It used to be that whenever the Bruins or Celtics were playing at TD Garden, Canal Street was one of the busiet streets in the city, with fans flocking the bars that line around the arena.
But as the Bruins took on the New York Islanders Thursday and welcomed fans back for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, a strange silence hung over Canal. Bars like The Fours stood empty, hollow monuments to the business game days used to bring them. All that really remained was a Dunkin' and a couple of t-shirt guys.
It was as fitting a scene as any for the return of spectators to major Boston sports during a pandemic after a year of bubbles and empty stands. For the roughly 2,000 fans who got tickets, it was a mix of familiar sights and the "new normal" as they got back to a pastime that seemed unthinkable just a couple of months ago.
Anthony Russo and his dad, Tony, from Beverly, were standing by the statue of Bobby Orr, waiting for the chance to get into a Bruins game for the first time since Boston made it to the 2019 playoffs.
"It feels pretty good, it's kind of cool to be back," Anthony said.
His dad was a little more reflective, noting how odd it was to have so few people around for a Bruins home game.
"It's kind of strange too," Tony said. "The crowd, you're used to everybody buzzing around, excitment. ... It's quiet."
Others were just happy to be there. Spencer Holden and his buddy Joe Parziale were especially stoked to be back.
"We're actually kind of excited because ... we lost our Patriots season tickets, 'cause fans couldn't go, you know?" Holden said. "Being back in the stands and everything, it's awesome, man!"
Inside, fans were subjected to a number of new rules to cut down on the risk of transmitting COVID. Face masks were required at all times, unless fans were eating or drinking in their seats. Fans had to sign the "Play It Safe Promise," which is essentially a COVID honor code, before being allowed to enter.
Only 12 percent of the Garden's capacity is currently allowed to be filled per state guidelines, meaning that entire sections were empty. Fans sat in small clusters spaced out in the stands, creating polka dots of black and gold against the dark seats.
Despite the new rules, for Parziale, going back helped to create some sense of normalcy, if just for a little bit.
"It feels like a regular, old life, you know? Fans coming back," he said. "I mean, yes, we have to wear a mask, but, oh well. But still, you get to go to the game for the first time since the pandemic. So, very excited."
The acoustics inside TD Garden favored the crowd at their loudest, but it was striking just how quiet a mostly empty arena can feel, even with fans. In the moments between chants and music blaring over the loudspeakers, every slap of a stick hitting the puck felt crisp bouncing off the ice.
But for the Bruins, the presence of their supporters was a welcome sight.
"I think it's great that we got fans back and we got the support, and we know that all the fans want to be here," said Bruins Defenseman Steven Kampfer after the game. "Hopefully we continue to round this curve and we get more fans in stands the closer we get towards the end of the season and playoffs."
Even with the welcome sight of fans, however, the Bruins couldn't topple the Islanders in a 4-3 heartbreaker in overtime. As soon as New York hit the game ending goal, a message popped up on the jumbotron reminding fans to adhere to the special exit procedures brought on by the pandemic.
With the Celtics and Red Sox set to welcome back fans next week, it almost feels like life is getting back to normal — except it isn't. The pandemic is still pushing most sports operations to their limits. Even the Bruins had to delay their fan homecoming by two days as they dealt with several players in the NHL's COVID protocol.
Fans back in the stands of games feels like a relic of another time, a luxury you have to reacclamate yourself to. For the Bruins and their fans, even a taste of the old feeling brought a flavor that had been sorely missed. Even if TD Garden and the streets around it are still mostly empty.
