View source for Amica Mutual Pavilion

{{Short description|Indoor arena in Providence, Rhode Island}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = [[Amica Mutual Insurance|Amica Mutual]] Pavilion
| nickname = "The AMP"
| logo_image = Amica_Mutual_Pavilion_Logo.svg
| image = DunkinDonutsCenter1.jpg
| image_caption = An entrance to the Amica Mutual Pavilion on the corner of Sabin and Snow St
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=275|zoom=15|type=point}}
| pushpin_map = Rhode Island#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Rhode Island##Location within the United States
| pushpin_relief = 1
| pushpin_label = Amica Mutual Pavilion
| address = 1 LaSalle Square
| location = [[Providence, Rhode Island]], U.S.
| coordinates = {{coord|41|49|25|N|71|25|6|W|region:US-RI_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = January 1971
| built = 
| opened = {{Start date|November 3, 1972}}
| renovated = 2008
| closed = 
| demolished = 
| owner = {{unbulleted list|Rhode Island Convention Center Authority (2005–present)|City of Providence (1972–2005)}}
| operator = ASM Global
| surface = Multi-surface
| construction_cost = US$13 million<br>US$80 million (renovation)
| architect = [[Ellerbe Becket|Ellerbe Associates]]
| general_contractor = Dimeo Construction Company<ref>{{cite web |title=75th Anniversary Flash Timleine|url=http://www.conleeidol.com/dimeo/|publisher=Dimeo Construction|access-date=June 10, 2014}}</ref>
| former_names = {{unbulleted list|Providence Civic Center (1972–2001)|Dunkin Donuts Center (2001–22)}}
| tenants = {{Plain list|
* [[Providence Bruins]] ([[American Hockey League|AHL]]) (1992–present)
* [[Providence Friars men's basketball|Providence Friars]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) (1972–present)
* [[Providence Reds|Providence/Rhode Island Reds]] ([[American Hockey League|AHL]]) (1972–1977)
* [[New England Tea Men]] ([[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]]) (1979–1980)
* [[New England Steamrollers]] ([[Arena Football League|AFL]]) (1988)
}}
| seating_capacity = [[Concerts]]: 14,000<br>[[Basketball]]: 12,410<br>[[Ice hockey]]: 11,273
| publictransit = [[Providence Station]]
| website = {{url|amicamutualpavilion.com}}
}}

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|Providence]], [[Rhode Island]]. It was built in 1972, as a home court for the [[Providence Friars men's basketball|Providence College Friars men's basketball]] program, due to the high demand for tickets to their games in [[Alumni Hall (Providence)|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|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.<ref name="ProJo180311">{{cite news|last1=Parker|first1=Paul Edward|title=R.I. Convention Center rings up an operating profit in 2017|url=http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20180311/ri-convention-center-rings-up-operating-profit-in-2017|accessdate=13 March 2018|publisher=The Providence Journal|date=11 March 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312033153/http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20180311/ri-convention-center-rings-up-operating-profit-in-2017|archivedate=12 March 2018}}</ref>

==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|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.<ref name="Leazes">{{cite book|last1=Leazes|first1=Francis J|last2=Motte|first2=Mark T.|title=Providence, the Renaissance City|date=2004|publisher=UPNE|pages=60–61|isbn=9781555536046|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XKrdcn_xcIcC&q=providence+voters+reject+civic+center&pg=PA61|access-date=22 November 2016}}</ref>

The plan was revived again as a statewide bond issue in the 1968 general election; voters outside of Providence soundly defeated the referendum.<ref name="Leazes" /> Finally, mayor [[Joseph A. Doorley Jr.]] pushed through a citywide special referendum in 1969, which passed.<ref name="Leazes" /> When this amount proved to be inadequate, Doorley pushed through another referendum in 1971, which also passed.<ref name="Leazes" /> The project became so closely associated with Mayor Doorley that it was referred to in the press as "Doorley's Dream".<ref>{{cite web|title=Mayors of the City of Providence|url=http://www.providenceri.com/CityHall/mayors8.html|website=City of Providence|access-date=22 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="ProJoStanton" />

