Walter Brown Arena - Boston University Terriers Women's Hockey
Updated: 2 days ago
Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
Walter Brown Arena
285 Babcock St.
Boston, MA 02215
Year Opened: 1971
Capacity: 3,806
A Home of Their Own
The Walter A. Brown Arena Memorial Skating Pavilion is named for the original owner of the Boston Celtics and former president of the Boston Bruins. The rink served as the home to the Boston University men’s hockey team from 1971 and the women’s hockey team since 2005. When the men’s team moved to Agganis Arena in 2005, the facility became one of the few on-campus hockey venues in the country dedicated solely to women’s hockey.
Walter Brown Arena is part of the Harold Case Physical Education Center, which also includes Case Gymnasium directly above the hockey rink. The arena stands on the site of Braves Field, which served as home field of the Boston Braves of Major League Baseball before they moved to Milwaukee in 1953. The Case Athletic Center stands approximately where the left field pavilion stands once stood.
The Terriers have qualified for 7 NCAA Tournaments and have played in a pair of Frozen Fours, finishing as national runners-up in 2011 and 2013. Dozens of Terrier alumni have dotted the rosters of NWHL, PHF and CWHL rosters over the years.
Food & Beverage 2
A concession stand underneath the grandstand is open for certain Terrier games. A basic menu is served here, featuring hot dogs and pretzels along with various candy and chips. Pepsi products are sold at Walter Brown Arena.
Augmenting the permanent stand are a pair of portable stands. The beer stand offers a few choices, including Corona, Miller and Allegash. The Dippin’ Dots stand sells bottled beverages, snacks and their ice cream-ish substance. You can even purchase your Dots in a souvenir BU hockey helmet.
Unfortunately, the concessions are not always open for Terrier games, so a trip to the nearby Dunkin’ or convenience store may be necessary before your visit.
Atmosphere 2
If you haven’t visited Walter Brown Arena in a while, you’ll be pleased with many of the improvements made recently. The entire place has received a much-needed paint job and new lighting, which has really brightened up the place and removed that dark 70s aesthetic. Hanging at center ice is a crisp new four-sided video board, which is put to great use with replays, graphics, hype videos and more.
The sound system is excellent, as music blares throughout the rink all game long. Unfortunately, the PA announcements do not enjoy the same clarity, and the announcer is very difficult to understand.
The band is present for some games, adding much to the atmosphere when they’re in the rink. There’s a small student section at all games, and they do their best to fill the old barn with noise. You might also see Rhett, the Terriers’ mascot.
Neighborhood 5
Boston University is an urban campus, straddling Commonwealth Avenue for approximately a mile and a half on the Boston/Brookline border. Located right behind Walter Brown Arena is Nickerson Field, home to BU’s lacrosse and soccer teams. It is also known to baseball historians as Braves Field, which was home to the National League’s Boston Braves from 1915 to 1952. Agganis Arena, home of BU’s men’s hockey team and the NWHL’s Boston Fleet, is on the other side of Nickerson Field.
Fans coming to the BU campus will find plenty of choices for dining in the area. If chains are your style, Raising Cane’s, Chipotle, Dunkin’ and Taco Bell are all within a few blocks of the arena. Otto’s Pizzeria, Sunset Cantina and El Jefe’s Taqueria are all favorites of the student body. The neighborhood features a diverse variety of food options, with excellent Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese eateries nearby.
The Paradise Rock Club, known nationally for giving bands like U2 and REM their first area shows, is located a block away from Walter Brown Arena. It continues to host both local acts and up-and-coming national acts.
Beyond Agganis Arena’s immediate neighborhood, Kenmore Square and Fenway Park are just over a mile away. Not far beyond that are the tourist destinations of Copley Square, Back Bay, Boston Common and Chinatown. All are easily accessed by the Green Line, which has stops up and down Commonwealth Avenue.
