Canal Street to become ‘car-free zone’ for Bruins and Celtics home playoff games, city announces

BOSTON — As the flowers in the Public Garden begin to bloom, and the end of one season blossoms into another, it signifies a time of change for the City of Champions.

That change, of course, was the flipping of the sports calendar from the regular season to the postseason. With both the Bruins and Celtics poised to make deep playoff runs, city officials announced on Thursday the return of the Boston Playoff Hub on Canal Street.

The hub will create a car-free zone for fans to gather before and during home playoff games at TD Garden, and bars will be able to extend their outdoor patios onto the sidewalk on Canal Street.

“I’m grateful to our partners for teaming up with the City to bring back the Playoff Hub, creating a fun experience for our hockey and basketball fans,” Mayor Michelle Wu said. “With both the Bruins and the Celtics in the playoffs this year, we’re excited to give Boston fans a space to safely gather, cheer on their favorite teams, and support our local businesses.”

The Playoff Hub is free and open to the public and will start with the first Celtics playoff home game on Saturday, April 15. Canal Street will be closed from three hours before the start of the game to one hour after the game ends, according to officials. Extended patios follow the same schedule.

Parking regulations will be posted ahead of the games and vehicles in violation of the posted regulations will be towed.

“It’s been an amazing season and we are so excited that TD Garden is one of just a few arenas in the country to have both teams headed to the playoffs,” said Amy Latimer, president of TD Garden.  “Thanks to the great partnership with Mayor Wu, City of Boston and Downtown North Association for extending the Playoff Hub beyond TD Garden and The Hub on Causeway.”

The Boston Celtics playoff schedule can be found here. The Boston Bruins playoff dates have yet to be announced.

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