==History==
The '''Providence Civic Center''' was constructed in 1972 on the site of an old jewelry factory.<ref name="ProJoStanton">{{cite news|last1=Stanton|first1=Mike|title=A Providence civics lesson|url=http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20140626/providence-civics-lesson|access-date=22 November 2016|publisher=The Providence Journal|date=9 December 2002}}</ref>  The opening ceremony was held November 3, 1972, with a [[Providence Reds]] hockey game.<ref name="Leazes" /><ref name="ProJoStanton" /> President [[Richard Nixon]], campaigning in the area, was invited to the attend the opening, but he declined.<ref name="ProJoStanton" /> 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.<ref name="ProJoStanton" />

In October 1974, Civic Center director Harold Copeland was convicted of soliciting a $1,000 bribe from a concert promoter.<ref name="ProJoStanton" /> The conviction, occurring a month before election day, thrust prosecutor [[Buddy Cianci|Vincent Cianci]] into the mayor's office and ended Doorley's political career.<ref name="ProJoStanton" />

[[File:Providence Civic Center in 1990 (4666914165).jpg|thumb|left|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.<ref name="Leazes" /> 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.<ref name="Leazes" />

In 2001, as a means of increasing financing,<ref name="Leazes" /> the arena was named the Dunkin' Donuts Center as part of a naming-rights deal with [[Dunkin' Donuts]].<ref>{{cite press release |title=Providence Civic Center and Dunkin' Donuts Seal a Sweet Deal|url=https://www.dunkindonuts.com/aboutus/press/PressRelease.aspx?viewtype=archive&id=100013|publisher=Dunkin' Donuts Incorporated|date=June 14, 2001|access-date=September 20, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060321023750/https://www.dunkindonuts.com/aboutus/press/PressRelease.aspx?viewtype=archive&id=100013|archive-date=March 21, 2006}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Renovations a Slam Dunk|first=Paul Edward|last=Parker|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/397839283|newspaper=[[The Providence Journal]]|date=August 31, 2008|access-date=June 10, 2014|page=F1}}</ref>

===COVID-19 pandemic===
The [[COVID-19 pandemic]] of 2020-2021 resulted in the cancellation of most of its normal sports and concert programming.<ref name="ProJo20210130" /> 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.<ref name="ProJo20210130" /> In February 2021, the state announced that the Dunkin Donuts Center would be used as a large-scale COVID vaccination site.<ref name="ProJo20210205" />

The lost revenue caused the Dunkin Donuts Center to post a loss of $611,000 for 2020.<ref name="ProJo20210130" />

=== 2022 naming rights change ===
In April 2022, the naming rights held by Dunkin' were set to expire after 21 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Providence's Dunkin' Donuts Center could soon have a new name |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2022/03/09/dunkin-donuts-center-new-name-providence-rhode-island/ |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=www.boston.com |language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Patrick |title='The Dunk' in Providence is keeping its name ... but probably not for long |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2022/07/06/providence-ri-dunkin-donuts-center-negotiating-new-name-possible-reveal-september/7811448001/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=The Providence Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-24 |title='The Dunk' sign removed to make way for new name |url=https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/providence/the-dunk-sign-removed-to-make-way-for-new-name/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=WPRI.com |language=en-US}}</ref> 

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.<ref>{{Cite web| last = Anderson| first = Patrick| title = 'The Dunk' is now 'The AMP' — Amica reveals new name| work = The Providence Journal| accessdate = 2022-09-06| date = 2022-09-06| url = https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2022/09/06/providence-civic-center-new-name-revealed-amica-mutual-pavilion/8002006001/}}</ref>

==Notable performances and events==

===Music===

[[Led Zeppelin (band)|Led Zeppelin]] performed there on July 6, October 31, 1969, and July 21, 1973. [[Jimmy Page]] was quoted saying this was one of the best concerts of the Houses of the Holy Tour.

The [[Grateful Dead]] recorded half of their live album ''[[Dick's Picks Volume 12]]'' there on June 26, 1974.

[[Queen (band)|Queen]] performed there in 1977, 1978 and 1980.

[[Rush (band)|Rush]] performed there in 1974, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1991 and 1994.

[[Yes (band)|Yes]] performed there in 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1984, and 1987.

