I remember driving by on 93 when this was going on, it was so weird to look inside the building from the highway after having been in there so many times. btw.... I love the screaching of the Green Line train that always sounds like the wheels are coming off!
oh man, that's one of the saddest sights i've ever seen - why did the city of Boston allow this to happen to the greatest basketball arena in history. Went to a game there in '85 - an amazing place - though it was old, it was clean as a pin, well maintained, not a bad seat in the house and those banners over the court - game atmosphere was sublime - "ladies and gentleman, your World Champion Boston Celtics" - no screaming PA, just organ music, no damned dancers - all about the basketball.
I saw the Boston Braves there when Terry O'REILLY played for them and I saw Plenty of Grateful Dead shows there as well. I'll never forget seeing the Dead sing " U.S. Blues " in the Boston Garden. I sat first row balcony rite above Jerry. Just AWESOME. SMITTY.
tallboyyyy , no , Boston Braves Were the Bruins minor league team for 3 years in early 70s. Dave Forbes , Dave Reece Ross Brooks , Billy Spear just to name a few players. Bep Guidolin was there coach for a year or 2.
Ahh yes the Boston Braves. I was an AHL fan from 1971-72 season Eddie Shore Springfield Kings then and the Braves , Nova Scotia Voyageurs were top teams in league with Baltimore Clippers, Richmond Robins , Providence Reds, Hershey Bears, Rochester Amerks, Virginia Red Wings, Cincinnati Swords and Cleveland Barons. Never forget my first year as a fan. Of course Bobby Orr got me into hockey then as a kid.
These places are historical landmarks and have near-monument status. They should never be demolished. If they needed a new arena sto badly, they could have preserved Boston Garden and converted it to a basketball museum or something. It's truly a shame. If I was a Celtics fan, I'd never go to their games again.
yeah i was born in 94 so i never went to the old garden. It was demolished in November 97. I heard it had horrible ventilation and views, but it's still sad to see a place with such history get knocked down.
Memories anyone? Seeing the garden, hearing the green line squeak through above causeway, near the artery traffic, heading into halftime for a few slices.
I saw my Dad graduate college here in the early 70s. I went to a lot of Boston Braves hockey games too. When I got older I started going to a lot of Bruins games. I saw Park score that playoff goal against Buffalo. I also saw Middleton score his 400th goal. I was sitting rite behind Fred and Derek. Best seats in the house. I saw Bobby Orr play there. Need I say more.
It'd be cool if they had public access to that parking lot, with paint designating where the B's nets were, the C's hoops, center ice line, team benches, etc. Old Comiskey in Chicago is also a parking lot now, but they painted in original home plate site, both batters boxes, and original foul lines- it's really cool to stand in there and take a few "swings". Legacy Field in the Bronx did the same for the original Yankee Stadium. Anyway, just a thought.
bionicbigfoot that’s exactly what I’ve been saying with all the past building that have been gone. Chicago stadium has a plaque near the main entrance of the United Center with the words “Remember the roar” but something like the outlines of it would’ve be badass
Reminds me of the Winnipeg arena during it's last days! A buddy and me snuck into the Arena just after the North Wall had come down! Video I took looks just like the footage posted in this video! Certainly a sad thing to see...
No more rats scurrying under seats, or falling from the rafters onto the ice either. My God; imagine reaching into your popcorn to find you had company?! *shudders* From 1986-87 to 1991-92 The Garden was like my 2nd home during hockey season. My dad bought me a 1987-88 season ticket for my birthday. I sat across from; a bit diagonal to Bruins bench. Nothing compared to seeing the boys play live, or watching legend Terry O'Reilly as Head Coach. He was the best; I got to see his entire tenure!
@tkkrupnikas I agree, I saw Aerosmith there New Years Day 1993, Sure there's tons of history but I couldn't believe how much of a dump the place was, you had to climb winding, narrow stairs to the top and then go down to wherever your seats were, and that was assuming you wouldn't have an obstructed view and the seats were wooden relics that must've been salvaged from Fenway Park
Not only is it a shame that the Garden is gone, but also the West End Elevated Green Line (which you can hear squealing above the street). The area just doesn't feel the same.
