Private Owner Buys Boston Arena As Legislature Studies Repurchase

The Boston Arena, scene of many a stirring sports event in its 32 years, yesterday was sold to commercial interests.

Harvard hockey hopes were not, however, smashed by the long-planned sale. The University will have its own ice rink here come next year.

Papers filed in Suffolk Country Registry of Deeds disclosed that Samuel M. Pinsly, owner of three small railroads, purchased the property from the Garden-Arena Corporation for $398,000, including a $153,000 mortgage which is held by the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Pinsly said he would wait a week before beginning a remodeling job, in order to give state officials time to decide whether they want to take the property off his hands.

The legislature's ways and means committee has before it a bill calling for appropriation of $450,000 to purchase the sports plant.

Pinsly declined to say what he considered would be a fair purchase price.

The legislature has for some time had pending a bill authorizing the Arena's purchase, but the measure has yet to receive final action.

The bill has been reported favorably out of committee, and has the approval of Governor Christian X. Herter. It has been surmised that the legislature has intended to make the repurchase of the Arena, rather than the original buy.

The bill would authorize the Metropolitan District Commission to purchase the St. Botolph St. sports center for use by schoolboy and college athletic teams from all Metropolitan cities.