[[Pink Floyd]] performed there in 1973 on their tour for ''[[The Dark Side of the Moon]]'' and again in 1987 for two sold-out shows on their [[A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour]], their first tour without [[Roger Waters]] (who also performed in Providence in 1987 on his Radio KAOS Tour and again on the last night of his 2000 US In the Flesh Tour in July 2000).

Former Beatle [[George Harrison]] held a concert there on December 11, 1974, during his "[[George Harrison and Ravi Shankar's 1974 North American tour|Dark Horse Tour]]" (so called because it occurred near the launch of Harrison's [[Dark Horse Records]]). Performers included Harrison, [[Ravi Shankar]], Harrison's session common session drummer [[Jim Keltner]], and keyboardist [[Billy Preston]]. At one point in the show, a girl tried to climb onstage, but was stopped and assaulted by police; Harrison stopped mid-song and shouted "Krishna! Krishna!".{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Some of the songs on the [[Eric Clapton]] album ''[[E. C. Was Here]]'' were recorded live at the Civic Center, on June 25, 1975.

The arena played host to The [[Rolling Thunder Revue]] Tour on November 4, 1975, headed by [[Bob Dylan]].

[[The Who]] played there on December 13, 1975.

[[Elvis Presley]] performed there three times – once each in 1974, 1976, and 1977.

[[Frank Sinatra]] performed 10 times at the then-Providence Civic Center. His first was to a sold-out crowd including [[Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis]] for his Variety Club International Tour on April 15, 1974, and the last on October 3, 1992. During many of Sinatra's performances, Rhode Island State Police would attend, searching for organized crime members in the audience.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}} During a 1979 appearance in Providence, Mayor [[Buddy Cianci]] named Sinatra an honorary fire chief, complete with a helmet bearing the name "F. SINATRA" with nickname "Ol' Blue Eyes" beneath.

[[David Bowie]]'s concert on May 5, 1978, was one of three recorded for his live album ''[[Stage (David Bowie album)|Stage]]''.

The [[Bee Gees]] performed two sold-out concerts there on August 28–29, 1979, as part of their [[Spirits Having Flown Tour]].

[[The Kinks]] recorded much of their live album and video ''[[One for the Road (The Kinks album)|One for the Road]]'' at the Civic Center on September 23, 1979.

In 1979, Providence mayor Buddy Cianci cancelled a concert at the Civic Center by the rock band [[The Who]]<ref name="SPIN">{{cite news|last1=Grow|first1=Kory|title=Meet the Who Fans Who Found Their Cancelled 1979 Concert Tickets|url=http://www.spin.com/2012/08/meet-who-fans-who-found-their-canceled-1979-concert-tickets/|access-date=November 22, 2016|publisher=SPIN magazine|date=August 1, 2012}}</ref> after hearing about a [[The Who concert disaster|Who concert in Cincinnati]] earlier that month where 11 fans had been trampled to death.<ref name="SPIN" /> 33 years later, the band [[The Who Tour 2012–2013|returned to Providence]] and announced they would honor any tickets from the 1979 show.<ref name="SPIN" /> Ten fans, then middle-aged, traded in 14 tickets to see the performance.<ref name="SPIN" />

In 1979 [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]] scheduled a show on their [[Dynasty Tour]] for August 1, 1979, and a second show was added for July 31, 1979, when the first date sold out. Both were threatened with cancellation by Cianci in light of The Who situation and a stabbing at a Bad Company concert ten days prior to the first date. After controversy, which included rock fans picketing the Ciancis' home, the shows were allowed and Cianci attended the first night's performance to observe.<ref>''The Providence Journal Bulletin'', August 1, 1979 "KISS erupts in noise and smoke: Wary officials prowl Civic Center as decible count zooms."</ref>

[[The Jackson 5|The Jacksons]] performed at the Civic Center on July 15, 1973, April 10, 1976, August 13, 1981

