TD Garden Pregame Guide
Boston Celtics · Boston, MA
TD Garden publishes no tailgating policy, and the reason is structural rather than restrictive: the arena has no surface lots. Parking is the North Station Garage directly underneath the building, entered from Nashua Street or Causeway Street at a flat event rate, with a 6 foot 8 inch height limit. North Station itself sits on the ground floor beneath the arena — MBTA Orange and Green Lines plus Commuter Rail — so the pregame here is the neighbourhood above the tracks rather than anything in a car park. Plan the timings: general doors open an hour before tip-off, member doors two, and the bag limit of 6 by 4 by 1.5 inches is among the tightest in the league.
Tips & Fan Reports
Measure the bag: 6 by 4 by 1.5 inches is very small by arena standards, and anything larger costs $15 to check downstairs in North Station.
The garage caps vehicle height at 6 feet 8 inches — a roof box or a van will not fit.
No re-entry at all, so anything you want from the car has to come in with you the first time.
General doors open only an hour before the game, so the hour before that is spent in the neighbourhood rather than in the building unless you are a member.
Where to Go Before the Game
North Station Garage
Directly underneath the arena, entered from 121 Nashua Street or 140 Causeway Street. A flat event rate of $65 applies entering two and a half hours before the scheduled start, and the maximum vehicle height is 6 feet 8 inches — the detail that catches out anything taller than a car.
Known for Directly beneath the arena · 6ft 8in height limit · 121 Nashua St / 140 Causeway St
North Station
On the ground floor beneath TD Garden: MBTA Orange and Green Line subway plus Commuter Rail, which is why most people arriving here do not drive at all.
Known for Orange and Green Lines · Commuter Rail · Directly beneath the arena
Event Bag Check, Level 1 in North Station
Where a non-compliant bag goes, at $15. The arena permits only small bags, clutches, crossbodies and wristlets up to 6in x 4in x 1.5in, so anything larger has to be checked in the station downstairs before you go up.
Known for $15 per bag · In North Station · For anything over 6x4x1.5in
Rules to Know
What TD Garden allows, and what it does not.
- TD Garden publishes no tailgating policy, and has no surface parking lots of its own — parking is the North Station Garage directly beneath the building.
- For Bruins and Celtics games, member doors open two hours prior to game time and general doors open one hour prior.
- The North Station Garage charges a flat event rate of $65 when entering two and a half hours before the scheduled event time, with an early bird rate of $30 entering before 9:00am and exiting before 6:00pm.
- Maximum vehicle height for the North Station Garage is 6 feet 8 inches.
- Only small bags, clutches, crossbodies and wristlets are permitted, and they must not exceed 6in x 4in x 1.5in. Non-compliant bags can be checked at Event Bag Check on Level 1 in North Station for $15.
- TD Garden maintains a strict no re-entry policy: guests who have entered with a valid ticket may not leave and re-enter during the event.
- Valid ID is required for alcohol, and no more than two alcoholic beverages will be served to a patron at one time.
What to Bring
- A bag the gate will accept
Small bags, including clear bags, must not exceed 6 x 4 x 1.5 inches and are screened at entry.
- Only the outside food and drink the rule allows
Outside food and beverages are not admitted under the general policy.
- A card or a phone wallet
Food, beverage, and merchandise purchases inside TD Garden are contactless; accepted methods include credit and debit cards, mobile payment, and the arena app wallet.
- Your tickets on a charged phone
TD Garden events use mobile-only tickets; guests must present a valid mobile ticket for scanning after security screening.
- A coat for the walk in
January lows average 23°F between the lot and the door at TD Garden.
- A poncho for the walk in, not an umbrella
Umbrellas are on TD Garden's prohibited list, and December averages 4.3 inches of rain.
Boston Celtics Tailgate Gear
Canopies, grills, coolers, and official Boston Celtics gear for the ultimate tailgate.
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. It never affects our prices or rankings. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Pregame
TD Garden official site: A-Z Guide, and Directions & Parking (North Station Garage)
- Venue policies
TD Garden policies, A-Z, accessibility, and concessions pages plus the Celtics arena guide reviewed for Celtics entry, family, food, payment, and accessibility rules.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals