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Agraham1

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Give Boston back the Boston Garden

by Agraham1
created June 23, 2008, last edited February 10, 2009
14
Vote

I'm from Chicago and I live and die by Chicago sports. As many Chicago fans know, there are many rumors going around that Wrigley Field might have a name change. Whether your from Chicago or not Wrigley wouldn't be the same if it wasn't called Wrigley, the same is true for Fenway and other major sports arenas. While I was watching the NBA Finals this year, I thought about the TD Banknorth Garden and I realized how terrible a name that is for such a historic arena. I know that it isn't the same building but the Boston Garden is still the Boston Garden. It has the same fans and the same amazing atmosphere. I was thinking why not try and make a statement, as fans, to try and change the name back to the Boston Garden.

While I was rooting for the Celtics in the finals I am not a diehard fan but I am sports fan and the world of sports needs the Boston Garden, not the FleetCenter or the TD Banknorth Garden or as Bill Simmmons so eloquently puts it, "Whatever The Hell The Garden's Called Now." Why can’t the name of the arena just officially be named the Boston Garden? If the TD BankNorth, or Commerce Bank or whatever their new name will be after their merger (see article) still want their name in the Arena, they can call it “The Boston Garden presented by TD Commerce Back” or even the “TD Boston Garden.” Theoretically, their name will be in the title but the Garden will be called what it should have been called since 1997 when the old Boston Garden was torn down and the FleetCenter was built.

Over the last four years the Garden has gone through 3 different name changes not including the series of daily name changes that occurred in early 2005 when arena owner Delaware North Companies auctioned off naming rights each day to raise money for charity. The Garden has basically gone through hundreds of name changes over the last 5 years and it is time to settle on the one that it has been since 1928, “The Boston Garden.” The people of Boston need to know that their beloved Basketball and Hockey Arena will have one name, a name that can last for a long time.

In response, I have created a campaign on a social action website to try and do something about it. If you want to check it out you can see it here: https://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/give-the-boston-garden-back-to-boston/

If you care about this, the actual action isn't very difficult. All we want to do is make sure TD Banknorth knows that the fans care. All you have to do is join the campaign, tell your friends, and wait until the tipping point is reached and we can all do something together. Thanks


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Yakob878MVP
375 days ago
Score 2+-
well over the last few years puting your name in the building might have been a huge part of the owners income puting up sponcers
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JuTMSY4Legend
375 days ago
Score 1+-
last i remembered, 25 mil a year...and that's practically all profit (not revenue)...

so yeah, its a big part of the owner's income...

it sucks (ya, I agree w/ the writer) but money talks and bullshit walks...
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JuTMSY4Legend
375 days ago
Score 1+-
I take it back...its 7.5 mil a year ; - )
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Agraham1Pee Wee
375 days ago
Score 0+-
I definitely agree and they can still be the sponsors but keep the name. Even something as simple as "The Boston Garden ft. TD Banknorth" But it would be referrred to as the Boston Garden for all intents and purposes.
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JuTMSY4Legend
375 days ago
Score 4+-
and entirely defeat the purpose of sponsoring it?
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Agraham1Pee Wee
375 days ago
Score 1+-
can't hurt to try though, especially if enough people voice their opinion
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JuTMSY4Legend
375 days ago
Score 2+-
the real hitch is that Jeremy Jacobs (a notorious cheap skate) owns the bruins and the garden... There is no way in hell he'll buy that unless he makes more money some way...
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Smmonroe2Varsity Captain
375 days ago
Score 1+-
Things are to commerical today, and I agree with Jut Jacobs is a cheap skate and will never do it, he also has ownership in TD Banknorth, so it makes sense for him, he is making money off of himself and all he cares about is making money.
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Yakob878MVP
375 days ago
Score 1+-
its a shame when money ruins sports, celtics fans can't complain since they won the nba finals so maybe in 20 years, but i do like the sound of boston garden to young to have remebered the original
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Agraham1Pee Wee
375 days ago
Score 2+-
I know I am repeating myself, but why not try. All I'm asking is that we try, it's worth it in my mind that Jacobs knows how much this means. If we al flood TD Banknorth's customer service on the same day or over the same week. They can just ignore us but they certainly will now about it.
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JuTMSY4Legend
375 days ago
Score 2+-
we could also all not buy gas for a day (this time a friday!) and then drive prices down via a pseudo fake out supply and demand... Brilliant!
Permalink
MegECass110AAA-er
375 days ago
Score 0+-
That's not a bad idea, but it's still the Garden, for all intents and purposes. The legacy is still there, always will be.

When they originally opened the new venue, I think it was the BankBoston Center, or something like that (BankBoston owned it). But BankBoston merged with Fleet, I think, right before it opened, so it turned into the Fleet Center. So it could've been the BankBoston Garden, which would have been the best case scenario, but alas.

What's in a name, anyway? Sure, it may be awkward, but it's all about the team that plays there.