The Civic Center also received publicity in 1983 for a planned Kiss concert which never occurred. Rhode Island promoter Frank J. Russo scheduled the band on their [[Creatures of the Night Tour/10th Anniversary Tour]] for shows at both the Worcester Centrum on January 22, 1983, and the following night at the Civic Center, but canceled the Civic Center show when it sold only 2,000 tickets. Russo publicly offered to trade tickets to the Centrum show for Civic Center show tickets in lieu of refunds, with a free ride to and from Worcester. Hundreds of fans participated and were picked up by several chartered buses on Sabin Street in front of the Civic Center.<ref>''Providence Journal Bulletin'' January 21, 1983 "KISS is Back: 'We're Like An Army.'"</ref> A week later the situation was featured in a two-part WPRI Channel 12 news story by reporter Brian Rooney,<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/xIa7qHY1YAs Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20191109022153/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIa7qHY1YAs&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIa7qHY1YAs| title = KISS - Creatures of the Night Tour TV news Report - Worcester, MA | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> citing it as a prime example of how the newly built Centrum was cutting deeply into the Civic Center's business by providing aggressive competition for events.

[[Talking Heads]] performed in support of their album ''[[Speaking in Tongues (Talking Heads album)|Speaking In Tongues]]'' on October 4, 1983.<ref>{{Citation|title=Talking Heads - Live in Providence 1983 [w/ Pull Up The Roots]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxDMYdCDp_Y |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/KxDMYdCDp_Y| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-04-06}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[Van Halen]] performed at the Civic Center many times and the music video for the song "[[Panama (song)|Panama]]" was partially filmed during a 1984 soundcheck at the venue.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Botelho |first1=Jessica |title=Van Halen recorded parts of 'Panama' music video in Providence |url=https://turnto10.com/news/entertainment/van-halen-recorded-parts-of-panama-music-video-in-providence |website=WJAR |access-date=6 September 2022 |language=en |date=7 October 2020}}</ref>

[[Journey (band)|Journey]] performed at the Civic Center on November 2, 1986, in support of their [[Raised on Radio Tour]].

[[Phish]] have performed at the venue eight times, and three of their concerts there have been released on compact disc: ''[[Live Phish Volume 20]]'' features the band's concert of December 29, 1994, and ''[[Live Phish 04.04.98]]'' and ''[[Live Phish 04.05.98]]'' feature the band's performances on April 4 and 5, 1998, which were part of their 1998 "Island Tour".<ref>{{cite web |title=Remembering Phish's Island Tour |url=https://www.jambase.com/article/phish-island-tour-audio-video |website=JamBase |access-date=6 September 2022}}</ref>

[[James Taylor]] and [[Bonnie Raitt]] performed at the venue in March 2019.<ref>{{Cite web| last = Nunes| first = Rachel| title = James Taylor To Return To Rhode Island In July| work = Newport, RI Patch| accessdate = 2022-09-06| date = 2019-03-04| url = https://patch.com/rhode-island/newport/james-taylor-return-rhode-island-july}}</ref>

===Sports===

====Providence College men's basketball====
The [[Providence Friars men's basketball]] team has been the only major tenant of the arena since its inception, having played almost all of its home basketball games at the arena since 1972 with the exception of the [[2020–21 Providence Friars men's basketball team|2020-21 season]] where their home games were at the on-campus arena [[Alumni Hall (Providence)|Alumni Hall]] due to COVID-19 concerns. The Providence Friars men's basketball team and their fans have made the AMP one of the most intimidating environments in recent years for [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] basketball. The Friars have an all-time record of 615–236 (.722) at the AMP.<ref>{{Cite web |title=No. 23/21 Men's Basketball Game Notes vs. Butler |url=https://friars.com/news/2023/1/24/no-23-21-mens-basketball-game-notes-vs-butler |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=Providence College Athletics |language=en}}</ref> On rare occasions, the [[Providence Friars women's basketball]] team has played "home" games in the arena, most notably for games against [[Rhode Island Rams women's basketball|URI]] or [[UConn Huskies women's basketball|UConn]], where demand for tickets would be enough to warrant an arena larger than the 1,854-seat [[Alumni Hall (Providence)|Alumni Hall]].

