The “rolling rally” honoring the NBA champions is scheduled for Friday morning at 11 a.m.
The three days separating Monday’s game and the celebration is longer than the average wait between a championship-clinching game and the subsequent parade. Officials were hesitant to hold the parade mid-week due to the dangerous heat wave setting in. Temperatures are expected to be in the low-80s Friday, down from expected highs of 95 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said that the planning process involved “a lot of knocking on wood and crossing of fingers” as her administration worked with the Celtics in the days leading up to the end of the NBA season. She acknowledged how many players are eager to begin their offseasons and spend time with their families outside the city.
“The fact that they’ve been willing to stay to allow us to get past this heat wave is another huge service for the city of Boston,” Wu said of the players.
A detailed map of the parade route and other resources are available online. It will begin outside TD Garden on Causeway Street, run past City Hall Plaza, along the Boston Common on Tremont Street, and end on Boylston Street near the Hynes Convention Center. Officials expect the parade to last about 90 minutes.
Parking on certain streets will be prohibited beginning just after midnight early Friday morning. Streets will begin closing to traffic starting at 9 a.m. A full list of parking restrictions can be found on the city’s website.
Multiple public safety officials said that they were preparing to have all hands on deck Friday. The MBTA Transit Police will have the “maximum” number of officers working, both uniformed and plainclothes. EMTs and firefighters will be walking throughout the parade route ready to help anyone in need. Boston police officers, State Police troopers, and other law enforcement personnel will be spread throughout the route.
Officials warned fans not to drink alcohol or use marijuana at the parade. Fighting or other disruptions will not be tolerated. Anyone found to be climbing street signs or other structures will be asked to get down and could face arrest. Guns, knives, fireworks, and drones should be left at home.
A total of eight people were arrested after rowdy celebrations outside TD Garden on Monday night. A Boston police officer suffered minor injuries.
More than a million people are expected to flock to Boston for the parade, Wu said. There are currently no known threats, “credible or otherwise,” to the event, according to MBTA Transit Police Chief Kenneth Green.
Officials warned that traffic into and out of Boston will be significantly impacted and urged fans to use public transportation. The MBTA is better prepared for an event like this than it was a year ago, General Manager Phillip Eng said.
The subway system will be running at peak service levels all day, and Eng said he expects trains to run frequently. Ideally, Orange Line trains will run seven minutes apart, Red Line trains will run six minutes apart, Blue Line trains will run five minutes apart, and Green Line trains will run three minutes apart, Eng said. Most MBTA bus routes will not be impacted, but some will necessarily have to be detoured. Passengers should plan ahead and purchase round-trip tickets to avoid long waits at fare machines.
The Commuter Rail will be operating on a weekday schedule, with accommodations for heavy ridership. In a social media post, the T told people to “please avoid traveling into the city” on Friday.
💚🏆💚
Boston have been one of the best teams in NBA in the last years, this championship means justice and now they are the most winner team in NBA. Greetings and congrats for the championship!
You think a "dangerous heatwave" is going to stop the rabid Boston fanbase? Hell no.