There are few cities with sports fans as passionate as Boston, Mass., and you will have a front-row seat to the action at TD Garden. From the Boston Celtics to the Boston Bruins, Beantown has built its reputation as a sort of mecca for fans and this towering venue that houses both teams is a fitting monument to decades of success.
Learn more about the history of the building and its two resident teams in TicketSmarter’s TD Garden guide.
Quick History of TD Garden
TD Garden, which opened in 1995 as FleetCenter, was built to replace Boston Garden where the NHL’s Boston Bruins and NBA’s Boston Celtics played. The opening ceremony in September featured performances by the Boston Pops, James Taylor, Patti Labelle and Walt Disney’s World on Ice among others. The Bruins played their first game there on Oct. 7 and the Celtics hit the court Nov. 3.
The FleetCenter name stuck for about a decade before TD Banknorth, a subsidiary of Toronto-Dominion Bank, purchased naming rights in 2005 and renamed it TD Banknorth Garden. The TD Garden moniker became official in 2009 and the sponsorship is contracted through 2045.
TD Garden boasts a capacity of 20,000 for concerts which makes it the largest sports and entertainment arena in New England. The venue hosts more than 200 events each year and welcomes more than 3.5 million guests through its doors. A few high-profile sporting events held here since 1996 include the NCAA Frozen Four, NCAA Men’s Basketball East Regional, U.S. Figure Skating Championships and US Olympic Gymnastics Trials. Artists like Karol G, Luke Combs, P!nk and the Arctic Monkeys have taken the stage there.
Watching a Game at TD Garden
The NHL schedule typically runs from October through April with each team playing 82 regular-season games. The postseason, which is also known as the Stanley Cup Playoffs, runs through June. The Bruins compete in the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic League. They are the third-oldest team in the league. They have played home matches at TD Garden since 1995.
The Celtics are another long-running franchise, founded in 1946. The Celtics compete in the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division. Boston is one of the most decorated teams in NBA history winning 17 titles between 1957 and 2008. The NBA season follows a similar schedule starting in October and ending the regular season in April.
TD Garden Seating Chart
TD Garden spans 755,000 square feet with its 10-story structure. It has a maximum seating capacity of 19,580 for concerts and other events. For basketball games, it holds 19,156 and for hockey, it holds 17,850. There are 1,100 club seats and 90 executive suites included in those capacity figures.
The website has 3D seating charts that allow you to view the arena from the perspective of each seat. You can sort by hockey, basketball, end-stage or center stage configurations. The furthest seats from the court are in the 300-level balcony section. Below that, seating sections are split into Loge and Club. Limited courtside seating is also available.
For concerts, there are several seats added to the floor in sections A-J, with A, B, and C located closest to the stage. You can review seating options with TicketSmarter’s interactive venue map. If you purchase GA or pit tickets for a show at TD Garden, you will receive a numbered wristband on the day of the event. Guests then line up in numerical order and await entry. GA doors open 1 1/2 hours prior to an event.
If you are looking for an elevated gameday experience, you can join the Boston Garden Society. Members receive exclusive perks throughout the year and are granted access to clubs and fine dining selections.
Parking Near TD Garden
The closest parking option to the venue is the North Station Garage. It is open daily from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. and offers safe, covered parking. There is a flat event rate of $60 and the garage opens three hours before the start of the event. You can reserve a spot through SpotHero here or at many other area garages to make your entry a little smoother.
Other options for parking near TD Garden include:
- Best Price – Government Center Garage – 50 Sudberry St.
- Closest – 209 N. Beverly St.
- Most Secure – Alcott Garage – 35 Lomsney Way
- Easiest to Get In and Out Of – 181 N. Washington St.
- Merrimac St. Garage – 107 Merriman St.
- Surface Parking Lot – 261 Friend St. #233
- Strada 234 Lot – 234 Causeway St.
