TD Garden

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Lore & Background

The history of this arena began with planning in the late 1970s when the Bruins sought a new home, eventually leading to a 1985 award by the Boston Redevelopment Authority. After funding struggles and legislative hurdles involving 'linkage payments' and charitable event requirements, construction finally commenced on April 29, 1993. The project occupied 3.2 acres and cost $160 million, completed in just 27 months despite heavy snowfall delays. A unique challenge arose when the new structure was built only nine inches from the old Boston Garden. Originally slated to open as the Shawmut Center after a deal with Shawmut Bank, the name changed twice before opening due to mergers: first to FleetCenter following the Shawmut-Fleet Financial Group merger, and later to TD Banknorth Garden in 2005 after a $6 million per year deal with Maine-based TD Banknorth. The final shift to TD Garden occurred in July 2009.

In Their Own Story

The transition from the old Boston Garden was marked by emotional farewells and grand openings. On September 29, 1995, legends like Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Larry Bird, and Red Auerbach attended a farewell event hosted by Liz Walker and Dan Rather, which concluded with thousands of balloons released to the music of the Boston Pops. The very next night, opening ceremonies featured performances by James Taylor, Patti LaBelle, US3, and Olympic skaters Nancy Kerrigan and Paul Wylie. While the Bruins played their first game there on October 7 in a 4–4 tie with the New York Islanders, the Celtics faced immediate heartbreak, losing their debut at the FleetCenter 101–100 to the Milwaukee Bucks on November 3. The arena's identity shifted significantly over the years; in early 2005, while searching for a sponsor, the venue auctioned one-day naming rights on eBay 30 times, raising $150,633.22 for charity. Notable rejected names included 'Derek Jeter Center' and 'Fark.com UFIA Center,' with the latter eventually settling on 'Boston Garden' via a user vote.

Reader's Guide

Visitors to TD Garden can expect a venue that has evolved significantly since its construction in 1993. Before the 2006–07 season, a major overhaul installed a new HD entertainment board with video panels and see-through shot clocks on the basket stanchions. A vintage siren was also added for hockey games to replace the standard end-of-period horn, mimicking the tradition of the Montreal Canadiens at the old Forum. In 2009, an LED energy-efficient lighting system was added to the exterior. Further upgrades occurred in two phases during the summers of 2014 and 2015, costing $70 million to improve concourses and the Legends Club restaurant. The arena hosts major national events beyond basketball, including rounds of the NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, the Beanpot college hockey tournament, and the Hockey East Championships. It has also hosted figure skating championships in 2014 and 2016, as well as the 2021 Laver Cup tennis tournament.

Did You Know?

• Construction began on April 29, 1993, and the new arena was built only nine inches away from the old Boston Garden.
• In early 2005, the arena sold one-day naming rights 30 times on eBay, raising $150,633.22 for local charities.
• The Celtics lost their first game at the new arena by a single point, 101–100 to the Milwaukee Bucks on November 3, 1995.
• Naming rights were extended in January 2023 to keep the name TD Garden through June 30, 2045.