One last thing. I’d kill to have an obstructed view seat for a Saturday afternoon Bruins game rite now. Not to mention a $2 Beer. I still have a few cups I saved. Good Memories. Kinda. LOL !!
Classic. And the light now shines down on all those bums on Causeway St. since the elevated section of the Green Line was torn down. You can hear it screaching and and see part of one of the supports as the camera pans left starting around 0:38
I spent many awesome nights sitting behind a 4 foot wide concrete pillar at that place! Never set foot in whatever they are calling that soulless shell they have there now.
@jayblob716 im a detroit native... fenway and tiger stadium in detroit opened the exact same day and they tore Tiger down like it was just another building in the city. Absolutely make me sick......
they used to do a great shot of the Garden before big games from the front of the green line trolleys when it was still elevated. Anyone know a post to a clip from that?
I only went to one Celtic game here, It was the game the night after Reggie Lewis first collapsed. I remember the demo too, seeing the Morse Diesel sign. NASDI??? They were around back then too??? They're everywhere!!! The old Garden, Hingham Shipyard, The chemical explosion on the North Shore, South Shore Plaza, they take down everything!!!
they should've just preserved this building. so many great memories. my idol larry bird played in this building! so as other great celtic players and their moments!
While it's always sad for fans to see their old arena go down, the truth is, the history is really in the team itself, and it's always exciting to get a new building. (Or a renovated one in my case.) -Lightning fan
I had a roommate in college in the late 80s that would go see the Grateful Dead every time they came to the Garden. If they played 3 shows he'd be at at least one of them if not all. Then usually in less than a week he'd have cassettes of all three shows. The only concert I saw there was Boston back in the late 80s.
tallboyyyy if you know the date there’s definitely video of that show. I have cassettes of the dozen or so Garden shows I went to. It’s a Taper thing. I was probably at the show you were at. Some great times. I looked at it like , I’m in the same room as Jerry Garcia. No way!!! 🙏
@blacklabel67k Oh well since you like excuses, did you forget in 2008 the Lakers were playing without 2 starters? Trevor Ariza & Andrew Bynum were absent the entire playoffs in 2008. Ray Allen also had the greatest 3 point streak in Finals history in Game 2 and just barely won. So it balances out.
i live in Los Angeles and i cant stand the fricken Lakers..i was a Celtic fan..what a great place to watch a game..johnny most was a great announcer a total team player
tear down paradise and put up a parking lot. thankfully in canada we have the good sense to preserve our temples of hockey. i can't say the same for you americanos. obviously we appreciate the game more.
I doubt fenway will be domlished anytime soon, the thing is the Garden was not up to par with other arenas in the times, it had problems with A/C, locker rooms, rodents, etc... Also small seating capactiy. Fenway however dosent have to worry about A/C, obviously, and with all the new editions they have put in over the years, I doubt they will have them all go to waste. Fenway is actully up to par now with all the other stadiums, they are doing a nice job with that.
Um, why is the playing surface (rink/basketball court) about 15 feet above the street level? Any arena I've ever been in had the ice level at street level or a couple of stories below street level.
its way more than 15 feet above street level, i think its 2-3 stories above street level . just like its replacement the TD garden ( i know in the TD garden the play surface is level 3 ) the Boston garden was built on top of the MBTA commuter rails North station. so the terminal for the station takes up the street level .
Sorry for your pain. Can you actually see the seats you sat in? It hurts me, as a Kansan, to see this place torn down. Something should be preserved there.
Interesting is that while the Celtics were winning eleven championships in thirteen years, the Bruins, perennial losers until the very late 1960s, were out-drawing the champion Celtics! I wonder how the ticket prices differed between them then.
