Since it opened in 1995, the TD Garden has hosted NBA championship games, NHL playoff games, Beanpot ice hockey tournaments, and many of the world’s greatest musical acts. Now it is set to serve as the venue for Olympic and Paralympic basketball finals and Olympic gymnastics and trampoline if Boston becomes the host city for the 2024 Games.
The venue announcement came at an event here today with Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, Boston 2024 Partnership Chairman Steve Pagliuca, Delaware North’s Boston Holdings CEO Charlie Jacobs, TD Garden President Amy Latimer, and Olympians Aly Raisman and Jo Jo White.
“I am excited that TD Garden has been selected as the Olympic venue for basketball and gymnastics if Boston hosts the Games in 2024,” Mayor Walsh said. “TD Garden is a Boston tradition where residents and visitors enjoy cheering on their favorite teams, and now is our chance to cheer for Team USA right here in Boston. I look forward to continuing to work with the community and Boston 2024 to ensure that we are planning a fiscally responsible, privately funded Games that will bring long term benefits to the City.”
TD Garden, Boston’s premier indoor arena, hosts more than 3.5 million people each year at more than 200 events. The 19,600-seat arena is home to the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins. Notable past events at TD Garden include the NBA Finals, 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics, Stanley Cup Final, the 1996 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, 2015 NCAA Frozen Four, Beanpot ice hockey tournaments and the 2001 and 2014 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
“I am incredibly proud to envision this arena, which has been the site of so many incredible sports moments and triumphs, playing host to many of the greatest athletes from around the world,” said Jacobs.
“For Boston sports fans that have grown up watching the Celtics and Bruins at the Garden, I think the chance to watch Olympic and Paralympic events live and in person would be the thrill of a lifetime,” said Pagliuca.
“The honor and excitement of being able to compete for your country, in your country, must be amazing. There would be nothing better than competing for this city and the people of Boston,” said Raisman in a new video. Raisman also spoke at today’s announcement.
“What an honor to represent your country,” said White. “The experience was life changing seeing the top athletes in the world play at the highest level of competition. Then to stand on the podium and receive the Gold Medal when all odds were stacked against you. Nothing like it and an experience I will never forget.”
“TD Garden is one of Boston's iconic sports venues,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “It will be a wonderful setting for the world's best gymnasts. TD Garden has already hosted many incredible gymnastics moments at the 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials and the 2012 post-Olympic Tour. The 2024 Olympic competition will enhance that legacy.”
“The TD Garden is a first-class facility which would be a tremendous venue for the men’s and women’s Olympic basketball competitions and for spectators,” said USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley. “When you combine Boston Garden with the long-standing tradition of basketball that exists in the city of Boston and surrounding communities, it makes Boston Garden an ideal venue for an Olympic competition.”
Following extensive collaboration with community groups, elected officials and other key stakeholders, Boston 2024 is developing the next phase of its Games Concept, which includes venue plans that reflect significant input from throughout the city and state.
To host Olympic and Paralympic events, all venues must meet a comprehensive set of criteria, including meeting the technical requirements outlined by each sport’s National Governing Body and International Federation.
Boston 2024 plans to announce additional venue hosts over the next several weeks. This is a natural evolution in a multi-step, multi-year bid process that culminates in the selection in the summer of 2017 of the 2024 host city by members of the International Olympic Committee.
For more information about TD Garden serving as the venue for Olympic and Paralympic basketball and Olympic gymnastics, please see fact sheets for basketball, gymnastics and trampoline.
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