Fans may be allowed back at TD Garden in late March

Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker held a press conference today where he revealed that the state will press forward in its phased reopening plan.

Part of that push forward: reopening large event venues.

Per the Boston Globe, those venues will include TD Garden.

From the article above:

Governor Charlie Baker announced Thursday that the state will reopen large venues on March 22, including the arenas where Boston’s pro sports teams play: Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, and TD Garden.

The reopening comes as the state plans to shift into Phase 4, Step 1 of the plan outlined last spring in the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. It applies to venues that can accommodate more than 5,000 people. They will be expected to operate at 12 percent capacity, and will be required to submit a plan to the state department of public health about the precautions being implemented.

Obviously all of this is very tenuous, and depends largely on how the current wave of COVID-19 infections in Massachusetts evolves.

You have to think that the B's and Celtics will be itching to get fans back in the arena, both for the atmosphere and (if they're being honest) the money.

The Garden's Instagram account posted this earlier:

It remains to be seen what kind of plan the B's will submit to the state, and what the entry requirements will be.

Will fans need to take a rapid test? Be vaccinated? Time will tell.

For reference, 12% of the Garden's hockey capacity would be around 2,100 people.

However, it's unclear if that 12% is fans only or all people, as any introduction of fans will require the addition of staff too.

Anyways, the take-home point is that Bruins games may not be fan-free much longer!

If you could go to that first B's home game, would you go? Or would you prefer to wait a few months in hopes that things are more settled?

I definitely find myself in the latter camp.