Boston’s TD Garden, named for Toronto-Dominion Bank, is a place where miracles have happened. One of the most beloved arenas in the U.S. Northeast, this arena — affectionately called Boston Garden or just The Garden by many — opened in 1995 after two years of construction. The $160 million, 19,600-capacity venue has become a centerpiece of Boston culture, hosting the home seasons for the Celtics and the Bruins. TD Garden is state-of-the-art, housing a multimillion-dollar, high-definition scoreboard that features complete 360-degree LED technology. Hosting around 200 public events each year, TD Garden sees around 3.5 million people annually.
Today, upon arriving at the arena, fans are greeted by a bronze statue of legendary Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr, signifying the long and storied history of the space. Before TD Garden, there was the original Boston Garden, which from 1928 to 1995 was simply one of the wonders of North America, hosting shows by The Beatles and Elvis Presley, speeches by John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. and, of course, numerous heated Stanley Cup Finals and NBA Championship Finals matches. It was also a frequent home for the WWF, playing host to blockbuster wrestling matches that featured Hulk Hogan, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, André the Giant and many others.
Although The Garden has had three major renovations since its opening and has cycled through over 30 names — including “The Jungle” during the Celtics’ 2002 playoff run — certain traditions remain standing. For one, TD Garden is one of only two NBA arenas that uses parquet floors (the other is Amway Center, home of the Orlando Magic). And its floors are made of oak, making the Celtics the only team in the NBA to use that type of wood. Distinguished by the industry as a top arena, it’s been recognized with a National Sports Forum Achievement Award, an EPA award and a nomination for 2009 Sports Facility of the Year by Sports Business Journal.
TD Garden Events
Over the years, The Garden has hosted countless epic showdowns, including the 2011 and 2013 Stanley Cup Finals; the Bruins brought home the championship in 2011. It’s also seen the Celtics compete in the 2008 and 2010 NBA Championship Finals, with the team winning the former. The 2016 World Figure Skating Championships took place here, as well as the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and the 1998, 2004 and 2015 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four games. Additionally, as a local institution, TD Garden hosts numerous high school and local sporting events, including boys’ ice hockey tournament Super Eight. The venue also sees a yearly run of top-level musical and comedic talents, as touring bands and musicians grace the venue with incredible entertainment.
TD Garden History and Food Options
TD Garden honors local history by housing The Sports Museum (also known as The Sports Museum of New England), which commemorates the histories of the Bruins, the Celtics, the New England Patriots, the Red Sox and others. The venue has appeared in movies including The Town, Knight and Day and Ted. It also hosted the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
The Garden boasts a vast selection of food options, highlights being The Frito Lay Test Kitchen, Back Bay BBQ, The Garden Grill, Sal’s Pizza and even a taqueria. And don’t forget Lucky’s Chicken, a long-standing fan favorite. For beer, in addition to the traditional sports-arena fare, Bulfinch offers a wide variety of cocktails and craft beers. Catering to everyone, the venue also offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free items at many of its concessions.
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