There’s nothing like the atmosphere of a sports venue. Whether you’re an athlete, fan, planner, or meeting-goer, you can feel the energy these spaces exude. The Northeast is home to many such facilities, historic and contemporary, with event spaces that allow planners to bring their own kind of spirit.
The Olympic Center in Lake Placid, New York, celebrates the legacy of the two Winter Olympic Games held in the city, in 1932 and 1980. One of the center’s ice rinks was the site of the iconic “Miracle on Ice” victory during the 1980 games, when the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team defeated their opponents from the Soviet Union and went on to win a gold medal. That space, the 1980 Herb Brooks Arena, is one of three different rinks at the center—the 1932 Jack Shea Arena and the USA Rink also are available. Temporary flooring can be installed over the rinks, and each one fits 1,000 people on the floor for a banquet-style layout. The 1980 Herb Brooks Arena and the 1932 Jack Shea Arena hold 7,256 and 955 in their stands, respectively, while the USA Rink fits 50 on its benches. The Lake Placid Olympic Museum and a conference center that hosts up to 1,200 attendees, with 13 breakout rooms, round out the complex. “[Olympic Center] really gives conferences and events a more inspiring theme,” says Haleigh Amman, director of sales for the Lake Placid-based Olympic Regional Development Authority, which manages Olympic Center.
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) and its West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania, is home to the university’s Nittany Lions football team. The stadium has a handful of event spaces available for rent that range from a club space for larger groups (up to 4,000) to the Letterman’s Lounge, an exclusive area featuring a collection of team memorabilia, which accommodates 200 people. “West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium is a unique space that many people have only experienced during a game,” says Bradley Frantz, director of premium spaces at Penn State. “It’s very different when there’s no game going on.” The stadium’s food and beverage program, with items made using ingredients from area providers ranging from craft breweries and wineries to farmers, is a key component of the event experience at the stadium, Frantz notes.
Built in 1895, Franklin Field sits on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in the Center City neighborhood of Philadelphia and is home to the university’s football, track, and lacrosse teams. The stadium’s second level dates to 1925, making Franklin Field the oldest two-tier stadium in the country. Joe Haughey, assistant athletic director for business development at Penn, explains that the venue’s history is a big part of its appeal, whether it’s the storied past of the building itself or its connection to the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles (the team played on the field from 1958 to 1970). “If you’re looking for uniqueness and the wow factor, you will find it at Franklin Field,” Haughey says. He notes that although the historic venue is smaller than many modern meeting spaces, his team gets creative for groups. “We’ve used the concourse and our football auditorium, as well as meeting and event space [for gatherings,]” he says.
In New England, Polar Park in Worcester, Massachusetts, is home to the Worcester Red Sox, a Triple-A affiliate of MLB’s Boston Red Sox. The stadium’s event spaces include the main concourse that accommodates 2,000, as well as Home Plate Bar, an outdoor space that hosts a maximum of 400, and several others. There also are numerous suites available, which are typically used for breakout sessions in conjunction with a larger meeting, explains Sara Barlok, Polar Park’s director of special events.
Ashling Rowen, founder and president of Infinity Events of Sutton, Massachusetts, has held many events at Polar Park, and a few things keep her coming back—namely, the staff and the flexibility of the spaces. “They have so many [venues], and there’s a lot you can do there,” Rowen says. “Sometimes, a client wants to make it more fun, and you can add popcorn vendors or behind-the-scenes tours, and sometimes you can go on the field.”
Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, within the Mohegan Sun casino resort, is home to the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun basketball team (although the team is set to move to Houston next year). It includes 10,000 seats and private suites that accommodate groups from 15 to 100 people. The connected casino resort’s 275,000 square feet of indoor meeting space is spread among two convention facilities on-site, Sky Convention Center and Earth Expo & Convention Center, and provides plenty of options for meeting and event planners, including the 17,902-square-foot Earth Ballroom and 46 breakout rooms.
TD Garden in downtown Boston is home to the NHL’s Boston Bruins and the NBA’s Boston Celtics. Its event spaces include the 1928 Club with a maximum capacity of 200 attendees; the sports-themed Legends Club, which accommodates up to 300; the intimate LVL 6 Bar & Lounge, with a maximum capacity of 70 people; the 24-seat Jameson Lounge suite; and the entire arena floor, ideal for galas, trade shows, or expos.
facilities.upenn.edu
gopsusports.com
infinityeventsco.com
lakeplacidolympiccenter.com
mohegansun.com
polarpark.com
tdgarden.com
