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The old-time feel of this beautiful city rubs off on the sporting franchises that call Boston home. The Celtics, Bruins and Red Sox have some of the richest histories in the Leagues they participate in.
The city itself has some of the best-preserved historical districts in the country. It was one of the few cities that resisted the forced urban renewal projects of earlier eras and therefore has preserved many of its older neighbourhoods.
Again, the downtown area is a good place to stay as it is within walking distance of some of these beautiful districts – particularly Boston’s North End, which is adjacent to the Celtics and Bruins home of the Fleet Centre; Beacon Hill; Boston Common; and South Street Railway Station.
Boston also houses some of the most important educational facilities in the country, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, both located in the suburb of Cambridge, only about 4 km from downtown Boston. It is here that the best restaurants and nightspots are located, so it is also an ideal spot to stay whilst in Boston.
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BOSTON CELTICS
The Boston Celtics began in the NBA in 1946 and are therefore one of the original teams of the NBA, although their history goes even further back than then. The Celtics are also the most successful and possibly the proudest team in the NBA. They have won 16 titles, with their most successful era being the 1960’s where they won 8 titles – nearly one a year. They also won three in the 50’s, two in the 70’s and three in the 80’s. The 1980’s Celtics team also produced one of the great players of all time – Larry Bird.
Unfortunately, since the 1985-1986 season, the Celtics had gone into gradual decline, with the 90’s being a period of poor results – which many teams put down to rebuilding. The rebuilding seems to be paying off, however, with the last two years being a return to the playoffs under the play of Paul Pierce.
BOSTON RED SOX
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
The NFL’s New England Patriots were the 2001-2002 and 2003-2004 Superbowl winners, which makes them one of the most successful franchises in the NFL. The Patriots began life in 1960 as the Boston Patriots. When they moved to their new stadium at Foxboro, they were renamed the New England Patriots – it figures that you can’t be called Boston if you don’t play in Boston. The Patriots first trip to the Superbowl was in 1985, where they eventually lost to the Chicago Bears. They were back there again in 1996, where they lost again to the Packers. However, as massive underdogs, the Patriots finally claimed Superbowl glory in defeating the St Louis Rams in 2002. Behind the arm of champion quarterback Tom Brady, the Patriots did it again in 2004.
The Patriots are one of the most supported teams in the NFL – they regularly sell out all home games before the season begins and in extra quick time. After winning another Superbowl, ticket availability is unlikely to be any different, especially now that they have a new stadium.
BOSTON BRUINS
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Ticket information through MLSNet
The Fleet Center hosts the Celtics and the Bruins and is located on Causeway Street in Boston, which is in the northern Downtown area (North End). It is within easy walking distance of most downtown hotels in Boston. Fleet Center is located next to the site of the old Boston Garden, the former home of the Celtics and Bruins. Opened in 1995, the Fleet Center has a capacity of 18,000 for basketball and 17,500 for Ice Hockey.
To get to the Center by transit, take the Green or Yellow Line eastbound to the North Station stop, which is adjacent to the Center.
Fenway Park hosts the Red Sox and is located near downtown Boston at 4 Yawkey Way, Boston. The oldest ballpark in the country was opened in 1912 and has a capacity of 34,000 people. The Park looks and feels like the oldest in the Country, yet many Bostonians still cram into its modest confines and it commonly has full houses. The Red Sox have said they want a replacement for Fenway Park sometime in the next few years. Several sites have been proposed by the team for a new ballpark, but many would like to just refurbish the existing facility.
Fenway Park is easily reached by transit – take the Green C Line to Kenmore Station.
Gillette Stadium (formerly CMGI and Foxboro) hosts the 2002 Superbowl Champions Patriots and the MSL Revolution. The Stadium is not actually within Boston, located at 60 Washington Street in Foxboro, some 50 km outside of Boston. It has a capacity of 60,000, which was the same capacity of the stadium it replaced, the old Foxboro Stadium.
The old Foxboro Stadium was considered to be a standard stadium that was built without the modern amenities that the excellent new stadium has. Combined with the vicious weather that invariably frequents this part of the world in winter, Foxboro had become a handy home ground advantage for the Patriots.
The new Stadium can be accessed by trains from downtown Boston (South Station). The special game-day rail service departs from Boston’s South Street Station (or nearby Providence Station, Rhode Island). Trains depart 30 minutes after the game.
Late
June – Champions Tour FleetBoston Classic, Nashawtuc Country Club, Concord.
Ticket information through www.pgatour.com
Early September - US PGA Deutche Bank US Championship, Tournament Players Club of Boston, 400 Arnold Palmer Boulevard, Norton
Ticket information through www.pgatour.com
Suffolk
Downs, 111 Waldemar Avenue, East Boston (season: early Jan to early June
and late Sep to mid Dec)
Tickets available at Course
BOSTON COLLEGE
The BC Eagles are located at140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill in suburban Boston, some 12km west of downtown Boston. The Eagles have teams in most sports, including football and men’s and women’s basketball. The football team plays out of the Alumni Stadium, which has a capacity of 44,500 .The basketball teams play out of the Conte Forum, which has a capacity of about 8,500. Both facilities are located on campus.
From downtown Boston, take the Green B Line ‘T’ to Boston College.
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Ticket information through BU Terriers
The BU Terriers are located at 121 Bay State Road, Boston, which is located near Fenway Park some 4km west of downtown. The Terriers have teams in several sports, including men’s and women’s basketball. The basketball teams play out of the smallish Case Gymnasium (called ‘The Roof’ by locals), which has a capacity of 1,800 and is located on campus.
From downtown, catch the Green B Line ‘T’ to Boston University Central Station and take the northern exit.
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
The famous Harvard University dominates the suburb of Cambridge, some 5km north-west of downtown Boston. It is centred on Cambridge Common and Harvard Square. The Harvard Crimson has teams in most sports, including football and men’s and women’s basketball. The football team plays out of Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, which is the oldest stadium in use in the US (first game played in 1903). The basketball teams play out of the Lavietes Basketball Center in Cambridge.
The Red Line ‘T’ stops at Harvard Station, in Harvard Square. Just walk along N Harvard St towards the Charles River to reach most of Harvard’s sporting facilities. The Soldiers Field Complex, where many of Harvard’s other outdoor sports are played, is a 10-minute walk from the square, down JFK St. and over the Charles River. It is worth getting off here to walk through the area. You can also take the Green B Line train to St Paul Station, which is adjacent to Soldiers Field.
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
Ticket information through Northeastern Huskies
The Northeastern Huskies are located at 360 Huntington Avenue (at the beginning of the Avenue of the Arts), Boston, which is also some 4km from downtown. The Huskies have teams in most sports, including football and men’s and women’s basketball. The football teams play out of Parsons Field, which has a capacity of about 7,000. The basketball teams play out of Cabot Center (Salomon Court), which is located on campus and has a capacity of about 2,500.
To get to the campus, take the Green E Line train to Northeastern. To get to Parsons Field, take the Green Line D Train to Longwood Station. From the station, take a left up the hill to Longwood Ave, then take a right onto Longwood and then first left onto Kent Street. Parsons Field is ahead.