Not sure why but remember the place was built for the Bruins and Hockey is the biggest sport in New England. Ace Bailey, Eddie Shore, Milt Schmidt were LEGENDS in Boston before Basketball was played in the Garden. Bruins won the Cup 29,39, 41. Hockey also has more games a season. Boston area produces many NHL/Olympic Hockey Players. Not many basketball players, though the Celtics are revered.
great you once had the boston garden and now you have the shit garden. you should have preserved the old garden as a museum, a landmark or something similar. these buildings have become monuments, they cannot be demolished.
@jayblob716 It would be a great idea to tear down Fenway. Fenway is an ugly stadium, it's old, and left field is too short. A new stadium with luxury boxes and large LCD screens is needed. Preferably a dome style that opens & closes, and has swimming pools like the Arizona Diamondbacks. An astro-turf field would be better too since it requires less maintenance and would save money.
@DiverseLA it would be a great idea to tear down big ben. It's old, ugly and requires massive maintainence and upkeep in order to keep running. Preferably a new office tower should get built and plain glass walls would save money and maintainence.
@afmartin2734 cramped, no ac, blocked views, very outdated and would require a shit ton of money for renovations. The big dig was also happening at the same time by the way
I remember driving by on 93 when this was going on, it was so weird to look inside the building from the highway after having been in there so many times.
btw.... I love the screaching of the Green Line train that always sounds like the wheels are coming off!
Gut Wrenching. I remember being able to see inside from the expressway. Makes me sick even 20+ years later
Its so sad to see where my memories came from just get demolished and my memories about Russell, Bird, and the 86 and 60's Celtics. 😭
oh man, that's one of the saddest sights i've ever seen - why did the city of Boston allow this to happen to the greatest basketball arena in history.
Went to a game there in '85 - an amazing place - though it was old, it was clean as a pin, well maintained, not a bad seat in the house and those banners over the court - game atmosphere was sublime - "ladies and gentleman, your World Champion Boston Celtics" - no screaming PA, just organ music, no damned dancers - all about the basketball.
It will be the same with Fenway when that day comes.
@@willisapril they would not do Fenway it is maintained
@@willisapril I think it's forbidden to blow up the Fenway, is actually a protected historic building.
The Boston Garden, as historic as it was, did not have air conditioning. Its replacement building does.
Greatest arena ever. The character, vibe, sightlines, coziness and the noise...My god, the noise. Goosebumps.
I saw the Boston Braves there when Terry O'REILLY played for them and I saw Plenty of Grateful Dead shows there as well. I'll never forget seeing the Dead sing " U.S. Blues " in the Boston Garden. I sat first row balcony rite above Jerry. Just AWESOME.
SMITTY.
Mark Schmitz Do you mean the Bruins? Braves were baseball.
tallboyyyy , no , Boston Braves Were the Bruins minor league team for 3 years in early 70s. Dave Forbes , Dave Reece Ross Brooks , Billy Spear just to name a few players. Bep Guidolin was there coach for a year or 2.
Ahh yes the Boston Braves. I was an AHL fan from 1971-72 season Eddie Shore Springfield Kings then and the Braves , Nova Scotia Voyageurs were top teams in league with Baltimore Clippers, Richmond Robins , Providence Reds, Hershey Bears, Rochester Amerks, Virginia Red Wings, Cincinnati Swords and Cleveland Barons. Never forget my first year as a fan. Of course Bobby Orr got me into hockey then as a kid.
These places are historical landmarks and have near-monument status. They should never be demolished. If they needed a new arena sto badly, they could have preserved Boston Garden and converted it to a basketball museum or something. It's truly a shame. If I was a Celtics fan, I'd never go to their games again.
The pettiness is unreal
I have to admit, seeing this makes me feel like my heart is being ripped out.
Sad to know the house that Bobby Orr & Phil Esposito built is now gone along with it's great history.
Man the place where the C's brought home 16 championships, the Bruins a couple, and of course where Michael Jordan scored 63 points in the playoffs.
yeah i was born in 94 so i never went to the old garden. It was demolished in November 97. I heard it had horrible ventilation and views, but it's still sad to see a place with such history get knocked down.