Getting to TD Garden
Where is TD Garden? Well, it was conveniently built on top of Boston’s North Station, near the Charles River. Four Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Commuter Rail lines and two subway lines serve North Station. For the Commuter Rail, look for the Fitchburg Line, Haverhill Line, Lowell Line, and Newburyport/Rockport Line. If you choose to ride the subway, which is also called the T, look for the Green Line and Orange Line which both lead to North Station. MBTA Bus 4 is another option.
You can also catch an EZRide shuttle, which is run by the Charles River Transportation Management Association. It loops on Red Auerbach Way and stops near the secondary entrance to North Station.
If you plan to drive, make sure to plan your route ahead of time understanding that you will probably run into heavy event traffic as you approach the venue. Its address is 100 Legends Way, but many signs will simply direct you to North Station.
Hotels Near TD Garden
There are several hotels near TD Garden including Courtyard Boston Downtown/North Station which is the preferred hotel of the venue and the Boston Bruins. The Battery Wharf Hotel is located on the Boston Harbor, just steps away. Other convenient options include Hotel Indigo Boston Garden, citizenM Boston North Station, Onyx Boston Downtown and The Boxer. You can find exclusive discounted rates for hotels near TD Garden through TravelPlanner.
Accessibility Accommodations at TD Garden
Wheelchair-accessible seating is available throughout the venue and there are two main elevators on Level 2. Those elevators provide access to all arena levels. To ensure that you purchase accessible seating, it is recommended that you call the TD Garden Box Office. You can also coordinate wheelchair escorts and any other services through them.
Closed captioning is available at all Bruins and Celtics games and can be found on the digital rings above Loge 5 and Loge 16 in the arena bowl.
The Sports Museum
Sports fans from Boston and beyond will definitely want to visit The Sports Museum, which is located on Levels 5 and 6 of the TD Garden. The Sports Museum is a non-profit educational institution offering programs for more than 35,000 children in the Boston community each year. Enjoy more than a half-mile of exhibits celebrating Beantown legends from the Celtics and Bruins to the Red Sox and more.
Food & Beverage Services
There are a variety of food options available at TD Garden ranging from your traditional gameday snacks like popcorn and pretzels to more upscale fare. TD Garden also has a convenient chatbot that can help you find the food you’re craving.
If you have dietary restrictions, MingsBings is a great option with plant-based, gluten-free, nut-free and vegan offerings. Hub Hot Dog Stands also have gluten-free buns available on request. If you are in a rush, you can try the new MRKT powered by Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology on Level 4 and Level 7 or one of the many Grab N’ Go locations.
Beverage options including beer, wine, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages are available throughout the arena as well.
There is also a private, members-only restaurant and bar on Level 3 called Legends. This section is open to Bruins and Celtics season ticket holders and game plan holders who purchase a membership. It is open two hours prior to each game and up to an hour after.
FAQ: Common TD Garden Questions
Can you bring bags into TD Garden?
You are allowed to bring a bag that is smaller than 14” x 14” x 6.” Diaper bags and other bags needed for medical reasons are also allowed. All bags are subject to x-ray screening and visual inspection.
Can you bring signs into TD Garden?
Yes, signs that are 8 1/2 x 11” and under are allowed inside the venue as long as they adhere to the code of conduct.
Can you bring a camera into TD Garden?
Yes, you may bring a small personal camera into the venue. Professional cameras, video cameras and cameras with detachable lenses are not allowed. You are also not allowed to bring tripods, monopods, selfie sticks or drones.
Does TD Garden have lockers?
No, TD Garden does not have lockers of any kind on-site.
What items are prohibited?
- Weapons/Chains
- Drugs, Vape Pens, e-cigarettes or similar
- Flammable items
- Laptop computers and/or tablets
- Umbrellas that do not collapse to 12” or less
- Laser pointers, glow sticks or glow jewelry
- Artificial noisemakers
Buy TD Garden Tickets
Keep this TD Garden guide on hand as you plan for your next event. You can get TD Garden tickets for the Celtics and Bruins or an unforgettable show from SZA, Depeche Mode or Andrea Bocelli from TicketSmarter.
