Delaware North is investing about $10 million to renovate TD Garden’s 89 suites over a two-year span.
The arena is 17 years old and the suites needed upgrades in technology, decor and food service to continue providing a high-quality experience for clients paying $150,000 to $300,000 annually for long-term commitments, said Amy Latimer, senior vice president for the arena and the Boston Bruins.
 |
Group One Partners has designed the renovations for the Boston arena’s 89 suites.
Photo by: GROUP ONE PARTNERS / TD GARDEN
|
The project started this offseason, when 39 of the suites were “torn down to the studs” during the first phase of the renovation in Boston, Latimer said. The remaining 50 will be improved next offseason.
Two years ago, Delaware North began the renovation process by surveying suite holders to find out what was important to them for the refresh. The feedback included having a choice in decor and an opportunity to brand their spaces with company logos and messages.
In turn, arena officials gave them two options for interior design, including countertops and cabinetry. Delaware North also developed a graphics package with the flexibility for suite holders to display their firms’ brands on the interior walls and change the images as needed.
On the technology end, the Ticketmaster Suite Management system will be installed as an additional layer of security. The technology requires a suite ticket holder to scan the ticket bar code at the suite’s front door to enter.
Over the years, unauthorized people wandering into suites to “help themselves” to food and drink has been an issue on occasion, Latimer said, and the suite access system should prevent those incidents.
The access-control piece of the project will be in place for all suites this season.
In addition, Delaware North is taking the next step with Cisco’s Internet protocol television network to activate a feature for suite patrons to order food and retail through flat screens connected to the system.
Long term, TD Garden is in the early stages of developing a master plan for future upgrades that could include a new event-level club. Delaware North has been working initially with Rossetti on forming a list of potential projects, and the arena owner most likely will hire the Detroit architect after it completes a final plan for improvements, she said.
For the suite renovation, local firm Group One Partners designed the interior spaces. The same firm has worked with Delaware North on other premium-seat projects.
