Merrimack Athletics Complex

The Merrimack Athletics Complex is the home of the Merrimack College Warriors athletics teams. It has a basketball court and hockey arena. Hammel Court, located in the Volpe Athletic Center, is the home of the men's and women's basketball teams, as well as the volleyball team. Lawler Rink is the home of the Division I Merrimack Warriors men's ice hockey team, which had won the 1978 Division II national title before transitioning to Division I and joining the Hockey East Conference.

Merrimack Athletics Complex

MAC
Lawler Arena Post-Renovation 2024
Location	North Andover, Massachusetts
Owner	Merrimack College
Operator	Merrimack College
Capacity	2,549 (hockey arena) 1,200 (basketball arena)
Surface	200 x 85 ft (hockey)
Construction
Broke ground	1972
Opened	November 28, 1972
Renovated	2012-2013, 2023
Construction cost	$2 million ($15 million in 2024 dollars[1])
Tenants
Merrimack Warriors athletics

The athletic center is named for S. Peter Volpe, a member of the college's Board of Trustees and benefactor. His construction company was responsible for the building of the McQuaid Library on campus. His brother, John Volpe, was U.S. Secretary of Transportation under President Richard M. Nixon. The hockey arena is named for J. Thom Lawler, former coach of the men's hockey team who died in 1978 at age 44, just after leading the team to their first national title. The basketball and volleyball court is named after former men's basketball head coach Bert Hammel.^[2]

Renovations

Over the summer and winter break of 2010, extensive renovation was done on the arena. The wooden bench seating was completely replaced with seatback chair seating and a student bleacher section was installed behind the visiting goalie's side. The "tin foil" insulation was removed from the roof as well. Seating capacity did decrease, however.

A major expansion^[3] was completed in 2013 that included a second ice rink, a franchise food location, and a campus bookstore.

A new scoreboard/jumbrotron was added prior to the 2022-23 season.

Gallant Pavilion Grand Opening in October 2023

New scoreboard prior to Merrimack vs Vermont Men's Hockey game. The first game post-renovation and grand opening of the Gallant Pavilion in October 2023

Extensive renovations were also completed in the fall of 2023. Funding was provided by Richard H’15 and Susanna Gallant.^[4]

Lawler Basketball Configuration

Merrimack Men's Basketball played their first ever game at Lawler Arena during the 2021-22 season when they hosted Lehigh. Since then the arena has become a two-sport venue with the ability to change between hockey and basketball like many NHL/NBA arenas. ^[5]

Merrimack vs FDU Basketball Jan 2024