One exception...we named our dog Murphy after we heard Chris Berman call Jack Murphy Stadium "The Murph."
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MegECass110AAA-er
375 days ago
Score 0+-
BankBoston didn't own the place, they had the sponsorship, you know what I meant.
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MylfJV Squad
374 days ago
Score 1+-
It was actually the Shawmut Center. When Shawmut was bought bu Fleet they renamed it the Fleet Center, but in the contract it only allowed for one name change. (This was when BayBank and Bank of Boston merged. Fleet and BankBoston didn't merge until a few years later) When Bank of America bought Fleet, they either had to leave it the Fleet Center or renegotiate the contract. BoA decided against renegotiating, so in stepped TD BankNorth. It honestly doesn't matter whether the building is the TD BankNorth Garden or the Boston Garden. People just call it the Garden like they always have, and that is the way it should be.
Permalink
Yakob878MVP
375 days ago
Score 0+-
reminds me of CMGI Field changing To Gillite before the pats played a season aat CMGI
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The PipDiv-I Stud
375 days ago
Score 0+-
Not a single event had even occured at the damn place! The company went bankrupt or something before the stadium opened.
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LASportsblogAAA-er
375 days ago
Score 0+-
TD Bankworth wants YOU to know that THEY don't CARE about YOU, the FAN! They care about getting their brand seen by millions on TV and tens of thousands in the Boston area. The owners of the Garden care about $$$$ so they will name it after who ever pays the most. Bottom line - end of story.
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The PipDiv-I Stud
375 days ago
Score 0+-
Actually it was a corporate way to flip off Bank of America. It's a long story and I'll share, but it was a way to give a competitor the middle finger.
Permalink
LASportsblogAAA-er
375 days ago
Score 0+-
Ya - and a big Fack Off to BofA which as of now I can't name what stadium or arena they are branding.
Permalink
Yakob878MVP
375 days ago
Score 0+-
exactley
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The PipDiv-I Stud
375 days ago
Score 1+-
Wrigley Field was a corporate sponsorship name so who cares. Let's really go back to its original name Weegham Park.  ;) Much like Fenway's Citgo sign, it started as an ad but now is so much more. If they aren't getting a new ballpark then changing the name is criminal and people should suffer much pain before it's name is changed.
Permalink | Reply
LASportsblogAAA-er
375 days ago
Score 1+-
I think this whole discussion shows how we are branded as people and how brands affect our thinking, emotions and actions.

Let's take Utah for example:

Anyone recognize the Energy Solutions Center? Can anyone put it on a map? Most likely the answer is no.

Now if I said Delta Center most would be able to tell me the Jazz play there. We associate the Jazz with Delta Center, it's a natural match due to the branding over time. Branding is a much more common part of our lives then we'd like to believe or imagine.
Permalink
The PipDiv-I Stud
375 days ago
Score 3+-
You are correct. When those doing the branding do there jobs right it works, and when they don't the 76ers play at the FU Center. I don't mind, we are supposed to be a capitalist society so let the companies buy some high priced advertising space. Just don't be stupid. This whole thing reminded me of how funny it was to see the Celtics going to LA to play at a stadium named after a company based 30 miles west of boston. A company that got their start by the venture capital group that the current owner runs (partly owns?). I can rpovide a flow chart if needed.  ;)
Permalink
LASportsblogAAA-er
374 days ago
Score 0+-
Gnarly Pip
Permalink
SSreportersLegend
375 days ago
Score 0+-
How else will we recognize the existence of Amway Arena then?:)
Permalink | Reply
The PipDiv-I Stud
375 days ago
Score 0+-
Quixtar! Get with the most current lawsuit/re-branding efforts!
Permalink
RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer
373 days ago
Score 1+-
Fenway Park: Named Fenway in order to promote the real estate in the Fens section of Boston. And the "Green" Monster wasn't always green. It used to be completely tattooed with advertisements.

What's funny about the TD BankNorth Garden is that I still call it the Fleet Center. The Boston Garden is gone. It had a low ceiling, cramped seats, and very poor ventilation. I honestly don't care what they call the arena on Causeway Street. So long as the Celtics win championships, and the Bruins can figure out to beat Montreal, I'm a happy camper.

This comment brought to you by Carl's Jr.
Permalink | Reply
CityhockeyfeverVarsity Captain
373 days ago
Score 0+-
I know I'm a New Yorker, so I'd have a different view than Bostonians, but I think that the "new" Garden doesn't need to bear the same name as the old venue. Boston Garden as it was had its storied history and having the "Garden" part of the current name in the current arena is good enough for me.

Then again, I can be controdicting myself because the Yankees are doing what some of you are wanting. Their new ballpark set to open next year will bear the same exact name as the current one that will close at the end of this year or a month later if the NHL outdoor game is held there.

My point is, I'm satisfied enough with the name of the current building, as long as it's not ridiculous. Even if it were called "Boston Garden", we know it is not the one we all remember.
Permalink | Reply
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Categories: Opinions | Opinions by User Agraham1 | June 23, 2008 | June 2008 | Boston Celtics Opinions | Boston Bruins Opinions | Boston Garden Opinions | TD Banknorth Opinions | Basketball Opinions | Hockey Opinions

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