Banner Ceremony

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The history of Celtics banners is deeply tied to the physical architecture of their homes. In the 1960s, the team began raising Eastern Division championship banners at the Boston Garden, a practice that ceased by the 1970s. The most famous feature of the old arena was not initially the banners themselves, but the parquet floor, which was moved from the Boston Arena to the Garden in 1952 and became as iconic as the Green Monster of Fenway Park. Consequently, the team manufactured an entirely new set of banners for the move. These new banners replaced the originals that had hung in the Boston Garden, ensuring the visual representation of their legacy remained intact despite the change in venue.

In Their Own Story

The transition from the old arena to the new marked a significant moment in the visual history of the franchise. Upon moving to the FleetCenter (now TD Garden), the Celtics did not simply hang up old banners; they had new ones made specifically for the new building. This decision was necessitated by the move itself, as the original banners from the Boston Garden era were left behind or replaced. The new set of banners now hangs in the current arena, standing alongside the team's continued success. While the specific dates of every banner raising are not detailed in the source beyond the 1960s practice change and the post-1998 move, the continuity of the tradition is clear: the team maintains a visible record of their achievements regardless of the building they occupy. The old banners that hung in the Boston Garden represented decades of dominance, including the historic 40-1 home record during the 1985–86 season, before being superseded by the new set at TD Garden.

Reader's Guide

Visitors to TD Garden today see a collection of championship banners that were specifically created for this arena. Unlike the Boston Garden, where division titles were raised in the 1960s but stopped by the 1970s, the current facility features a set of banners made to replace those left behind when the team moved from the FleetCenter (the name used before it became TD Garden). The source notes that the Celtics' old championship banners and retired numbers now hang at the team's former practice facility in Waltham. For fans looking to understand the history, it is important to note that the visual display of titles has evolved: the original banners from the Boston Garden era were not brought to the new arena, but rather a fresh set was produced to carry on the tradition in the modern building.

Did You Know?

• The Celtics stopped raising Eastern Division championship banners at the Boston Garden by the 1970s.
• When moving to the FleetCenter (now TD Garden), the team made a new set of banners because they could not bring the old ones from the Boston Garden.
• The Celtics' old championship banners and retired numbers now hang at the team's former practice facility in Waltham, not in the main arena.
• The Boston Garden was demolished in 1998, three years after its successor arena (TD Garden) opened.