TD Garden
In the late 1970s, the Boston Bruins began searching for a new home. The original Boston Garden had stood for nearly fifty years and was showing its age. Jeremy Jacobs bought the team in 1975 and looked to build a seventeen thousand seat arena in suburban Boston. Negotiations with the city of Boston fell through during that period. The team considered moving to Salem, New Hampshire near what is now the Mall at Rockingham Park. That plan also failed to materialize. The Celtics explored options in Revere, Massachusetts adjacent to Boston. In 1985, Delaware North received rights from the Boston Redevelopment Authority to construct a replacement. Poor economic conditions delayed the project significantly. On the 8th of May 1992, Delaware North announced funding secured through one hundred twenty million dollars in loans split between Bank of Boston, Fleet Bank of Massachusetts, and Shawmut National Corporation. A bill approving construction died in the Massachusetts Senate on the 13th of December 1992. Legislative leaders and Delaware North struggled to reach an agreement. In February 1993, Jeremy Jacobs backed out due to demands for three point five million dollars in linkage payments. Governor Bill Weld supported Chapter 15 legislation requiring three charitable events per year. Two weeks later, negotiations concluded successfully. The legislature passed a bill allowing construction on the 26th of February 1993.
Construction began on the 29th of April 1993. The new arena sat slightly north of the old facility with only inches of space separating them upon completion. The site occupied land and eventually cost one hundred sixty million dollars. Work finished within twenty seven months despite heavy snowfall causing seven weeks of delay. An evening farewell event occurred at the old Boston Garden on the 29th of September 1995. WBZ-TV personality Liz Walker hosted alongside CBS anchor Dan Rather. Bruins legends Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito attended along with Celtics greats Larry Bird and Red Auerbach. Thousands of balloons released into rafters accompanied music from the Boston Pops. The Boston Globe reported that all New England had lost a friend. Opening ceremonies held at the FleetCenter the next night featured performances by the Boston Pops and Walt Disney's World on Ice. Olympic figure skaters Nancy Kerrigan and Paul Wylie appeared alongside musical acts James Taylor, Patti LaBelle, and US3. The Boston Bruins played their first game in the new arena on October 7 resulting in a four to four tie against the New York Islanders. The Boston Celtics lost their first game at the FleetCenter by a score of one zero one to one zero zero to the Milwaukee Bucks on November 3.
TD Banknorth purchased naming rights for six million dollars per year on the 3rd of March 2005. The facility was officially renamed TD Banknorth Garden on the 1st of July 2005. Bill Ryan served as chairman and CEO of TD Banknorth while pursuing the deal to restore the Garden monicker. During construction, Shawmut Bank held naming rights before merging with Fleet Financial Group. Every seat stamped with the Shawmut logo required replacement during the transition. Interior color schemes shifted from Shawmut's darker blue to Fleet's marginally lighter blue. An expected name change occurred following the 1st of April 2004 merger of FleetBoston Financial with Bank of America. Delaware North announced an agreement releasing the bank from remaining years on the 5th of January 2005. In early 2005, the FleetCenter conducted auctions on eBay selling one-day naming rights thirty times between February 10 and March 13. Net proceeds totaling one hundred fifty thousand six hundred thirty-three dollars twenty-two cents went to local charities. Kerry Konrad won naming rights for March 1 with a bid of two thousand three hundred dollars proposing Derek Jeter Center. That name did not sit well with executives due to Red Sox rivalry. Drew Curtis held a contest resulting in Fark.com UFIA Center which was rejected for inappropriate meaning. The arena has had thirty-three different names including its present designation. TD Bank became TD Bank after merging with Commerce Bancorp in April 2008. Delaware North announced renaming to TD Garden on the 15th of April 2009 effective July 2009.
The arena hosted the NHL All-Star Game in 1996 where Eastern Conference defeated Western Conference five to four. Bruins defenseman Ray Bourque won most valuable player honors that year. On the 17th of June 2008, Celtics defeated Los Angeles Lakers one hundred thirty-one to ninety-two in game six to claim their seventeenth NBA championship. This marked their first title since 1986. The Celtics hosted games three, four, and five versus Lakers in 2010 losing the series in seven games. In 2024, Celtics defeated Dallas Mavericks one zero six to eighty-eight in game five to secure their eighteenth championship. Bruins hosted Stanley Cup Finals games against Vancouver Canucks in 2011 winning the series in seven games. They faced Chicago Blackhawks in 2013 hosting games three, four, and six before losing in game six. St. Louis Blues clinched franchise's first Stanley Cup in game seven during 2019 series. The facility hosted 2001 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and 1996 US Gymnastics Trials. NCAA Men's Frozen Four events occurred in 1998, 2004, 2015, and 2022. From March 28 to the 3rd of April 2016, TD Garden hosted World Figure Skating Championships. September 24 through 26, 2021 saw the Laver Cup men's tennis tournament with Team Europe winning for fourth consecutive year. June 2024 brought Celtics' NBA-record eighteenth championship win over Dallas Mavericks. First WNBA game played the 20th of August 2024 between Connecticut Sun and Los Angeles Sparks.