I remember driving by and seeing that. So strange; so eerie. All the memories of games, concerts and events.
Memories anyone? Seeing the garden, hearing the green line squeak through above causeway, near the artery traffic, heading into halftime for a few slices.
I saw my Dad graduate college here in the early 70s. I went to a lot of Boston Braves hockey games too. When I got older I started going to a lot of Bruins games. I saw Park score that playoff goal against Buffalo. I also saw Middleton score his 400th goal. I was sitting rite behind Fred and Derek. Best seats in the house. I saw Bobby Orr play there. Need I say more.
Fred and Derek. So good on the mic.
It'd be cool if they had public access to that parking lot, with paint designating where the B's nets were, the C's hoops, center ice line, team benches, etc. Old Comiskey in Chicago is also a parking lot now, but they painted in original home plate site, both batters boxes, and original foul lines- it's really cool to stand in there and take a few "swings". Legacy Field in the Bronx did the same for the original Yankee Stadium. Anyway, just a thought.
They are actually in the process on building several buildings on top of where the boston garden once stood
bionicbigfoot that’s exactly what I’ve been saying with all the past building that have been gone. Chicago stadium has a plaque near the main entrance of the United Center with the words “Remember the roar” but something like the outlines of it would’ve be badass
Reminds me of the Winnipeg arena during it's last days! A buddy and me snuck into the Arena just after the North Wall had come down! Video I took looks just like the footage posted in this video! Certainly a sad thing to see...
No more rats scurrying under seats, or falling from the rafters onto the ice either. My God; imagine reaching into your popcorn to find you had company?! *shudders*
From 1986-87 to 1991-92 The Garden was like my 2nd home during hockey season. My dad bought me a 1987-88 season ticket for my birthday. I sat across from; a bit diagonal to Bruins bench. Nothing compared to seeing the boys play live, or watching legend Terry O'Reilly as Head Coach. He was the best; I got to see his entire tenure!
Lord, that place was loud. More specifically, when the Bruins scored against Montreal.
The Celtics had a 40-1 home record during the 1985-1986 season. I believe that loss was to the Portland Trail Blazers.
You are correct, it was a fantastic season
Yes, now that you mentioned it!!!
Broke my heart seeing it destroyed.
@tkkrupnikas I agree, I saw Aerosmith there New Years Day 1993, Sure there's tons of history but I couldn't believe how much of a dump the place was, you had to climb winding, narrow stairs to the top and then go down to wherever your seats were, and that was assuming you wouldn't have an obstructed view and the seats were wooden relics that must've been salvaged from Fenway Park
You are so right. All these new parks will be town down in another 40 years,
Ahhhh yesss, the screaches of the green line entering/exiting the old North Station stop :)
Not only is it a shame that the Garden is gone, but also the West End Elevated Green Line (which you can hear squealing above the street). The area just doesn't feel the same.
One last thing. I’d kill to have an obstructed view seat for a Saturday afternoon Bruins game rite now. Not to mention a $2 Beer. I still have a few cups I saved. Good Memories. Kinda. LOL !!
Classic. And the light now shines down on all those bums on Causeway St. since the elevated section of the Green Line was torn down. You can hear it screaching and and see part of one of the supports as the camera pans left starting around 0:38
I spent many awesome nights sitting behind a 4 foot wide concrete pillar at that place!
Never set foot in whatever they are calling that soulless shell they have there now.
No. The new arena was built just behind the garden. The actual land the garden was built on is empty .
Not anymore
soooooo depressing....
Yeah the old Boston Garden is still a parking lot.
Not anymore
@jayblob716 im a detroit native... fenway and tiger stadium in detroit opened the exact same day and they tore Tiger down like it was just another building in the city. Absolutely make me sick......
@yellowfish32 The wall itself isn't very far away. In fact, the wall makes it easier to homer if you're one of those pop-up guys.
why didn`t this rink become dedicated to the city? this was a landmark in the city of Boston.
