Greybrook Celebrates Community Connection at Preston Memorial Auditorium Grand Reopening

On Friday, November 14, the City of Cambridge officially unveiled the newly renovated Preston Memorial Auditorium, marking an exciting completion of a transformative $33 million project that modernizes the beloved community facility while honouring its 1972 heritage.

The revitalized facility features a new NHL-sized ice pad, expanded seating for spectators, 16 modern change rooms (compared to just 6 previously), accessible features throughout, and multipurpose spaces designed to serve the community for generations. Construction began in the fall of 2023 and was completed after two years of careful work to expand and enhance the arena.

Greybrook is proud to have contributed to the City of Cambridge’s “Play it Forward” fundraising campaign. The new atrium is now named the Greybrook Atrium—a central gathering space and the entry point to the 77,000-square-foot complex with prominent branding on display in the facility. The campaign successfully raised funds toward the $3 million target to support the renovation’s capital costs.

To mark the official reopening of the facility, Sarah Mansour, Executive Director of Strategy and Corporate Development at Greybrook, joined members of the Cambridge City Council, including Mayor Jan Liggett and City Manager Rob Axiak, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, delivering remarks about the significance of the contribution and Greybrook’s commitment to building vibrant communities that enrich quality of life.

The celebration featured free public skating, family activities, inflatables, a Cambridge Rivulettes hockey game, and food trucks, welcoming the community to experience the transformed facility firsthand.

For many members of the Greybrook team, this partnership holds particular significance, as hockey has played an important role in their personal histories. Local arenas like Preston Memorial serve as more than sports venues—they become the social fabric that binds neighborhoods together, providing opportunities for residents of all ages to stay active, build friendships, and create lasting memories.