Sports
TD Garden To Require Coronavirus Vaccine Proof Or Negative Test
Starting Sept. 30 those attending Bruins and Celtics games, as well as concerts, will need to adhere to the new coronavirus regulations.
BOSTON — Fans planning to head to TD Garden to watch the Bruins or Celtics this season — as well attend concerts — will need to pack a copy of their coronavirus vaccination proof or get a negative COVID-19 test.
TD Garden officials said on Wednesday that starting Sept. 30 guests 12 years old and older will need to provide proof of full vaccination or a negative rapid or PCR coronavirus test. Self-administered or over-the-counter test results will not be accepted.
Officials said the timeline on tests — whether they need to have been within 24 or 72 hours of the event — is yet to be determined.
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Vaccinated can provide a vaccination card or digital copy of that card showing they are at least 14 days removed from the shot needed for full vaccination.
The policy will go into effect on the first Bruins preseason home game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sept. 30. The Bruins open the regular season at home against the Dallas Stars on Oct. 16.
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The Celtics open the preseason at home on Oct. 4 against the Orlando Magic. The Celtics home opener in the regular season is Oct. 22 against the Toronto Raptors.
The policy will also be in place for upcoming concerts featuring Michael Buble (Oct. 18), Twenty One Pilots (Oct. 23) and Harry Styles (Oct. 25) with additional protocols possible for individual shows.
Fans also remain subject to the city's indoor mask mandate for all those 2 years old or older that applies to all indoor businesses when people are not actively eating and drinking.
"These policies will continue to be reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis," the Garden said in a statement. "Some events, seating locations and experiences may require additional health and safety guidelines as required by promoters, touring artists or league protocols."
TD Garden joins several concert and theater venues — including Live Nation properties like the Orpheum and The Cabot Street Cinema Theater in Beverly — making the vaccination-or-negative-test requirement starting this month.
Gillette Stadium and Fenway Park do not have any vaccination requirements at this time.
More Patch Coverage: Boston Issues Indoor Mask Mandate For Public Spaces
Artists, Patrons Embrace Vaccine Rules At Beverly's Cabot Theater
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