This is when they tore it down in April of 1998. I went there with my video camera when it was 1/3 torned down.
they used to do a great shot of the Garden before big games from the front of the green line trolleys when it was still elevated. Anyone know a post to a clip from that?
One of the truly historic buildings. I still remember "What a play by Bird!!!!!!!" when he stole the inbound pass in 1987
I only went to one Celtic game here, It was the game the night after Reggie Lewis first collapsed. I remember the demo too, seeing the Morse Diesel sign. NASDI??? They were around back then too??? They're everywhere!!! The old Garden, Hingham Shipyard, The chemical explosion on the North Shore, South Shore Plaza, they take down everything!!!
they should've just preserved this building. so many great memories. my idol larry bird played in this building! so as other great celtic players and their moments!
Great place
While it's always sad for fans to see their old arena go down, the truth is, the history is really in the team itself, and it's always exciting to get a new building. (Or a renovated one in my case.)
-Lightning fan
I loved the Garden same as I love Fenway but it was time to move on.
bostonguyusa did you like the Old Foxboro Stadium?
Yep. New Gahden is set further back from Causeway St.
i remember going there with my dad and friends to see this… i was about 10
I saw The Grateful Dead there plenty of times before. like they said in Sampson and Delilah
“ If I had my way , I would tear this old building down “
I had a roommate in college in the late 80s that would go see the Grateful Dead every time they came to the Garden. If they played 3 shows he'd be at at least one of them if not all. Then usually in less than a week he'd have cassettes of all three shows.
The only concert I saw there was Boston back in the late 80s.
tallboyyyy if you know the date there’s definitely video of that show. I have cassettes of the dozen or so Garden shows I went to. It’s a Taper thing. I was probably at the show you were at. Some great times. I looked at it like , I’m in the same room as Jerry Garcia. No way!!! 🙏
@@MsSmitty9 I personally never went to a Dead show, my roommate did. The only show I saw there was the band Boston.
@blacklabel67k Oh well since you like excuses, did you forget in 2008 the Lakers were playing without 2 starters? Trevor Ariza & Andrew Bynum were absent the entire playoffs in 2008. Ray Allen also had the greatest 3 point streak in Finals history in Game 2 and just barely won. So it balances out.
i went to garden when the Celtics lost to the bullets. man i remember that long ramp to walk up.
yeah. Hey do you remember the Killer B's banner that someone always had at a hockey game? Good ol' days
haven't they had those plans since like 2000?
Havlicek stole the ball.
@beaverdammer Yeah I cant understand that either all these stadiums they've torn down over the years should've been perserved or something
@OrrCountry Harry Sinden's only problem was that he was old school to a fault.
I've seen many hockey games in that building no arena rocked liked the Garden did when the B'S scored especially vs the Habs
i think its harder to renovate arenas than stadiums
@yiddeo I agree... they can still be used for concerts & events or whatever else.
@ta4586 That's why i don't want to see a Bruins game in the new TD Banknorth Garden if I ever do visit Beantown.
ahh the memories
i was born in 1995 when it is was closed down. i never saw a bruins game there =(
Score!Bobby Orr!!!!
i live in Los Angeles and i cant stand the fricken Lakers..i was a Celtic fan..what a great place to watch a game..johnny most was a great announcer a total team player
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
tear down paradise and put up a parking lot.
thankfully in canada we have the good sense to preserve our temples of hockey. i can't say the same for you americanos. obviously we appreciate the game more.
Crazy to see someone call this "paradise"
Also it ain't a parking lot anynore
I doubt fenway will be domlished anytime soon, the thing is the Garden was not up to par with other arenas in the times, it had problems with A/C, locker rooms, rodents, etc... Also small seating capactiy. Fenway however dosent have to worry about A/C, obviously, and with all the new editions they have put in over the years, I doubt they will have them all go to waste. Fenway is actully up to par now with all the other stadiums, they are doing a nice job with that.
Where did the Bruins move to?
Didn't owner Jeremy Jacobs threaten for awhile once a move to Manchester N.H. if they didn't get an arena.
