Amica Mutual Pavilion

Amica Mutual Pavilion

"The AMP"
An entrance to the Amica Mutual Pavilion on the corner of Sabin and Snow St
Former names	Providence Civic Center (1972–2001) Dunkin Donuts Center (2001–22)
Address	1 LaSalle Square
Location	Providence, Rhode Island
Public transit	Providence Station
Owner	Rhode Island Convention Center Authority (2005–present) City of Providence (1972–2005)
Operator	ASM Global
Capacity	Concerts: 14,000 Basketball: 12,410 Ice hockey: 11,273
Surface	Multi-surface
Construction
Broke ground	January 1971
Opened	November 3, 1972 (November 3, 1972)
Renovated	2008
Construction cost	US$13 million US$80 million (renovation)
Architect	Ellerbe Associates
General contractor	Dimeo Construction Company
Tenants
Providence Bruins (AHL) (1992–present) Providence/Rhode Island Reds (AHL) (1972–1977)

The Amica Mutual Pavilion (originally Providence Civic Center and formerly Dunkin' Donuts Center ("The Dunk")) is an indoor arena located in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It was built in 1972, as a home court for the Providence College Friars men's basketball program, due to the high demand for tickets to their games in Alumni Hall, as well as for a home arena for the then–Providence Reds, who played in the nearly 50-year-old Rhode Island Auditorium. Current tenants include the Providence Bruins ice hockey team, of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Providence College Friars men's basketball team, of the Big East Conference. The center is operated by the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority, which also operates the Rhode Island Convention Center and Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

Background

The idea for a Civic Center in Providence had been proposed as early as 1958, on the site of what later became the Providence Place Mall. The project was proposed as a joint federal-state-city project, which would create jobs and bring economic benefits. However, the plan failed due to the inability to secure federal funds.

The plan was revived again as a statewide bond issue in the 1968 general election; voters outside of Providence soundly defeated the referendum. Finally, mayor Joseph A. Doorley Jr. pushed through a citywide special referendum in 1969, which passed. When this amount proved to be inadequate, Doorley pushed through another referendum in 1971, which also passed. The project became so closely associated with Mayor Doorley that it was referred to in the press as "Doorley's Dream."

History

The Providence Civic Center was constructed in 1972 on the site of an old jewelry factory. The opening ceremony was held November 3, 1972, with a Providence Reds hockey game. President Richard Nixon, campaigning in the area, was invited to the attend the opening, but he declined. In its first year, the center hosted concerts by Pink Floyd and Frank Sinatra, as well as hockey games and political rallies, and was considered a success.

In October 1974, Civic Center director Harold Copeland was convicted of soliciting a $1,000 bribe from a concert promoter. The conviction, occurring a month before election day, thrust prosecutor Vincent Cianci into the mayor's office and ended Doorley's political career.

The Civic Center in 1990

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Civic Center fell into decline; it required city bailouts and was seen as a financial problem. The Rhode Island Convention Center and adjacent Omni Providence Hotel (then named the "Westin") were completed next door to the Civic Center in 1993 in an attempt to lure visitors to the city.

In 2001, as a means of increasing financing, the arena was named the Dunkin' Donuts Center as part of a naming-rights deal with Dunkin' Donuts. In December 2005, the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority purchased the building from the city of Providence and spent $80 million on an extensive renovation. Major elements of the construction included a significantly expanded lobby and concourse, an enclosed pedestrian bridge from the Rhode Island Convention Center, a new center-hung LED video display board, a new restaurant, 20 luxury suites, four new bathrooms, and all-new seats with cupholders in the arena bowl. Behind-the-scenes improvements included a new HVAC system, ice chiller, and a first-of-its-kind fire suppression system. These renovations were completed in October 2008.

COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2021 resulted in the cancellation of most of its normal sports and concert programming. Instead, the arena was rented by the state for emergency measures, including assembly of COVID tests, a COVID testing walk-in clinic, and classes to teach local businesses how to conduct tests. In February 2021, the state announced that the Dunkin Donuts Center would be used as a large-scale COVID vaccination site.

The lost revenue caused the Dunkin Donuts Center to post a loss of $611,000 for 2020.

2022 Naming Rights Change

In April 2022, the naming rights held by Dunkin' were set to expire after 21 years. These rights were later extended, and subsequently expired on June 30, 2022, though the convention center authority and Dunkin' agreed to continue allowing signage referring to the arena as the Dunkin' Donuts Center through the summer, until a new sponsorship agreement was announced. Most of the major signage, including the main sign facing Sabin Street, was removed on August 24, 2022. Dunkin' officially stated that the company would not be renewing its agreement with the convention center authority on the same day.

On September 6, 2022 it was announced that Lincoln, Rhode Island based Amica Mutual Insurance purchased the naming rights and the arena would now be called the Amica Mutual Pavilion.

Sports

College hockey

2019 NCAA Hockey East Regional at the Dunk, Cornell University vs Providence College

Thhe inaugural 1985 Hockey East Tournament, as well as the second tournament a year later in 1986 before the tourney made Boston a permanent home; and the 1978, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1995 and 2000 NCAA Frozen Four ice hockey championships.

Professional hockey

The Providence Reds (known in their final season in Providence as the Rhode Island Reds) hockey team of the American Hockey League (AHL) played at the Providence Civic Center from 1972 to 1977. The Providence Bruins of the AHL began play at the arena in 1992.

External links

• Official website
• FRIARS.COM – The Dunkin' Donuts Center

Events and tenants
Preceded by Olympia Stadium Detroit	Host of the Frozen Four 1978	Succeeded by Olympia Stadium Detroit
Preceded by Olympia Stadium Detroit	Host of the Frozen Four 1980	Succeeded by Duluth Arena Duluth, Minnesota
Preceded by Duluth Arena Duluth, Minnesota	Host of the Frozen Four 1982	Succeeded by Ralph Engelstad Arena Grand Forks, North Dakota
Preceded by Joe Louis Arena Detroit	Host of the Frozen Four 1986	Succeeded by Joe Louis Arena Detroit
Preceded by Saint Paul Civic Center St. Paul, Minnesota	Host of the Frozen Four 1995	Succeeded by Riverfront Coliseum Cincinnati
Preceded by Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim Anaheim, California	Host of the Frozen Four 2000	Succeeded by Pepsi Arena Albany, New York

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