Get the duck boats ready. It's almost parade time in Boston.
Championship parades are one of the premier events for any sports town. It's one thing to watch on TV as your favorite sports club clinches a title, and it's even better when you're present in the building to see the action unfold in person.
Parades, though, allow the team and the city to become one, with fans flocking to see the athletes that won a trophy in person, celebrating with music, confetti and plenty of alcohol.
Every city puts its own spin on the celebration. In Boston, it's all about the duck boats. These amphibious vehicles are common throughout the city thanks to the Boston Duck Tours. When it comes to a championship, the duck boats are transformed into party buses.
What exactly is a duck boat parade, and what is its history in Boston? The Sporting News explains.
MORE: Everything to know about the Celtics' 2024 championship parade
What is a duck boat parade?
A duck boat parade is exactly what it sounds like — a parade on duck boats.
The tradition is a staple among the four major Boston sports teams. While other cities' teams ride on top of buses, trucks or other modes of transportation for their parades, Beantown uses duck boats. These vehicles are made to be both driven on land as well as in water, although parade routes have not involved a trip on the Charles River or in the Boston Harbor.
The duck boats have a back deck on the vehicles that allow players to stand and wave to the crowd as they pass by. It allows for closer interaction to the fans, but also provides a barrier, protecting the teams from the rowdy crowds.
Simply put, it's a unique way for the Celtics, Patriots, Bruins and Red Sox to have their parades stand out among the rest, with a twist that caters to Boston fans.
When did Boston's duck boat parades start?
The first duck boat parade in Boston came in 2002, when the Patriots won the franchise's first Super Bowl. Boston Duck Tours were first introduced in 1994, and New England's championship was the first in the city since the creation of the tours.
Former Boston mayor Thomas Menino implemented the idea, and it stuck. Since then, the duck boats are synonymous with Boston celebration parades — and they have been needed quite frequently.
In the 21st century, the four Boston teams in the major North American sports leagues have combined for a total of 13 championships — six Super Bowls by the Patriots (2002, 2004, 2005, 2015, 2017, 2019), four World Series by the Red Sox (2004, 2007, 2013, 2018), two NBA titles by the Celtics (2008, 2024) and a Stanley Cup by the Bruins (2011).
What is a duck boat?
Duck boats are vehicles that were originally in the U.S. Army. These machines, also referred to as DUKW boats, were military-style amphibious landing vessels utilized during war to travel across land and bodies of water.
The most famous instance of these being used in action were in World World II during the D-Day invasion on the beaches of Normandy.