Watched many WWF wrestling shows there.
only game i ever saw there was by the harlem globetrotters in 1993 when i was six...wish i had seen a celtics game while it was still around
NO MORE OBSTRUCTED SEATS . . . . oh, that's "charm" . . . or, history
It’s awful that they couldn’t have saved that building in some way. It was a piece of basketball history.
Um, why is the playing surface (rink/basketball court) about 15 feet above the street level? Any arena I've ever been in had the ice level at street level or a couple of stories below street level.
its way more than 15 feet above street level, i think its 2-3 stories above street level . just like its replacement the TD garden ( i know in the TD garden the play surface is level 3 ) the Boston garden was built on top of the MBTA commuter rails North station. so the terminal for the station takes up the street level .
Who gave them permission to tear down a piece of historic Bostiana?
Sorry for your pain. Can you actually see the seats you sat in? It hurts me, as a Kansan, to see this place torn down. Something should be preserved there.
In a few weeks this is what the Spectrum will be. Sad.
As much if not more history than Fenway Park, such a miss.
Yeah! listen to the green line squealing as it comes out from under Haymarket.
Why didn't they just remodel this place and update it, Madison Square garden is still here
Madison square garden is much newer
@floydgenesisnut You forget Aerosmith's performances were preserved on their Pandora's Box set
@DiverseLA dude thats fucking badass i want that shit in fenway now.
This is the REAL "Boston Massacre. :(
Breaks my heart. That new place is a dump!!!
sure
Very sad!
Old Boston Garden man I hated that place
Sammartino slams Crusher Verdu
Interesting is that while the Celtics were winning eleven championships in thirteen years, the Bruins, perennial losers until the very late 1960s, were out-drawing the
champion Celtics! I wonder how the ticket prices differed between them then.
Not sure why but remember the place was built for the Bruins and Hockey is the biggest sport in New England. Ace Bailey, Eddie Shore, Milt Schmidt were LEGENDS in Boston before Basketball was played in the Garden. Bruins won the Cup 29,39, 41. Hockey also has more games a season. Boston area produces many NHL/Olympic Hockey Players. Not many basketball players, though the Celtics are revered.
great you once had the boston garden and now you have the shit garden. you should have preserved the old garden as a museum, a landmark or something similar. these buildings have become monuments, they cannot be demolished.
"shit garden"
@jennifersman thats whats happening to the pyramid so why not preserve historical stadiums in other cites that deserv to remain standing
@GabJero But ask yourself as a taxpayer would you want to see your tax dollars going into an aging faciility nobody uses?
yeah, or at least let AHL teams play there. To carry on the spirit
don cherry would roll over in his grave if he ever saw this.
fetchy15 one problem , Don Cherry is still alive.
They didn't have to do that
What would they have done instead? Leave it to rot?
looks small
Lol yea i was born in 92 but ive been i just cant remember haha.
@jayblob716 I'm pretty sure I'd strap myself to the Monsta and refuse to move! Tear down Fenway: HA! It's Blasphemy to even speak of such nonsense!
well they can probably just open that for tours and make money off of it hehe
An absolute disgrace!
@jayblob716 It would be a great idea to tear down Fenway. Fenway is an ugly stadium, it's old, and left field is too short. A new stadium with luxury boxes and large LCD screens is needed. Preferably a dome style that opens & closes, and has swimming pools like the Arizona Diamondbacks. An astro-turf field would be better too since it requires less maintenance and would save money.
@DiverseLA it would be a great idea to tear down big ben. It's old, ugly and requires massive maintainence and upkeep in order to keep running. Preferably a new office tower should get built and plain glass walls would save money and maintainence.
this arena sucked thouh right all uncomfortable and junk.
How does the greatest arena in sports history "suck" exactly?
@afmartin2734 cramped, no ac, blocked views, very outdated and would require a shit ton of money for renovations. The big dig was also happening at the same time by the way
tear down the whole city of Boston. Go Lakers!
...what? why?