The TD Garden will be very lively all weekend as the Bruins and Celtics begin their championship pursuits, and the streets near the arena are expected to be very exciting as well.
Canal Street will again become a “playoff hub” for the second consecutive spring, with the street being turned into a car-free area for fans to assemble before and during home playoff games.
The effort, which aims to extend the energy from inside the Garden to the exterior, is part of Mayor Michelle Wu’s dedication to reimagining Boston’s streets and reshaping public space in a manner that's enjoyable for residents, small business owners, and visitors.
Wu expressed her enthusiasm for providing Boston fans a chance to come together safely, root for their favorite teams, and bolster local businesses during the playoffs for both the Bruins and the Celtics this year. She thanked their partners for collaborating to reintroduce the Playoff Hub and create a joyful experience for hockey and basketball fans.
Wu and the Downtown North neighborhood association introduced the Canal Street pedestrian area prior to last year's NBA and NHL playoffs, during which the Bruins were eliminated in the first round and the Celtics lost in Game 7 to Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Businesses near the Garden are anticipating lengthy playoff campaigns by both teams, as each victory brings in increasing revenue, and championship games can generate as much as $5 million per contest, according to Meet Boston, the region’s primary tourism bureau.
Canal Street will shut down on game days at noon and will remain closed until one hour after the game concludes. Parking rules will be posted before the Bruins’ Game 1 matchup against Toronto on Saturday night, and vehicles in violation will be towed.
A similar situation will occur when the Celtics commence their playoff journey against the winner of Friday night’s game between Miami and Chicago.
“There’s nowhere quite like TD Garden, especially on Celtics and Bruins game days,” expressed Celtics President Rich Gotham in a statement. “We extend our appreciation to Mayor Wu and the City of Boston for reintroducing the Playoff Hub on Canal Street, which provides an outdoor space for fans to continue supporting both teams and local businesses throughout the playoffs.”