Concerts by nationally touring acts have filled the venue since opening. Comedians including Bill Burr, Denis Leary, Chris Rock, and Louis C.K. performed nationwide tours here. Dane Cook completed two sellout shows at the arena. WWE professional wrestling events frequently host Raw and SmackDown broadcasts. WrestleMania XIV took place within its walls alongside Royal Rumble events in 2003 and 2011. SummerSlam occurred in 2006 while Survivor Series appeared in 2008, 2013, and 2022. Money in the Bank happened in 2014 followed by TLC in 2015 and Hell in a Cell in 2016. Clash of Champions arrived in 2017 introducing WarGames match to main roster. All Elite Wrestling held Blood & Guts and Royal Rampage special episodes in 2023 plus Big Business in 2024. Parts of Celine Dion's Taking Chances World Tour documentary filmed during her 2008 shows. The Town, Knight and Day, Zookeeper, What's Your Number?, and Ted all featured scenes or mentions of the arena. From July 26 to 29, 2004, FleetCenter hosted Democratic National Convention where John Kerry nominated as candidate. Barack Obama delivered keynote speech beginning speculation about his future presidential run.
Before the 2006-07 season, TD Garden underwent major overhaul installing new HD entertainment board. Video panels replaced sideboard scrolling panels when hosting 2006 Women's Final Four. See-through shot clocks joined basket stancions alongside other modernized arenas. A vintage siren replaced end-of-period horn for hockey only featuring Montreal Canadiens tradition. LED energy efficient lighting system added to exterior in 2009. Boston Globe announced seventy million dollar project upgrading concourses and Legends Club restaurant. Technology upgrades included relocation of retail shop occurring summer 2014 then summer 2015. the 25th of January 2013 saw Marv Albert accuse production crew using false sound effects though Celtics denied practice. Bruins changed Stanley Cup banners reflecting jersey logo changes through five Cup wins after 2011 victory. Just before 2018-19 preseason NHL games began, interior overhead lighting switched to new LED system with color elements. Before 2021-22 NHL season, renovations added center scoreboard video screen plus audio system. Hub Vision system exceeds four thousand UHD resolution with main replay screens almost double old size at eighteen feet by thirty-two point five feet wide. Auxiliary screens beneath measure six point five feet tall by twenty-three feet wide catering to first few rows. Two ring displays above main boards each three point five feet tall with one hundred seventy-nine foot circumference. TD Garden partnered with Clair Global Integration adding Cohesion Series CO10 loudspeakers improving sound quality. Legendary Transformation represented one hundred million dollar investment from Jeremy Jacobs family.
In spring 2017, local teenagers from Hyde Square Task Force group investigated terms of original development agreement. They concluded owners never satisfied legal requirement hosting three fundraisers annually benefiting recreational facilities agency. By mid-August 2017, Governor Bill Weld reminded Jeremy Jacobs about 1993 deal concerning state government agreement. August 2017 saw TD Garden agreeing to pay Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation nearly two million dollars. In May 2013, Delaware North Companies and Boston Properties proposed multi-purpose three tower structure on former Boston Garden site. Complex encompassed land including retail space and commercial offices. Project included five hundred residential units plus two hundred room CitizenM Boston North Station hotel. Eight hundred space underground parking garage formed part of design. Construction began late 2015 completing in three stages. First stage podium includes shopping entertainment dining new access to MBTA Green Line Orange Line plus new entrance to TD Garden and North Station. Second phase builds apartments and hotel atop west side podium. Third phase office building sits east side podium. Work finished expanded North Station concourse early 2007 giving railway passengers waiting area not interfering with patrons entering or leaving Garden. the 6th of January 2019 completed North Station pedestrian tunnel connecting to MBTA Green and Orange Line Stations.
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Common questions
When did construction begin on TD Garden?
Construction began on the 29th of April 1993. The project took twenty seven months to complete despite heavy snowfall causing seven weeks of delay.
Who bought the Boston Bruins in 1975 and sought a new arena?
Jeremy Jacobs bought the team in 1975 and looked to build a seventeen thousand seat arena in suburban Boston. He later backed out of negotiations in February 1993 due to demands for three point five million dollars in linkage payments before reaching an agreement two weeks later.
What is the seating capacity of TD Garden?
The original plan called for a seventeen thousand seat arena located slightly north of the old facility with only inches of space separating them upon completion. The site occupied land and eventually cost one hundred sixty million dollars.
When was TD Garden officially renamed from FleetCenter?
Delaware North announced renaming to TD Garden on the 15th of April 2009 effective July 2009. The facility was previously known as TD Banknorth Garden after TD Banknorth purchased naming rights for six million dollars per year on the 3rd of March 2005.
How many NBA championships have the Celtics won at TD Garden?
The Celtics defeated Dallas Mavericks one zero six to eighty-eight in game five to secure their eighteenth championship in June 2024. This marked their first title since 1986 when they defeated Los Angeles Lakers one hundred thirty-one to ninety-two in game six on the 17th of June 2008.