Amica Mutual Pavilion facts for kids
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"The AMP"
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Entrance to the Amica Mutual Pavilion at Exchange Terrace
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 Amica Mutual Pavilion
Location in Rhode Island
Amica Mutual Pavilion
Location in the United States
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| Address | 1 LaSalle Square |
| Location | Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 41°49′25″N 71°25′6″W / 41.82361°N 71.41833°W |
| Public transit | Providence Station |
| Owner |
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| 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 |
| Renovated | 2008 |
| Construction cost | US$13 million US$80 million (renovation) |
| Architect | Ellerbe Associates |
| General contractor | Dimeo Construction Company |
| Tenants | |
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The Amica Mutual Pavilion, also known as "The AMP," is a large indoor stadium in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It opened in 1972 and was first called the Providence Civic Center. Later, it was known as the Dunkin' Donuts Center.
This arena was built to be the home court for the Providence College Friars men's basketball team. It also became the home for the Providence Reds hockey team. Today, it hosts the Providence Bruins ice hockey team and the Providence College Friars basketball team. The Rhode Island Convention Center Authority manages the building.
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Building the Arena
The idea for a big civic center in Providence started way back in 1958. People thought it would create jobs and help the city's economy. However, the first plans didn't work out because they couldn't get enough money from the government.
The idea came back in 1968, but voters across the state said no. Finally, in 1969, the mayor, Joseph A. Doorley Jr., asked the people of Providence to vote on it, and they said yes! When more money was needed, another vote happened in 1971, and it also passed. Many people called it "Doorley's Dream" because the mayor worked so hard to make it happen.
History of the AMP
The Providence Civic Center opened its doors on November 3, 1972. The first event was a hockey game with the Providence Reds. In its early years, the center hosted famous concerts and sports games, quickly becoming a popular spot.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the Civic Center faced some money problems. To help bring more visitors, the Rhode Island Convention Center and a hotel were built right next door in 1993.
In 2001, the arena got a new name: the Dunkin' Donuts Center. This was part of a deal to help fund the building. In 2005, the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority bought the arena and spent $80 million to make it even better.
Big Renovations
The renovations, finished in 2008, brought many exciting changes. The lobby became much larger, and a covered walkway connected the arena to the Convention Center. Inside, new seats with cup holders were added, along with a big new video screen and a restaurant. Behind the scenes, new heating, cooling, and fire safety systems were installed.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic
From 2020 to 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic changed how the arena was used. Most sports and concerts were canceled. Instead, the state used the arena for important health activities. It became a place to assemble COVID tests, a walk-in testing clinic, and even a large vaccination site. This helped the community during a challenging time.
New Name in 2022
After 21 years, the naming rights deal with Dunkin' ended in 2022. On September 6, 2022, it was announced that Amica Mutual Insurance had bought the naming rights. The arena was officially renamed the Amica Mutual Pavilion, or "The AMP."
Exciting Events and Shows
Music Concerts
The Amica Mutual Pavilion has hosted many legendary music artists over the years.
- Led Zeppelin played here in 1973.
- Pink Floyd performed in 1973 and again in 1987.
- Queen rocked the stage multiple times in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
- Rush had many concerts at the venue from 1974 to 1994.
- Elvis Presley performed three times in the 1970s.
- Frank Sinatra performed here 10 times, with his first show in 1974.
- The Jacksons performed several times, including in 1973, 1976, and 1981.
- Van Halen played here many times, and parts of their "Panama" music video were filmed during a soundcheck in 1984.
- The band Phish has performed at the arena eight times, and three of their concerts were released as live albums.
In 1979, a concert by The Who was canceled by the mayor due to safety concerns from another city's event. 33 years later, The Who returned to Providence and honored tickets from that canceled 1979 show!
Sports Events
Providence College Basketball
The Providence Friars men's basketball team has played almost all its home games at the AMP since 1972. The team and its fans have made the arena a very exciting place for college basketball. The Friars have a great winning record at the AMP. Sometimes, the Providence Friars women's basketball team also plays important games here.
Other College Sports
The arena has hosted many college sports tournaments. This includes early rounds and regional finals for the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in various years, like 1976, 1989, 1996, 2010, and 2016. It also hosted the Frozen Four ice hockey championships several times. The University of Rhode Island men's basketball team also played some games here until 2002.
Professional Sports
The Providence Reds hockey team played here from 1972 to 1977. The Providence Bruins hockey team started playing at the arena in 1992 and still do today. Other professional teams, like the New England Tea Men (soccer) and the New England Steamrollers (arena football), also called the AMP home for a time.
The arena has also hosted games for famous teams like the Boston Celtics (basketball) and the Boston Bruins (hockey).
| Date | Opponent | Result | Home | Game Type | Attendance |
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| December 30, 1972 | Philadelphia 76ers | 107–117 | Boston Celtics | RS | 9,065 |
| October 9, 2013 | New York Knicks | 103–102 | Boston Celtics | PS | 10,404 |
Circus and Other Shows
The arena has been a popular spot for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. In 2016, the circus held its last performance with live elephants here before they retired. The circus returned to the Amica Mutual Pavilion in April 2024 after its revival.
The AMP has also hosted many WWE wrestling events for decades. This includes big pay-per-view shows like Royal Rumble in 1994 and Backlash multiple times. Famous wrestling moments have happened here, including Roman Reigns sharing important personal news during a WWE Raw show in 2018.
Since 2015, the Rhode Island Comic Con has expanded into the arena, using both it and the nearby Convention Center. In 2017, Hasbro, a toy company based in Providence, held its first-ever HasCon event here.
Images for kids
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View of the arena while empty, after renovations
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The arena before Monster Jam, prior to renovations
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Arena in hockey configuration, after renovations
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Syracuse vs. Providence College men's basketball game in February 2010
See also
- List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas
- Rhode Island Convention Center
