Parade of Champions: ‘Well over’ 1 million fans attend Celtics’ rolling rally in Boston
Confetti rained down on more than 1 million Boston Celtics fans Friday as the team rolled through the city on duck boats with the Larry O’Brien Trophy to celebrate their NBA championship win. The morning of celebrations started with huge crowds gathering downtown. Many of those waiting outside TD Garden were treated to an early encounter with the trophy after team owner Wyc Grousbeck and his family were forced to walk the final half-mile to the arena because of traffic and barricades. Once Grousbeck and other members of the organization made it into the arena, they started the celebration with a rally that included players and their family members, members of the Celtics organization, arena staff, season ticket holders and guests including Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.“It’s unbelievable. It still doesn’t seem true. But just trying to stay in the moment,” All-Star Jayson Tatum said during a pre-parade rally at the Garden.Next, they loaded the team and trophies onto duck boats for the parade, which lasted about 90 minutes. It was the city’s 13th championship parade this century and the Celtics’ second.The parade began around 11:15 a.m. in front of TD Garden on Causeway Street. The team rode on duck boats for about 90 minutes past City Hall Plaza and the Boston Common on Tremont Street before the parade ended on Boylston Street near the Hynes Convention Center. Mayor Michelle Wu’s office said they believe that “well over” 1 million people were in attendance. MBTA Commuter Rail officials said the estimated ridership on Friday was “on par with 5 days of regular weekday ridership condensed into 5-6 hours.” Video below: What was it like? Celtics euphoria!While the city had to wait nearly two decades for this celebration, the Celtics are in a solid position to try to become the NBA’s first back-to-back champions since the Warriors in 2018.All five starters — Tatum, Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis — are under contract for next season. After having secured long-term extensions with Brown, Holiday and Porzingis, the Celtics are expected to do the same with Tatum and White this summer.Reserve Luke Kornet didn’t let fans forget the Celtics’ history of titles, leading fans on a count from one to 18 at the end of the parade route.Their message to the city is clear: Keep the duck boats gassed up.Highlights:12:50 p.m. Celtics players and staff return to TD Garden after parade12:15 p.m. Fans seen chasing the duck boat carrying NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown after it reached the end of the route. 12:07 p.m. Coach Mazzulla’s duck boat reaches the Hynes Convention Center, the end of the parade route. 11:35 a.m. Front of parade reaches Boston Common on Tremont Street. 11:28 a.m. Parade turns from Staniford onto Cambridge Street, rolling past City Hall Plaza. 11:20 a.m. Jayson Tatum lifts the Larry O’Brien trophy as his duck boat emerges from TD Garden. 11:17 a.m. Confetti begins to spray from the lead vehicle as the parade begins. 11:03 a.m. Paul Pierce, a member of the 2008 championship team, seen boarding the duck boats at TD Garden with the 2008 trophy. 10:50 a.m. Some Celtics players greet select fans on the parquet while others begin to head out toward the duck boats. 10:40 a.m. Boston Celtics players participate in a panel discussion on TD Garden parquet about their season, NBA Finals achievements. 10:25 a.m. Gov. Maura Healey and Mayor Michelle Wu speak to a tip off event inside TD Garden10:25 a.m. Kristaps Porzingis greets the crowd outside TD Garden ahead of the parade. 9:32 a.m. Larry O’Brien trophy and 2024 championship banner walked down Causeway Street by majority owner Wyc Grousbeck. 8:36 a.m. Large crowd already gathered downtown heard chanting “Let’s Go Celtics”8:20 a.m. Coach buses labeled “Boston Celtics” seen heading toward TD Garden with a police escort. 7:07 a.m. Duck boats arrive at TD Garden and enter the garage with a police escort.5 a.m. Normal MBTA subway service begins. Peak subway service is planned from 6 a.m. through 6 p.m. Bus routes 9, 10, 39, 43, 55, 504 and SL 5 will all have parade-related detours on Friday. Overnight, 25 of Boston Duck Tours’ iconic vehicles were transformed for the parade at their Dorchester garage.