Fans 4
The growth in women’s hockey nationwide has been mirrored with a growth in attendance at Boston University women’s hockey games in recent years. BU has ranked in the top ten annually in terms of attendance, and in 2025-26 finished fifth in the nation, drawing an average of over 900 fans per game to Walter Brown Arena.
Stadium Journey’s most recent visit coincided with the 2026 Icebreakers Tournament, which drew over 800 fans on a Friday night for a Friday doubleheader. There was a good turnout by the student body, and as can be expected, a great turnout by friends and family of the teams involved. The students that show up at Walter Brown come prepared with props, signs and chants designed to distract opponents and pump up the home squad.
Access 4
Walter Brown Arena might have one of the most unassuming and nondescript exteriors you will ever see at a facility with its history and status. Located at the end of a dead-end street, there is really nothing to inform you that you have arrived at your destination except for a giant BU logo on the sidewalk near the entrance. The marquee over the door advertises the venue as the “Case Center,” as the building also contains, among other things, Case Gymnasium, home of Boston University basketball.
Driving in Boston is a difficult proposition for those not familiar with the city. Streets are narrow and crooked, traffic is seemingly always backed up, and there are construction projects everywhere to further gum up the works. Should you still wish to drive to a Boston University game, Walter Brown Arena is actually not very difficult to get to. The BU campus straddles Commonwealth Avenue, one of the major drags in the city. The rink is located at the end of Babcock Street, a dead-end street. Detailed directions can be found here.
Parking is available in a covered lot located across Babcock St. underneath the New Balance Field or in the Langsam Garage at Agganis Arena. On street parking is also available in the area, just be aware of the times that meters are in operation.
The best method for arriving at Walter Brown Arena, as well as most points in Boston, is to take public transportation, known as the MBTA, or “T”, for short. The Green Line’s B train has a stop on Babcock Street just steps from the front door of the arena.
Walter Brown Arena is located on the ground floor of the Case Center, which houses both the hockey arena and Case Gymnasium. Fans enter the arena’s lobby from Babcock Street or the Nickerson Field entrance. The BU Athletic Hall of Fame is located here, as are the ticket booths. Recent renovations have redesigned and modernized the lobby. It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do for a place.
Fans will enter Walter Brown Arena at one end of the rink onto a platform that offers standing room views of the action. The concourse wraps under the seating area, with the press box and restrooms at the far end of the rink. It’s amazing to think that these tiny rest rooms served sellout crowds back in the arena’s heyday. Seats closest to the ice are individual folding seats, with molded bleachers at the upper levels. The seats a little further removed from the ice offer better views of the action.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets for Terriers women’s hockey games cost six dollars, with discounts for youths and seniors. Group tickets cost a mere three dollars. Parking in the lot right across the street from Walter Brown Arena costs ten dollars. There is on-street parking available, but be aware of the hours of operation of the meters.
Many fans avoid the cost of parking and aggravation of Boston driving by taking the T to Boston University. A one-way fare costs $2.65 and allows access to much of the city.
Extras 3
Banners hang at Walter Brown Arena commemorating Terrier Hockey East titles, Beanpot wins, NCAA Tournament Appearances and Frozen Four appearances. There’s a banner at the far end of the rink honoring the figure skating team’s nine national titles.
The Boston University Athletic Hall of Fame is located in the Case Center lobby. Electronic displays and trophy cases honor Terrier legends and championships.
A final extra point is awarded for Walter Brown Arena’s historic location. Built on the site of Braves Field, home of Major League Baseball’s Boston Braves from 1915-1953. The Case Center is located about where the left field pavilion once stood. Come early and wander around Nickerson Field to check out the parts of Braves Field that are still in use.
Final Thoughts
Walter Brown Arena holds a storied place in college hockey’s annals, and is worth a visit by any dedicated hockey fan. While the men’s program may have outgrown this facility, it is great to see this old barn live on as home to the women’s team.
