First time in history: Women’s Beanpot Championship to be held at TD Garden
03/21/2023 By Ashlyn Wang
TD Garden announced Tuesday that the arena will host the 2024 Women’s Beanpot title game, marking a historic first for the Women’s Beanpot Tournament since it first launched in 1979.
Photo courtesy of MGN.
The women’s Beanpot was previously held at four colleges on a rotating basis, while the men’s Beanpot was held at TD Garden. But at this point, players from four women’s college ice hockey teams—Boston College, Boston University, Harvard University, and Northeastern University—will compete for the title at the iconic Boston arena on Jan. 23, 2024, at the 45th Dunkin’ Women’s Beanpot Championship. The move is expected to be a step towards a more equitable platform for men’s and women’s competitions.
Amy Latimer, president of TD Garden, expressed excitement about having the women’s championship at the venue. “We are thrilled to announce that TD Garden will be the proud home of The Dunkin’ Women’s Beanpot Championship in 2024,” Latimer said in a news release.
The 45th Women’s Beanpot Tournament will feature a title sponsor for the first time. According to TD Garden, Dunkin’ announced its sponsorship of the 2023 Men’s Beanpot Tournament in January and is also sponsoring the 2024 Women’s Beanpot Tournament.
In announcing this move, players from the women’s hockey teams of four universities were on hand for the Boston Bruins home game against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night, as they celebrated “Women in Sports Night,” which aimed at highlighting the work and efforts of women in sports. Players met with fans and took photos with the trophy at the venue. In recognition of their 18th championship victory in the 2023 tournament, the Northeastern University Huskies were also honored at the event.
“As a former collegiate athlete, a fan, and an executive in the sports industry, I am so excited for aspiring female hockey players, the current student-athletes, and the fans, to have this unforgettable experience,” said Latimer, referring to the upcoming women’s tournament. “TD Garden and The Beanpot are amazing platforms to showcase the talent and amplify the growth of women’s hockey.”
The championship round and consolation of the 2024 tournament will be broadcast on NESN. More detailed information will be available on the stadium’s official website in the fall.