TD Garden To Host Bruins Fans For Thursday’s Game

Sports fans, hockey fans, BOSTON BRUINS fans, please take note: Starting with tonight's game against the New York Islanders, TD Garden will be allowing fans back into the arena. Yayyyyyyyyyyy!!

That is HUGE! As a lifelong Bruins fan, I'll be the first to admit that this past year has been rather frustrating. I mean, think about this: Tonight's game will be the first time fans will be in the stands SINCE THE PANDEMIC HIT.

My family and friends all know that one of the to-do's on my ever-growing bucket list is for my soulmate Tonya and I to bring our almost 10-year-old granddaughter to a Boston Bruins home game.

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Isabelle is a straight-up Bruins fan. Really. She's only 9, but she already bleeds black and gold. Tonya and I know without a doubt that being able to see her Bruins--in person--on home ice, would make Isabelle the happiest hockey fan on earth.

We probably won't make it to a game this season, I won't kid myself, but perhaps later this year when the next season begins....I can dream, can't I? And tonight, by allowing fans access to home games, can only mean that I'm one step closer to crossing something off my bucket list.

Now don't go into a hockey frenzy just yet. TD Garden is not allowing ALL fans access. Guidelines under Step 1, Phase 4(which went into effect this past Monday) must still be followed.

WHDH/7 News Boston reports that under the new guidelines, large venues can only host 12% of their normal capacity. That means for TD Garden, approximately 2,200 fans will be allowed in.

And those 2,200 fans will be seated in two or four-person pods that will be socially distant.

Also beginning tonight, a new commitment to care program called "Play It Safe". The program is designed to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The "Play It Safe" program includes several guidelines and protocols like attendees must wear a mask at all times except while eating or drinking in their seat, a "no bag" policy, and plenty of touch-free amenities.

Also, TD Garden will be sanitizing the arena before, during, and after events. All in an effort to keep everyone safe and getting ever closer to letting ALL fans in the Garden.

For more information, including more details on the "Play It Safe" program, please check out WHDH's website here.