Formerly known as the FleetCenter and the Shawmut Center, when you visit today with your Boston car rentals you will be visiting the newly named TD Garden after its sponsor TD Bank. It is also known as The Garden or Boston Garden, which was a famous arena that opened on November 17, 1928. It was demolished in 1997 after the completion of the new arena, the FleetCenter, now known as TD Garden.

Changing names

The FleetCenter was originally built to replace the aging Boston Gardens. The arena was officially opened on September 30, 1995. This new facility became the home of the Boston Bruins hockey team and the Boston Celtics basketball team. During the construction of the arena, it was known as the Shawmut Center, the naming rights were owned by a major Boston based regional bank, Shawmut Bank. However, upon completion Shawmut merged with their rival Providence based Fleet Bank. Several aspects of the arena had to be changed do to this merger. Every seat in the arena, which was previously stamped with the Shawmut logo had to be stripped and the entire interior color scheme.

New owners

On April 1, 2003 FleetBoston Financial merged with the Bank of America. FleetCenter¡¯s owner, Delaware North Companies released the naming rights on January 5, 2005. The naming rights were subsequently bought on March 3, 2005 by Maine based TD Banknorth. The company decided to name the facility the TD Banknorth Garden in honor of the original Boston Garden. This new name became official on July 1, 2005. In April 2008, after another merger where TD Banknorth became TD Bank, owner Delaware North Companies announced on April 15, 2009 that the arena would be renamed the TD Garden. In total, including its present name, TD Garden has had 33 different names!

The home of the many

TD Garden is the home arena of the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. It was also once home to the Boston Blazers of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League. In 2009 it will also be the home of the NLL¡¯s new Boston Blazers. TD Garden also hosts several major national sporting events including the 1999 and 2003 NCAA Division I Men¡¯s Basketball regional and second rounds, the 2009 Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight and the Women¡¯s Final Four. So make sure you check out the game schedule before you head out with your Boston car rentals.

From the ground up

Plans for the much needed sports arena was drawn up in the early 1990s. Construction began on April 29, 1993 and was completed in 27 short months. The stadium cost $160 million and was officially opened on September 30, 1995 as the FleetCenter. Throughout the years the TD Garden went through several renovations including the installation of a new HD entertainment board, video advertising panels and added a see-through shot clock. This is a great place to catch a game with your Boston car rentals!

A multi-purpose facility

TD Garden is built on top of Boston¡¯s North Station which is a major transportation hub. The Commuter Rail waiting area is a section of several fast food chains that is shared with the sport fans and commuters. Due to the design, the area is hardly crowded. Work was done to expand the North Station concourse and was completed in early 2007. The new section gives more space to the railway concourse and railway passengers a waiting area that does not interfere with the events at the Garden.

Before you go

For more information when you TD Garden with your Boston Car Rentals, check out their official website at www.tdbanknorthgarden.com