Confetti rained down on more than 1 million Boston Celtics fans Friday as the team rolled through the city on duck boats with the Larry O’Brien Trophy to celebrate their NBA championship win.
The morning of celebrations started with huge crowds gathering downtown. Many of those waiting outside TD Garden were treated to an early encounter with the trophy after team owner Wyc Grousbeck and his family were forced to walk the final half-mile to the arena because of traffic and barricades.
Once Grousbeck and other members of the organization made it into the arena, they started the celebration with a rally that included players and their family members, members of the Celtics organization, arena staff, season ticket holders and guests including Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
“It’s unbelievable. It still doesn’t seem true. But just trying to stay in the moment,” All-Star Jayson Tatum said during a pre-parade rally at the Garden.
Next, they loaded the team and trophies onto duck boats for the parade, which lasted about 90 minutes. It was the city’s 13th championship parade this century and the Celtics’ second.
The parade began around 11:15 a.m. in front of TD Garden on Causeway Street. The team rode on duck boats for about 90 minutes past City Hall Plaza and the Boston Common on Tremont Street before the parade ended on Boylston Street near the Hynes Convention Center.
Mayor Michelle Wu’s office said they believe that “well over” 1 million people were in attendance.
MBTA Commuter Rail officials said the estimated ridership on Friday was “on par with 5 days of regular weekday ridership condensed into 5-6 hours.”
Video below: What was it like? Celtics euphoria!
All five starters — Tatum, Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis — are under contract for next season. After having secured long-term extensions with Brown, Holiday and Porzingis, the Celtics are expected to do the same with Tatum and White this summer.
Reserve Luke Kornet didn’t let fans forget the Celtics’ history of titles, leading fans on a count from one to 18 at the end of the parade route.
Their message to the city is clear: Keep the duck boats gassed up.
Highlights:
- 12:50 p.m. Celtics players and staff return to TD Garden after parade
- 12:15 p.m. Fans seen chasing the duck boat carrying NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown after it reached the end of the route.
- 12:07 p.m. Coach Mazzulla’s duck boat reaches the Hynes Convention Center, the end of the parade route.
- 11:35 a.m. Front of parade reaches Boston Common on Tremont Street.
- 11:28 a.m. Parade turns from Staniford onto Cambridge Street, rolling past City Hall Plaza.
- 11:20 a.m. Jayson Tatum lifts the Larry O’Brien trophy as his duck boat emerges from TD Garden.
- 11:17 a.m. Confetti begins to spray from the lead vehicle as the parade begins.
- 11:03 a.m. Paul Pierce, a member of the 2008 championship team, seen boarding the duck boats at TD Garden with the 2008 trophy.
- 10:50 a.m. Some Celtics players greet select fans on the parquet while others begin to head out toward the duck boats.
- 10:40 a.m. Boston Celtics players participate in a panel discussion on TD Garden parquet about their season, NBA Finals achievements.
- 10:25 a.m. Gov. Maura Healey and Mayor Michelle Wu speak to a tip off event inside TD Garden
- 10:25 a.m. Kristaps Porzingis greets the crowd outside TD Garden ahead of the parade.
- 9:32 a.m. Larry O’Brien trophy and 2024 championship banner walked down Causeway Street by majority owner Wyc Grousbeck.
- 8:36 a.m. Large crowd already gathered downtown heard chanting “Let’s Go Celtics”
- 8:20 a.m. Coach buses labeled “Boston Celtics” seen heading toward TD Garden with a police escort.
- 7:07 a.m. Duck boats arrive at TD Garden and enter the garage with a police escort.
- 5 a.m. Normal MBTA subway service begins. Peak subway service is planned from 6 a.m. through 6 p.m. Bus routes 9, 10, 39, 43, 55, 504 and SL 5 will all have parade-related detours on Friday.
- Overnight, 25 of Boston Duck Tours’ iconic vehicles were transformed for the parade at their Dorchester garage.