====Other college sports====
[[File:Dunkin Donuts Center hosts NCAA East Hockey.jpg|thumb|[[2019 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament|2019 NCAA Hockey East Regional]] at the Dunk, [[Cornell University]] vs [[Providence College]]]]
The arena has been the site of many collegiate tournaments, including the inaugural 1980 [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East Conference]] men's basketball tournament; the [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] men's basketball [[ECAC men's basketball tournaments|ECAC New England Region tournament]], organized by the [[Eastern College Athletic Conference]] (ECAC), in [[ECAC men's basketball tournaments#1978 tournaments|1978]] and [[ECAC Men's Basketball Tournaments#1979 tournaments|1979]];<ref>{{cite web|title=ECAC Men's Basketball Tournaments |url=http://jonfmorse.com/wiki/index.php?title=ECAC_Men%27s_Basketball_Tournaments |work=Varsity Pride |access-date=June 10, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224112258/http://jonfmorse.com/wiki/index.php?title=ECAC_Men's_Basketball_Tournaments |archive-date=December 24, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1978 ECAC Men's Basketball Tournaments |url=http://jonfmorse.com/wiki/index.php?title=1978_ECAC_Men%27s_Basketball_Tournaments |work=Varsity Pride |access-date=June 10, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214112326/http://jonfmorse.com/wiki/index.php?title=1978_ECAC_Men's_Basketball_Tournaments |archive-date=December 14, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=1979 ECAC Men's Basketball Tournaments|url=http://jonfmorse.com/wiki/index.php?title=1979_ECAC_Men%27s_Basketball_Tournaments|work=Varsity Pride|access-date=June 10, 2014}}</ref><ref name="sports-reference.com">{{cite web |title=1978–79 Independent Season Summary|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/conferences/independent/1979.html|work=Sports-Reference|access-date=June 10, 2014}}</ref> [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament]] first- and second-round games in [[1976 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1976]], [[1979 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1979]], [[1980 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1980]], [[1981 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1981]], [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1989]], [[1996 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1996]], [[2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2010]], and [[2016 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2016]]; the [[1978 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1978]] and [[1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1985]] NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament East Region finals; the 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.  The [[University of Rhode Island]] (URI) [[Rhode Island Rams men's basketball|men's basketball team]] also played some home basketball games at the Providence Civic Center beginning in 1973, although this practice stopped with the opening of the [[Ryan Center]] in 2002.

The arena had been scheduled to host the first and second-round games of the [[2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament]] until the tournament was moved to venues within the [[Indianapolis|Indianapolis, Indiana]], metro area due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Impressed? Yes|first=Paul|last=Grimaldi|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/397860730|newspaper=[[The Providence Journal]]|date=March 21, 2010|access-date=June 10, 2014|page=A1}}</ref> The arena will now host first and second-round games of the 2025 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=March Madness Final Four: Future dates & sites |url=https://www.ncaa.com/mens-final-four/future-info |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.ncaa.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Professional sports====
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 [[New England Tea Men]] of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|North American Soccer League]] (NASL) played their [[indoor soccer]] matches there from 1979 to 1980 before moving south to [[Jacksonville, Florida]], at the start of the [[1980–81 NASL Indoor season|1980–81 indoor season]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Tea Men Are Leaving N.E. for New Home in Florida|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19801117&id=FwAhAAAAIBAJ&pg=5852,3483492|newspaper=[[The Day (New London)]]|date=November 17, 1980|access-date=June 10, 2014|page=28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=April 10, 1982 – Jacksonville Tea Men vs. New York Cosmos|url=http://www.funwhileitlasted.net/tag/jacksonville-tea-men/|work=Fun While It Lasted|access-date=June 10, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Attendance Project: NASL Indoor|url=http://www.kenn.com/the_blog/?page_id=5365|work=Kenn Blog|access-date=June 10, 2014}}</ref> The [[Providence Bruins]] of the AHL began play at the arena in 1992. The [[New England Steamrollers]] of the [[Arena Football League]] (AFL) also called the arena home for their single season of existence in 1988.

A number of other professional sporting events, including [[Harlem Globetrotters]] basketball games and regular season and preseason games for the [[Boston Celtics]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) and the [[Boston Bruins]] of the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL), have been held at the arena.

