TD Garden - Boston Sports Arena

Biggest indoor Boston sports and entertainment arena

Get ready for fun in TD Garden - home of the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics, and one of the nation's top sports arenas.

Located right in the center of Boston, TD Garden (you'll also hear it called TD Banknorth Garden) hosts many of the city's biggest sports events and concerts.  It's also the site of ice shows, family entertainment, wrestling matches, and national events, such as the 2004 Democratic National Convention. 

Tickets and complete event schedule

The Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, and as of 2009, the Boston Blazers all call TD Garden "home" as it transforms from basketball court to ice rink to lacrosse field.

From October through April, you can watch sports events here almost every day - and that's in addition to all of the concerts, entertainment, speeches, and other performances going on year-round.

The "new" Garden

Built in 1995, TD Garden replaced The Boston Garden, a much-loved Boston icon.  Boston locals always called it "The Garden" - by the way, that's pronounced "The Gahd'n" - and that's still what everyone calls it.   Confused yet? 

Just don't get The Garden mixed up with the Public Garden - the gorgeous park with the Swan Boats and Make Way for Ducklings statues across from Boston Common.

The old Garden, built in 1928 as a clone of New York's Madison Square Garden and demolished in 1997, evokes a lot of local nostalgia because of all the history-making games and events held there.  (Confession:  I feel that way myself, remembering certain rock concerts).  The Garden wasn't old . . . it was just . . . quirky.

But to be perfectly honest, the old Garden was outdated.  It was also unairconditioned, uncomfortable, and kind of smelly. 

By contrast, the new 10-floor Garden - TD Garden - is considered among the top 3 sports / entertainment complexes in the entire country, and for good reason.  The arena seats almost 20,000 for concerts (slightly fewer for ice events and basketball games), and boasts a state-of-the-art, multi-million dollar video scoreboard. 

Photo courtesy of Eric Kilby

Three restaurants, multiple sports bars, lots of concession stalls, retail spaces, and other amenities add to the comfort.

On the 5th and 6th floors, The Sports Museum celebrates Boston sports with a great memorabilia collection.  For example, you'll see former Red Sox slugger Ted Williams' locker and some of the hard wooden chairs from the old Garden. 

Banners commemorating the Celtics' 16 World Championships, the Bruins' 5 Stanley Cups, and the Beanpot Trophy awarded during the annual Boston Beanpot hockey tournament held each year in February between Boston University, Boston College, Harvard, and Northeastern add to the excitement.

The new Garden, like the old Garden, is located above North Station.  It's very easy to reach by T (Boston's subway) - just take the Orange or Green Line or commuter rail to North Station, and you're there. 

If you're on foot, TD Garden is about a 5-minute walk from Faneuil Hall, and perhaps 10 minutes from Boston Common.

The removal of the old Central Artery (the elevated highway demolished by Boston's "Big Dig) and the creation of the Rose Kennedy Greenway opens up the whole area around the Garden to the North End.  

Attractive nearby hotels, restaurants, sports bars bring additional excitement to the area.  Lots of redevelopment and refurbishing currently underway promises even more appealing attractions for the future.

Details and directions

Location:   100 Legends Way (off Causeway Street)
For more information:  617-624-1000;  Boston Garden website
Nearest T station:  Green and Orange Lines/North Station (Commuter Rail stops here also)