We love new stadiums. They can be great for teams, fans, and the communities in which they reside. It’s that third item that is the most important. Professional sports teams are a great source of local pride and their community involvement has become both a privilege and expectation for teams in every city and league. Shouldn’t the palaces they play in be held to the same standard?

This was the thought process when the historic sports-city of Boston allotted TD Garden the honor of becoming home to the Bruins and Celtics in 1993. They stipulated that “the Garden be available at least three times a year for charity events.” Boston simply wanted to give back to the fans who bleed Bruins’ black & gold and Celtics’ green each and every season. However, as three teenagers recently discovered, for 24 years, the TD Garden hasn’t been living up to their end of the bargain. Massachusetts has been swindled.

These three teenagers are trying to build a hockey rink in Hyde Square, a relatively poor area. They were investigating how to fundraise money for a $21.5 million facility, and, in their research, they discovered the Garden reneging on their deal. Now, the company could be liable for millions of dollars. The case is now getting national attention and has caught the eye of SFC.

These incredible teens discovered a way to fund their goals, learned important civic lessons about legislation and policy, and got to experience the underbelly of the sports-politics dynamic. These brilliant high-school students should be rewarded for their courage and duty to Boston.

What better way to reward these teens than to demand that TD Garden honor its obligation to the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The prospect of a new sports-facility would have enormous benefits for their community and the Massachusetts hockey fandom as a whole. It’s no secret that hockey has immense significance in Boston and we find it troublesome that TD Garden has yet to deliver on their promise to the fanbase of an original-six team. Additionally, we think the city should demand that owner Jeremy Jacobs, who is worth over $4-billion and consistently profits off of sellout crowds, completely fund this rink without hesitation. Who knows, he could be investing in a future star player of his own. Let’s not forget where NHL great Jeremy Roenick (Boston, MA) and current Bruins young gun Frank Vatrano (East Longmeadow, MA) come from.  

If you think that these kids deserve a rink, contact the office of the Department of Conservation and Recreation by signing our letter here, or calling Commissioner Roy at 617-626-4973.

Do you think that's not enough? Let us know what else on our poll.