{| class="wikitable"
! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics}}"|Date
! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics}}"|Opponent
! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics}}"|Result
! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics}}"|Home
! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics}}"|Game Type 
! style="{{NBA color cell|Boston Celtics}}"|Attendance
|-
| style="{{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics}}"|December 30, 1972 || [[Philadelphia 76ers]] || 107–117 || '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' || [[Regular season|RS]] || 9,065
|-
| style="{{NBA color cell2|Boston Celtics}}"|October 9, 2013 || '''[[New York Knicks]]''' || 103–102 || [[Boston Celtics]] || [[Preseason|PS]] || 10,404
|-
|}

===Circus===
During a live performance of the [[Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus]] on May 4, 2014, eight female performers were sent to the hospital after a high wire snapped while they were attempting a routine where they [[Hair hang|hang by their hair]] high above the floor. The performers fell from between {{convert|25|and|40|ft}} to the ground, but none suffered life-threatening injuries.<ref>{{cite news |title=Performers Hurt in Platform Collapse at Providence Circus|first1=Doug|last1=Saffir|first2=Robert|last2=Burgess|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode-island/2014/05/04/report-aerial-performers-fall-during-circus-act-providence/jONRVASHacmTEy106u394M/story.html|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=May 4, 2014|access-date=June 10, 2014}}</ref> On May 1, 2016, Ringling Bros. ended 145 years of tradition when they staged their last performance with live elephants as part of its "Blue" tour at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.<ref name=Ringling>{{cite web|title=01 May RECAP: Ringling Bros. Last Elephant Show from Providence, RI|url=https://www.ringling.com/last-elephant-show/|website=Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey|publisher=Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey|access-date=2 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303051232/https://www.ringling.com/last-elephant-show/|archive-date=3 March 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Eleven elephants headed to Florida for retirement after the show.<ref name=Ringling /> A year after that, the final show for the Red Unit of Ringling Bros. was on May 7, 2017. Ringling Bros. will return to the Amica Mutual Pavilion for the first time since its revival in fall of 2023 on April 26, 2024.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus returns with six shows in Providence |url=https://turnto10.com/news/entertainment/ringling-bros-barnum-bailey-circus-returns-with-six-shows-in-providence-amica-mutual-pavilion-tickets-on-sale-performance-music-stunts-november-1-2023# |access-date=April 14, 2024 |work=[[WJAR-TV]] |date=November 1, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

===Other events===

[[Sugar Ray Leonard]] fought [[Floyd Mayweather Sr.]] at the Providence Civic Center on September 9, 1978. Leonard won the bout by TKO in the tenth round. This being the only major boxing card held in Providence.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

The arena has long been a regular stop on [[WWE]] tours. It was the site of [[WWE#World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. (1999–2002)|WWF]] [[King of the Ring]] tournaments four times: from 1987 to 1991, before the event became a [[pay-per-view]], and once after in 1997. In 1994, it hosted the [[Royal Rumble (1994)|Royal Rumble]]. It has hosted the [[WWE Backlash|Backlash]] pay-per-view three times: the [[Backlash: In Your House|first edition of the event]] on April 25, 1999; the [[Backlash (2009)|2009]] edition on April 26, 2009 (the last to be held until 2016); and the [[WrestleMania Backlash (2022)|2022]] edition on May 8, 2022, the second and last to be billed as "WrestleMania Backlash".<ref>{{cite web |title=WWE News: Backlash 2009 Location, South Dakota Rating, Press Release|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/75384/WWE-News%3A-Backlash-2009-Location%2C-SD-Rating%2C-Press-Release.htm|work=411 Mania|date=May 12, 2008|access-date=June 10, 2014}}</ref> In December 2005 the arena hosted ''[[Armageddon (2005)|WWE Armageddon]]''.

In addition to major events, the arena also hosted WWE's weekly shows frequently. January 13, 2014, edition of ''[[WWE Raw]]'' was held at the arena. ''[[WWE Smackdown]]'' held two shows at the arena in 2015, on April 21 and August 25. The SmackDown portion of the [[2018 WWE Superstar Shake-Up]] was held at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, while the Raw portion was held at the [[XL Center]] in [[Hartford, Connecticut]]. On October 22, 2018, [[Roman Reigns]] revealed his [[leukemia]] diagnosis during a ''Raw'' show held at the arena.

In November 2015, the [[Rhode Island Comic Con]] expanded into the arena from the adjacent [[Rhode Island Convention Center]], where it had been held since it began in 2012. It has been held in both buildings ever since.

