Notable Events
The arena's primary tenant is the Worcester Sharks AHL team, owned and operated by its NHL affiliate San Jose Sharks. Prior to this, the venue was home to the Worcester IceCats, also of the AHL. The New England Surge of the Continental Indoor Football League also called the Center home for two seasons, but after the 2008 season the team ceased all operations. They were the second indoor football team to do so, after the Massachusetts Marauders of the AFL. Boston area teams use the arena as an occasional home venue for pre-season games. Worcester has been host to the Boston Celtics every few years.
The arena also hosted the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic on January 29, 2009. The PlanetUSA All stars defeated Team Canada 14-11, in the highest scoring AHL All Star game in history.
During the 1980s, the arena became a stop for touring musical acts. The old Boston Garden had poor acoustics and lacked air conditioning, prompting promoters to schedule Boston area shows at the arena. This practice continues today as the arena is seen as an alternative to the larger TD Garden. The arena also plays host to a variety of entertainment events, including Professional Bull Riding, Stars On Ice, Monster Trucks and more.
The arena played host to, what some fans consider to be, the greatest 2-night stand in the history of The Dave Matthews Band, in December 1998. Fresh off their May release of Before These Crowded Streets, they played some of the most inspired and diverse concerts in their history. Bela Fleck and the Flecktones joined DMB for these shows opening both nights and even sitting in on much of sets for both nights.
Having hosted 14 concerts (including 2 shows in June 2012), the venue is a place of lore for fans of the band, Phish. On December 31, 1993, they played their first concert at the Centrum, complete with a stage decorated like an aquarium (featured for the 1993 New Years run). Footage from this show was featured in the band's only official music video, Down with Disease, whose Jam debuted that night. On November 29, 1997, Phish played their longest song in band history, a 58 minute version of Runaway Jim. The concert performed nearly a year later, November 27, 1998, was later released as a live album, entitled Live Phish Volume 6. On December 27–28, 2010, they returned for a pair of concerts, the group's 11th and 12th appearances at the venue and its first public performances there in over 7 years, performing one of most well received renditions of Harry Hood since reuniting in 2009.
On December 28, 1998, Mick Foley, performing under the name Mankind, won his first WWE Championship in a television taping of Monday Night Raw at the Worcester Centrum Centre, defeating The Rock.
The arena played host to The Up in Smoke Tour on July 20–21, 2000. The show featured many famous rappers and hip hop artists, including Ice Cube, Eminem, Proof, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Nate Dogg, Kurupt, D12, MC Ren, Westside Connection, Mel-Man, Tha Eastsidaz, Doggy's Angels, Devin The Dude, Warren G, TQ, Truth Hurts and Xzibit. The July 20th show was filmed and later released as a live DVD.
The arena played host to The Tattoo the Earth Tour on October 5–7, 2001 and October 12–14, 2002. The show featured performances by Slipknot, Slayer, Sevendust, Sepultura, Hed PE, Mudvayne, downset., Hatebreed, Full Devil Jacket, Famous, Amen, U.P.O., Nothingface, PPM, Cold, Relative Ash, Systematic, Six Feet Under, Candiria, Lamb of God, God Forbid, Darkest Hour, Unearth, All That Remains, Dropkick Murphys, Sick of It All, Tiger Army, Converge, The Unseen, Reach the Sky, Stretch Arm Strong, Kill Your Idols and Nashville Pussy. It also featured 42 tattoo artists from Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Malaysia, Manitoba, Spain, Switzerland and the US.
On July 12, 2005, it was the host of the July 14 taping of SmackDown!
Boston natives Aerosmith have performed at the DCU Center 13 times over the course of their career, including a few New Year's Eve shows.
The arena features annual appearances of the top family shows including Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Sesame Street Live, Disney On Ice, Harlem Globetrotters and The Wiggles, among others.
On November 2, 2009, it was the host of WWE Raw for the first time in 9 years.
Ivete Sangalo: The Brazilian pop star sold out "DCU Center" on September 1, 2010 in your world tour.
The PBR has hosted a Built Ford Tough Series bull riding event at the arena every single year from the event's inception in 1998. The Built Ford Tough Series was known as the Bud Light Cup until the 2002 season.
On January 29–30, 2011, the Massachusetts International 28th Auto Show was held at the arena.
For the first time since its inception, TNA Wrestling will debut at the DCU Center on January 20, 2012.
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