Few places embody the idea of home court better than Harvard Square.
Just across the river from downtown Boston, Harvard Square has long been a gathering place for thinkers, athletes, artists, and everyday people walking their own paths.
In the 1940s and 1950s, the same years The Center was defining what canvas sneakers could be, the Square pulsed with the energy of post-war America. Students in pressed blazers hurried to class. Writers argued in cafes. Basketball players laced up their Centers and headed into red brick gyms for late-night practices.
When you lace up a pair of P.F. Flyers Centers, you’re stepping into history. That history belongs as much to the hardwood floors of campus gyms as it does to the cobblestones of college squares across America.
Home court isn’t just where you play: it’s where you belong. And for P.F. Flyers, that place has always been Boston.
The Center: Changing the Game Since 1944
Introduced in 1944, The Center was a different kind of sneaker. At a time when canvas shoes were flimsy and uncomfortable, P.F. Flyers asked a different question: Introduced in 1944, The Center was a different kind of sneaker. At a time when canvas shoes were flimsy and uncomfortable, P.F. Flyers asked a different question: What if sneakers could actually help you play better?
The answer came in the form of our patented Posture Foundation wedge insole, a technology rooted in mid-century rubber innovation. For the first time, canvas sneakers offered real support: the insole distributed weight evenly, reduced stress, and helped athletes run faster and jump higher.
Soon after, the P.F. Flyers Center became the sneaker of choice for a generation of collegiate athletes. More than just practice shoes, they were game-changers trusted by players chasing their shot at the pros.
College Basketball and the Rise of the Center
In the 1940s and 1950s, there was no such thing as skipping straight to the NBA. If you wanted to play professionally, you first had to make your mark in college.
For many, that meant long hours in quiet campus gyms, where sneakers squeaked against polished floors and the smell of varnish and sweat hung in the air.
Our Center high-top sneaker became synonymous with this era of college basketball. Its simple, sturdy, and supportive design fit perfectly with the grit of mid-century campus athletics. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t a shoe for shortcuts. It was a sneaker built for those who earned their place on the team, who proved themselves in practices and games that never made the headlines.
The Center carried players from campus gyms to the biggest seasons in college basketball, helping shape the identities of a generation.
By the time athletes like Bob Cousy were making their way from Holy Cross to The Celtics, the Center had already earned its place as part of the college basketball uniform.
Introducing the Varsity Classics Collection
To celebrate the enduring connection between college life and P.F. Flyers sneakers, we’ve launched our Varsity Classics Collection, a fresh take on our iconic Center silhouette.
Available in both high-top and low-top, The Varsity Classics sneakers feature:
- Retro, campus-inspired colorways
- Premium leather and soft suede
- Contrast heel and tongue accents
- Ribbed toe bumper and durable rubber outsole
- Distinct tongue stitching detail for a crafted, heritage finish
- Posture Foundation Magic Foam Insole
It’s a nod to vintage team uniforms and varsity pride. It’s heritage-driven but versatile enough for modern wear. The high-top channels a courtside aesthetic, while the low-top leans into everyday versatility. Both sneakers honor timeless athletic roots while staying ready for wherever your day takes you.
Defending Our Own Home Court: Varsity Classics in Harvard Square
At P.F. Flyers, Boston is our home court. Headquartered in Allston, we’re just across the river from America’s most iconic campus. To celebrate that connection, we took our Varsity Classics to Harvard Square.
The cobblestones weren’t made for basketball, but the Square has been home court for thousands of students over its 400 years of history.
It was the perfect backdrop for a timeless sneaker: The Center silhouette, refreshed with retro colorways, standing tall on America’s oldest college campus.
That’s the connection we celebrate today. Sneakers don’t just live on the court: they live everywhere your story takes you. And for generations of students, athletes, and dreamers, Harvard Square was the literal ground beneath their feet and the launching pad for what came next.
A Boston Legacy, A Campus Legend
You don’t just defend home court because you want to win. You defend it because losing on home court just feels wrong.
For Boston, home court is the city’s streets, squares, and communities that shaped generations.
Check out our Varsity Classics Collection today and create your own home court.