The arena was used by [[Hasbro]] (whose headquarters are in [[Downtown, Providence, Rhode Island|Downtown Providence]]) to host its first-ever [[HasCon]] in September 2017.

==Gallery==
{{Gallery
|width=200
|height=170
|align=center
|File:DunkinDonutsCenter2.jpg
 |View of the arena while empty, after renovations
|File:DunkMJ.jpg|
 The arena before [[Monster Jam]], prior to renovations
|File:DunkinDonutsCenter.jpg
  |Arena in hockey configuration, after renovations
|File:Providence College Syracuse.jpg
  |[[Syracuse Orange men's basketball|Syracuse]] vs. Providence College men's basketball game in February 2010
}}

==See also==
* [[List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas]]
* [[Rhode Island Convention Center]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2|refs=
<ref name="ProJo20210130">{{cite news |last1=Parker |first1=Paul Edward |title=RI Convention Center Authority turns to unusual revenue sources in pandemic |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2021/01/30/ri-convention-center-authority-turns-unusual-income-pandemic/4308168001/ |access-date=6 February 2021 |publisher=The Providence Journal |date=30 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131023900/https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2021/01/30/ri-convention-center-authority-turns-unusual-income-pandemic/4308168001/ |archive-date=31 January 2021 | quote=The Dunk is home to a test-kit-assembly operation, where ... some 20 to 30 people ... put the kits together. A separate part of the Dunk is being used as a walk-through center for rapid COVID tests. And smaller rooms are being used for classes to teach hospitality industry and other workers how to conduct rapid tests at their businesses.}}</ref>
<ref name="ProJo20210205">{{cite news |last1=Reynolds |first1=Mark |title=Large volumes of vaccine to be administered at Dunkin Donuts Center | url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/healthcare/2021/02/05/mass-vaccination-site-planned-dunkin-donuts-center/4405949001/|access-date=6 February 2021 |publisher=The Providence Journal |date=5 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206145955if_/https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/healthcare/2021/02/05/mass-vaccination-site-planned-dunkin-donuts-center/4405949001/ |archive-date=6 February 2021 |location=Providence, RI}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://www.amicamutualpavilion.com/ Official website]
*[https://friars.com/facilities/amica-mutual-pavilion-providence/23 Amica Mutual Pavilion]

{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-sta|et}}}}
{{succession box
 | title = Host of the<br>[[Frozen Four]]
 | years = 1978
 | before = [[Detroit Olympia|Olympia Stadium]]<br>[[Detroit]]
 | after = [[Detroit Olympia|Olympia Stadium]]<br>[[Detroit]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Host of the<br>[[Frozen Four]]
 | years = 1980
 | before = [[Detroit Olympia|Olympia Stadium]]<br>[[Detroit]]
 | after = [[Duluth Arena]]<br>[[Duluth, Minnesota]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Host of the<br>[[Frozen Four]]
 | years = 1982
 | before = [[Duluth Arena]]<br>[[Duluth, Minnesota]]
 | after = [[Ralph Engelstad Arena (old)|Ralph Engelstad Arena]]<br>[[Grand Forks, North Dakota]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Host of the<br>[[Frozen Four]]
 | years = 1986
 | before = [[Joe Louis Arena]]<br>[[Detroit]]
 | after = [[Joe Louis Arena]]<br>[[Detroit]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Host of the<br>[[Frozen Four]]
 | years = 1995
 | before = [[Saint Paul Civic Center]]<br>[[St. Paul, Minnesota]]
 | after = [[Riverfront Coliseum]]<br>[[Cincinnati]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Host of the<br>[[Frozen Four]]
 | years = 2000
 | before = [[Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim]]<br>[[Anaheim, California]]
 | after = [[Pepsi Arena (Albany, New York)|Pepsi Arena]]<br>[[Albany, New York]]
}}
{{end}}
{{AHL Arenas}}
{{Providence Friars men's basketball navbox}}
{{Big East Conference basketball venue navbox}}
{{New England Steamrollers}}
{{Hartford Wolf Pack}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Providence, Rhode Island]]
[[Category:College ice hockey venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Ice hockey venues in the United States]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) indoor venues]]
[[Category:Providence Bruins]]
[[Category:Providence Friars basketball venues]]
[[Category:1972 establishments in Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1972]]