History of the Mullins Center
In 1985, Representative William Mullins of Ludlow, then the Vice Chairmen of the House Ways and Means Committee, concluded that UMass Amherst, as the flagship campus of the University system, lacked an indoor facility of sufficient size for major sports and other events. After studying the needs of the region and the campus, Representative Mullins believed that a multi-purpose sports and convocation center was essential to the University’s growth. He enlisted the support of campus officials and legislative leaders and began building the momentum to fund the construction of this type of facility.
Representative Mullins Died in 1986. Several of his colleagues in the legislature, as well as other supporters, carried on his commitment to this project. As a tribute to Representative Mullins’ dedication to higher education and his deep interest in athletics in general and the UMass sports program in particular, the facility was named in his memory.
The William D. Mullins Memorial Center sits on Commonwealth Avenue on the western edge of the UMass campus. Overlooking the outdoor playing fields and offering a wide vista of the Hadley Hills and the Holyoke Range, the Mullins Center represents a joining in form, of the campus’ architecture, and in spirit, of the campus’ commitment to the quality of life for the university community. Totally handicapped accessible, this arena convocation complex is a two building facility connected by a plaza with underground locker rooms, weight room and equipment storage areas. The main arena houses a basketball court over an Olympic sized hockey rink. The arena is also available for convocations, commencement, cultural events, conferences, concerts, and Fine Arts productions. The attached building has a permanent ice rink for recreational skating and for use as a practice facility for intercollegiate hockey and an intramural program. Seven racquetball courts for intramural and general use are also enclosed in this building.
The Mullins Center design also includes a number of multi-purpose rooms, athletic offices, a "green room", press area, visitor and home team locker rooms and the usual concession stands, bathrooms, ticket areas, and lobby associated with a center of this type. The multi-purpose rooms offer flexibility in programming and use.
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