just two blocks from the Dean campus. Full route information and schedules can be found here. If driving to a Bulldogs game, ignore the listed address on the web site (59 Emmons St.), as this will lead you to the opposite end of campus. Granted, the Dean campus is small, but still. The entrance to Pieri Gymnasium is at 60 School Street.
There is a very small lot in front of the gym entrance. Seriously small. It fits nine cars. Really, I counted the spaces. And you have to drive a compact car to fit. There are parking spots on School Street, as well as a large parking lot a short walk away on the opposite side of Grant Field. You’ll enter Pieri Gymnasium into a small lobby, with the gym on your left and Alumni Hall on your right. Small restrooms are located at the back of the lobby. Just time your trip wisely, because you are sharing these rest rooms with the visiting team.
Seating in Pieri Gymnasium consists of molded plastic bleachers on one side of the court. There are bleachers on both sides, but only one side is used for Bulldog games. Even though there are only seven rows of bleachers, there is plenty of seating available for a typical Bulldog
crowd. In this tiny gym, you’ll have a great view of the action no matter where you sit.
Return on Investment 5
There is no charge to attend a Bulldogs game at Pieri Gymnasium. Parking is free in the lots around campus and on the streets nearby. With no concessions available, you won’t have to reach for your wallet once while visiting Dean.
Extras 3
There are banners hanging all around Pieri Gym honoring Dean championship teams from their junior college days in all their varsity sports. In a far corner of the gym, a new collection of banners has started reflecting their D-3 achievements. 1,000-point scorers for the men’s and women’s teams hang here, as well as banners honoring champions in lacrosse, cross country and football.
Across the lobby from the gymnasium is Alumni Memorial Hall, a residence hall for upperclassmen. The Dean Athletics Hall of Fame is located on the first floor, as well as plaques honoring Dean alumni who lost their lives in service of our country.
It may be hard to believe when visiting this basic facility, but the Boston Celtics once played a game here. As part of a barnstorming tour in the 1958 preseason, the team hosted the Cincinnati Royals. Eight future Hall of Famers took part in the action at Pieri Gymnasium. The event coincided with the dedication of the gym in Pieri’s honor.
Final Thoughts
While Pieri Gymnasium may not be much to look at, it boasts a pretty impressive history for such a small facility. As Dean College grows their athletic program, this old barn will be sure to see more history made in the future.
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