BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Boston Bruins will play in front of fans for the first time since the pandemic began on Thursday night. The Bruins will take on the New York Islanders at TD Garden. The arena will be open for around 2,200 fans, or 12% of the stadium's capacity.
Local bars and restaurants were relieved to see fans coming back to the Garden. For Bill Fairweather, the owner of The Greatest Bar around the corner from the Garden, having customers milling around the arena is a welcome change.
"We're excited... it's a step in the right direction," said Fairweather. "Hopefully it's a light at the end of the tunnel," he said.
Fans were equally elated to be returning. One fan, wearing a Bobby Orr jersey, said that he was expecting a close game, but a win from the Bruins, who are 16-8-4 on the season.
"I think they're going to be excited for the fans to be back, and they're going to give us something we want," he said. The fan described being able to go to games again as "euphoria."
The puck drops at 7:00 PM. The arena is asking fans to comply with the "Play It Safe Promise," which includes mask-wearing and compliance with the state's travel advisory.
WBZ's Mike Macklin (@mikemacklinwbz) has more from TD Garden:
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(Photo: Mike Macklin/WBZ)