Aleppo Shrine Auditorium
Encyclopedia
The Aleppo Shrine Auditorium is a 2,650-seat indoor arena
located in Wilmington, Massachusetts
. It was built in 1977 as the headquarters for the Aleppo Shriners, who had been based in Boston, Massachusetts since 1882. The Aleppo Shriners still own the auditorium today. It is also the home of the Boston Derby Dames
roller derby
league.
The Auditorium features 37000 square feet (3,437.4 m²) of exhibit space in the arena and 11600 square feet (1,077.7 m²) of meeting space in three meeting rooms. Its main lobby features 3300 square feet (306.6 m²) of space. The Auditorium can seat up to 4,150 for boxing
, wrestling
, mixed martial arts
and concerts, among other events. As of February 2009, all mma events promoted by World Championship Fighting have been hosted at the Auditorium. Trade shows, sporting events, conventions
, banquets and the Shrine Circus
are also held at the Auditorium.
The building is handicapped accessible and has a 24 feet (7 m) ceiling height. Because of its location in an office park off I-93
, there is plenty of parking, including 1,500 in its own parking lot.
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
located in Wilmington, Massachusetts
Wilmington, Massachusetts
Wilmington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 22,325 at the 2010 census.-History:Wilmington was first settled in 1665 and was officially incorporated in 1730, from parts of Woburn, Reading and Billerica. Minutemen from Wilmington responded to the alarm...
. It was built in 1977 as the headquarters for the Aleppo Shriners, who had been based in Boston, Massachusetts since 1882. The Aleppo Shriners still own the auditorium today. It is also the home of the Boston Derby Dames
Boston Derby Dames
The Boston Derby Dames, or BDD, are a flat-track roller derby league based in Boston, Massachusetts. The league was founded in May 2005. The BDD are a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association .-Teams:...
roller derby
Roller derby
Roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams of five members roller skating in the same direction around a track. Game play consists of a series of short matchups in which both teams designate a scoring player who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team...
league.
The Auditorium features 37000 square feet (3,437.4 m²) of exhibit space in the arena and 11600 square feet (1,077.7 m²) of meeting space in three meeting rooms. Its main lobby features 3300 square feet (306.6 m²) of space. The Auditorium can seat up to 4,150 for boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
, mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
and concerts, among other events. As of February 2009, all mma events promoted by World Championship Fighting have been hosted at the Auditorium. Trade shows, sporting events, conventions
Convention (meeting)
A convention, in the sense of a meeting, is a gathering of individuals who meet at an arranged place and time in order to discuss or engage in some common interest. The most common conventions are based upon industry, profession, and fandom...
, banquets and the Shrine Circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
are also held at the Auditorium.
The building is handicapped accessible and has a 24 feet (7 m) ceiling height. Because of its location in an office park off I-93
Interstate 93
Interstate 93 is an Interstate Highway in the New England section of the United States. Its southern terminus is in Canton, Massachusetts, in the Boston metropolitan area, at Interstate 95; its northern terminus is near St. Johnsbury, Vermont, at Interstate 91...
, there is plenty of parking, including 1,500 in its own parking lot.