Arena · Basketball
TD Garden
TD Garden is built directly on top of North Station, which makes it the best connected major arena in the United States: you can step off a commuter train or a subway and be inside the building in a few minutes without going outdoors. Inside, the draw is the banners. The rafters carry more championship flags than any building in American basketball, and the club leans hard into that history. The parquet floor is the other signature, a pattern carried over from the old Boston Garden next door.
Approximate basketball configuration. Hockey and concert setups differ.
What happens here
The teams and events that put this venue on a fan travel itinerary.
Major events
- NBA regular season and playoffs
- NHL
- College basketball
- Concerts
How it got here
The history that still shapes what you see on a visit.
The original Boston Garden opened in 1928 and became one of the most storied buildings in American sport, famous for its parquet floor, its obstructed view seats and its complete lack of air conditioning. Its replacement opened alongside it in 1995 under the name FleetCenter, and the old Garden was demolished in 1998. The new building took the Garden name properly in 2005 and has been renovated repeatedly since, including a substantial concourse expansion.
Getting there
Including what changes on the way out, which is usually the harder half.
Transit summary
North Station sits underneath the arena and carries the Green Line, the Orange Line and commuter rail to the northern suburbs, so most of the crowd never sees a street. South Station and Back Bay connect the rest of the region a short ride away. Boston is a genuinely walkable city and the North End, Faneuil Hall and Beacon Hill are all fifteen minutes on foot from the door.
Parking and rideshare
Parking around the arena is limited and expensive, and Boston traffic around the North Station approach is poor on event nights. There is very little reason to drive given the station underneath. Rideshare pickup is pushed onto surrounding streets and congests badly at the final buzzer, so walking a few blocks toward Government Center before ordering is faster.
Where to stay, eat and drink
Nearby hotel areas
- West End and North Station (closest, walk to the door, limited but convenient)
- Back Bay (best base overall, good hotel range, ten minutes on the subway)
- North End (best food in the city, walkable to the arena, mostly small properties)
- Seaport (modern stock, good restaurants, short ride across)
- Cambridge across the river (better value, one subway line away)
Bars and restaurants nearby
- Causeway Street directly outside the arena, the traditional pre-game bar strip
- The North End, five minutes on foot, the best Italian food in the country outside New York
- Faneuil Hall and the Bulfinch Triangle, busy and touristy but convenient
- Beacon Hill for a quieter pub before tip off
Tours and visits
The Sports Museum occupies part of the arena and covers Boston sport across all its teams, with access that includes parts of the building on non event days. Tour and museum access is restricted around events, so check the schedule for your date.
Practical tips
Planning a visit to TD Garden
- Do not drive. The arena sits on top of a major transport interchange and parking offers nothing but expense.
- Check whether basketball or hockey is on. The two share the building on a dense schedule and the crowd and the bar waits are completely different.
- Boston winters are cold and the walk from most hotels is short but exposed. The subway connection means you can avoid it almost entirely.
- Rivalry games against New York and Los Angeles price differently and sell out far earlier than a routine fixture.
- The banners are the reason to look up. Arrive early enough to actually see the building rather than filing in at tip off.
Bags, security and accessibility
A clear bag policy is in effect with strict size limits and no bag storage on site. The arena is cashless. Accessible seating and assistive listening are available and should be arranged when booking.
Related teams
Clubs that play here, and others we cover in the same city
Boston Celtics travel guide
Basketball · National Basketball Association
The most decorated club in the league, above North Station
Open guideBoston Celtics travel guide
Basketball · National Basketball Association
The most decorated club in the league, above North Station
Open guideBoston Red Sox travel guide
Baseball · Major League Baseball
The oldest ballpark in the sport, wedged into a working neighbourhood
Open guideRelated destinations
The wider city guide around this venue
Related competitions
How the leagues and championships behind this actually work
NBA guide
Basketball · League
Thirty teams play 82 regular-season games from October into April, split between two conferences. A play-in tournament decides the final playoff places in each conference, then four rounds of best-of-seven series lead to the Finals. An in-season tournament runs alongside the regular season in the autumn, with its games counting toward the regular-season record except for the final.
Open guideNBA Finals guide
Basketball · Series
A best-of-seven series between the conference champions. The team with the better regular-season record holds home-court advantage and hosts games one, two, five and seven, with the other team hosting three, four and six. Games five, six and seven are played only if the series needs them, which is the single biggest complication for anyone booking travel.
Open guideWhere to go next
Frequently asked questions
Is TD Garden the same as the old Boston Garden?+
No. The original Boston Garden opened in 1928 and was demolished in 1998. The current building opened next to it in 1995 and took the Garden name in 2005. The parquet floor pattern is the main visual link between the two.
How do I get to TD Garden?+
North Station is directly underneath the arena and carries the Green Line, the Orange Line and commuter rail. It is the best transit connection of any major arena in the United States.
Where should I eat before a game?+
The North End, five minutes on foot, which is the best concentration of Italian restaurants in the city. Causeway Street outside the arena is the bar option but the food is ordinary by comparison.
Last updated August 19, 2026
Sources and verification
- MBTA subway and commuter rail information
- TD Garden official venue, bag policy and access information
Capacity figures are approximate and configuration-dependent. Transit routes, bag policies, and tour access change around fixtures and construction. Verify before travel.
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FanForged has no affiliation with TD Garden, its operator, or any team or event staged there. Venue names are used descriptively and no venue marks are reproduced here.