Worcester's arena, formerly the Centrum
The DCU Center is the city-owned arena and convention center complex at 50 Foster Street in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts. The arena side holds about 14,800 people and is home to the Worcester Railers of the ECHL; it also books concerts, wrestling, family shows, Holy Cross games that outgrow campus, and NCAA tournament events, including an NCAA hockey regional in 2026. For hockey, the best seats are the lower-level center-ice sections 108 and 123 and their neighbors; for value, take center ice in the 200 ring, sections 211 and 231.
The building opened in 1982 as the Centrum in Worcester, usually just called the Worcester Centrum. After a convention center was added in 1997 it became Worcester's Centrum Centre. Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) bought the naming rights in 2004, the DCU Center name took effect in January 2005, and the deal was later extended to 2027. Old tickets and maps under any of those names describe the same room.
How the DCU Center is laid out
The section numbers here come from the arena's official hockey and end-stage maps on its seating charts page. The arena sits between Commercial Street on one side and Major Taylor Boulevard on the other, with Foster Street and the main entrance at one end.
100 level: sections 101–125
The lower bowl wraps the floor. Sections 106–110 line the Commercial Street side, with 108 at center, and 121–125 line the Major Taylor Boulevard side, with 123 at center. Sections 101–105 form the Foster Street end and 111–113 and 117–120 the far end; the official maps skip 114–116. Stadium Journey notes that the lower bowl has a gentle slope, which makes the very low rows less ideal for hockey.
200 level: sections 201–240
The 200 ring circles the whole arena. Center ice is 211 on the Commercial Street side and 231 on the Major Taylor side, with 209–213 and 229–233 forming the sideline blocks.
300 level: the two balconies
The 300 level is not a ring. It is two side balconies added in 1989: the West Balcony (307–315) over Commercial Street and the East Balcony (327–335) over Major Taylor Boulevard, with 311 and 331 at center. Handrails are in most 100-level sections but not in the 200 or 300 levels, which matters for anyone unsteady on stairs.
Best seats for Railers hockey and concerts
Worcester Railers hockey
- Best overall: 107–109 and 122–124, from the middle rows up. The extra height makes up for the shallow slope of the lower bowl.
- Best value: 210–212 and 230–232. The 200 ring is close to the ice by arena standards and sees the whole rink.
- Ends: 101–105 and 111–120 are fine for watching goals but flatten play at the far end.
- Upper deck: Stadium Journey reports that most of the upper deck is curtained off for Railers games, so the 300 balconies are usually a concert-only option.
End-stage concerts
On the arena's end-stage map, the stage sits at the far end in front of 113 and 117–118, and floor sections 1–6 fill the arena floor. The best raised seats are the sides nearest the stage: 110–112 and 119–121 downstairs and 213–215 and 227–229 in the 200 ring. The Foster Street end (101–105 and 201–203, 238–240) faces the stage head-on from the longest distance.
Seats to avoid
- Sections beside or behind the stage when a show marks them limited view.
- Low rows at the ends for hockey, where the gentle slope and the glass combine.
- Far ends of the 300 balconies (307–308, 314–315, 327–328, 334–335), which are high and angled.
DCU Center capacity
The arena opened in 1982 with roughly 12,000 seats and grew to about 14,800 in 1989 when the 300-level balconies were added. That is the figure Wikipedia and Stadium Journey both give. Hockey and end-stage concerts seat fewer, since curtains close off parts of the upper deck and the stage takes one end. All arena seats were replaced in the summer of 2023.
The size is the point. Since the 1980s, promoters have used the Centrum as a smaller alternative to Boston's arena that draws from both the Boston and Providence markets.
DCU Center parking and Union Station
The DCU Center does not own or operate parking; it lists the nearby garages and lots on its parking page. As of 2026, the main options are:
- Mercantile Center Garage: one block from the arena entrance, on Foster and Commercial Streets.
- Major Taylor Boulevard Municipal Garage: 30 Major Taylor Boulevard, one block from the convention center and two from the arena.
- Others: the Federal Plaza Garage at 570 Main Street, the Pearl/Elm Garage at 20 Pearl Street and the Union Station Parking Garage at 225 Franklin Street.
Rates are set by each operator and vary by event. On-street meters are another option; read the signs.
By train: Union Station, the restored hub for buses, trains and MBTA Commuter Rail, is less than half a mile from the arena, which makes the train a realistic option from Boston for a concert night. By car: the arena is about two blocks from I-290.
DCU Center bag policy and entry rules
As of 2026, the DCU Center strongly discourages bags. Small purses, clutches and wristlets up to 5 by 7 by 1.5 inches are allowed, as are clear bags up to 12 by 12 by 6 inches (one-gallon size). Diaper, breast pump and medical bags are exempt, and every bag is screened. Backpacks, coolers, bottles and cans are prohibited.
- Re-entry: not allowed during events.
- Doors: usually an hour before showtime.
- Box office: the James "Jim" Moughan Box Office is at Door 9, at Foster Street and Major Taylor Boulevard. Buying there avoids online convenience fees, though a facility fee still applies.
- Payment: concession stands are cashless except one, the North Grandstand stand across from section 123.
- Accessibility: Door 13 is the quick, step-free entrance for arena events; assistive listening devices are free at the box office.
Check the DCU Center A–Z guide before you go, since rules vary by event.
Sinatra, Kiss and four decades of hockey
After years of construction delays, the Centrum opened with a free concert on September 1, 1982, followed by a Frank Sinatra show the next night. It cut into the Providence Civic Center's concert business almost at once: in January 1983, a Kiss show at the Centrum outsold the Providence date so badly that the Providence show was canceled. Kiss later filmed much of its "Turn On the Night" video at the arena in 1988.
Hockey has been a constant. The AHL's Worcester IceCats and then the Worcester Sharks played here until 2015, the arena hosted the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic, and the Railers arrived in 2017. The building also hosted NCAA men's basketball first and second rounds in 1992 and 2005, Marvin Hagler's 1983 title defense against Tony Sibson, and Mick Foley's first WWF title win in 1998.
Frequently asked questions
Is the DCU Center the same as the Worcester Centrum?
Yes. The Centrum in Worcester opened in 1982, became Worcester's Centrum Centre in 1997 and took the DCU Center name in January 2005. It is the same arena on Foster Street.
What is the DCU Center's capacity?
The arena holds about 14,800 at full capacity. Hockey games and end-stage concerts seat fewer because parts of the upper deck are curtained or behind the stage.
What is the DCU Center bag policy?
As of 2026, small purses up to 5 by 7 by 1.5 inches and clear bags up to 12 by 12 by 6 inches are allowed. Medical and diaper bags are exempt; check the current policy before you go.
Where do you park for the DCU Center?
The Mercantile Center Garage is one block from the arena entrance, and the Major Taylor Boulevard Municipal Garage is two blocks away. The arena does not run its own parking, so rates vary by operator.
What are the best seats at the DCU Center for hockey?
Center-ice sections 107–109 and 122–124 in the lower level are the best. The 200-level center sections 210–212 and 230–232 are the best value.
Does the DCU Center allow re-entry?
No. Re-entry is not allowed during events.