TD Garden

Lore & Background

Planning for a new arena began as early as the late 1970s, when the Bruins sought to replace the nearly 50-year-old Boston Garden. The Jacobs family, who bought the Bruins in 1975, considered building a 17,000-seat arena in suburban Boston after negotiations with the city fell through, and the team nearly moved to Salem, New Hampshire. The Celtics also considered moving to Revere, Massachusetts. In 1985, Boston Garden owner Delaware North was awarded rights to construct a new arena by the Boston Redevelopment Authority and Mayor Raymond Flynn, but poor economic conditions delayed the project. On May 8, 1992, Delaware North announced $120 million in loans from Bank of Boston, Fleet Bank of Massachusetts, and Shawmut National Corporation. A bill approving construction was killed in the Massachusetts Senate in December 1992 by Senate President William M. Bulger. After further negotiations, including a demand for $3.5 million in 'linkage payments' and a requirement for charitable events, the legislature passed a bill on February 26, 1993, allowing construction.

Construction began on April 29, 1993, on a 3.2-acre site slightly north of the old facility, with only nine inches of space between the two buildings. The project cost $160 million and was completed in 27 months, including seven weeks of delay due to heavy snowfall. The arena opened in September 1995 with a farewell event at the old Boston Garden on September 29, hosted by Liz Walker and Dan Rather, featuring Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Larry Bird, and Red Auerbach. Opening ceremonies at the FleetCenter the next night included the Boston Pops, Walt Disney's World on Ice, figure skaters Nancy Kerrigan and Paul Wylie, and musical acts James Taylor, Patti LaBelle, and US3. The Bruins' first game was a 4–4 tie with the New York Islanders on October 7; the Celtics lost their first game 101–100 to the Milwaukee Bucks on November 3.

The arena's naming history is complex. Originally slated to open as the Shawmut Center, a merger of Shawmut with Fleet Financial Group forced replacement of all seats stamped with the Shawmut logo and adjustment of the interior color scheme. After FleetBoston Financial merged with Bank of America in 2004, the naming rights were sold to TD Banknorth in 2005 for $6 million per year, restoring the 'Garden' moniker. In 2009, the name changed to TD Garden. In January 2023, the naming rights were extended through June 2045.

Reader's Guide

TD Garden's significance stems from its role as the successor to the historic Boston Garden and its status as the most visited sports and entertainment arena in New England, drawing nearly 3.5 million visitors annually. It is the home of the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics, and hosts the annual Beanpot college hockey tournament and Hockey East Championships. The arena has hosted major national sporting events including rounds of the NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, the 2014 United States Figure Skating Championships, the 2016 World Figure Skating Championships, and the 2021 Laver Cup. It also serves as a concert venue for touring acts in music and comedy. The naming rights deal, extended in January 2023, runs through June 2045, ensuring long-term stability for the arena's name. The arena's construction overcame significant political and financial hurdles, including a legislative battle that nearly killed the project, and its opening marked the end of an era for the old Boston Garden.

Did You Know?

• It is owned by Delaware North, whose CEO Jeremy Jacobs also owns the Boston Bruins.
• During a 2005 naming rights auction, a proposed name 'Derek Jeter Center' was rejected by arena executives.
• The naming rights deal was extended in January 2023 to run through June 2045.