Boston Garden was a multi-use stadium located inBoston,Massachusetts. The arena used to serve as the home for theBoston Bruins of theNational Hockey League (NHL) and theBoston Celtics of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). It was also home to theBoston Braves of theAmerican Hockey League (AHL), theNew England Whalers of theWorld Hockey Association (WHA), and theBoston Blazers of theMajor Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL).
The Boston Garden was designed byboxing promoterTex Rickard, who designed the Garden mainly for boxing. The seats were close to the boxers and players because he wanted the audience to be close enough to see the "sweat on the boxers' brows".[1]
On November 17, 1928, the first sporting event to take place in the Boston Garden was a boxing match between "Honey Boy" Dick Finnegan andAndre Routis. Finnegan defeated Routis by unanimous decision in the tenth round.[2] On November 20, theBoston Bruins would play their first game in the Garden. They played against their rivalsMontreal Canadiens and lost 1–0.[3] On November 5, 1946, theBoston Celtics would play their first game in the Garden. They played against theChicago Stags and lost 57–55.[4]
On May 5, 1995, the Celtics played their final game at the Garden. They would lose Game 4 to theOrlando Magic 95–92 and be eliminated in the First Round of the 1995 NBA playoffs.[5] On May 14, 1995, the Bruins played their final official game at the Garden. They would lose Game 5 of the NHL Eastern Conference quarterfinals to theNew Jersey Devils and be eliminated from the playoffs, losing four games to one.[6] The Bruins would host a pre-season game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Garden on September 26, 1995 and took the retired numbers and championship banners down from the rafters in a post-game ceremony.[7]
World Wrestling Federation (WWF) also hosted many episodes of their weekly television shows at the Garden. The arena would host the WWFpay-per-viewSurvivor Series in 1993.[8]
After many failures to secure new arena approval,[9][10] a bill was finally passed on February 26, 1993 by Massachusetts State Legislature for the construction of a new arena.[11] On September 30, 1995, theShawmut Center would open and replace the Boston Garden as the home of the Bruins, Celtics and Blazers.[12] There was a farewell event hosted byLiz Walker andDan Rather that took place on September 29, 1995. Boston sports legendsBobby Orr,Phil Esposito,Larry Bird, andRed Auerbach were also there.[13][14] From March until September 1998, the arena would be demolished.[15]
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