Link to Virtual Tour 261 at Para Maria is a seasonal women̢۪s sports pop-up named after bib #261, worn by Kathrine Switzer in 1967 when she became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon. From March 17 to April 30, it is the city's dedicated destination for watching the Boston Legacy, the Boston Fleet, and the Women's March Madness Final Four.
In 1967, race official Jock Semple tried to rip Kathrine Switzer's bib off her body mid-race. She finished anyway. Bib #261 became a symbol of what women in sports have always faced and always overcome.
In 2025, Boston's NWSL expansion team, the Boston Legacy, is playing its first-ever season. The PWHL's Boston Fleet is building toward a championship run. Women's college basketball is drawing the largest television audiences in the sport's history. This is not a moment to watch from the sidelines.
261 at Para Maria is Boston's answer. Chef Tatiana Rosana built a menu of globally inspired comfort food to match the energy of every match. The Boston Globe's photography exhibit documents the moments in women's sports that made Boston who she is. And the schedule runs from the PWHL to March Madness to the Boston Marathon and through the full NWSL spring season.
“She ran anyway. Bib 261 crossed the finish line and nothing in women's sports was ever quite the same.”
Kathrine Switzer · Boston Marathon 1967
18.9M viewers for Women's March Madness Final Four (2024) — an all-time record
2025: The Boston Legacy's debut NWSL season — Boston's first women's pro soccer team
The Boston Globe's photography exhibit runs throughout the residency, documenting defining moments in Boston women's sports history alongside Para Maria's watch party atmosphere.
Gallery Image Labels (placeholders for photography team)
Para Maria Interior
Boston Globe Exhibit
Chef Tatiana Rosana
Watch Party Setup
Happy Hour
Boston Legacy Match
Every match is on the big screen. Doors open one hour before kickoff or tip-off. Happy hour runs daily 4–7 PM through April 30. No cover.
Game Schedule
Mar 17 [PWHL] Boston Fleet vs. Toronto Sceptrees 7:00 PM NESN — St. Patrick's Day
Mar 18–19 [NCAA] March Madness — First Four TBD ESPN+ / CBS Sports Network
Mar 20 [NCAA] March Madness — First & Second Rounds TBD ESPN+ / CBS Sports Network
Mar 21 [NWSL] Houston Dash vs. Boston Legacy 1:00 PM ABC — Legacy debut
Mar 22–23 [NCAA] March Madness — First & Second Rounds TBD ESPN+ / CBS Sports Network
Mar 28 [NWSL] Boston Legacy vs. Utah Royals FC 9:00 AM / 12:00 PM ABC / ESPN2 — Double header day
Apr 3 [NCAA] March Madness Final Four 7:00 PM ABC
Apr 3 [NWSL] San Diego Wave vs. Boston Legacy 8:00 PM NWSL+
Apr 5 [NCAA] NCAA Championship Game 3:30 PM ABC — March Madness Final
Apr 11 [PWHL] Boston Fleet vs. Montréal Victoire — TD Garden 7:00 PM NESN — Viewing party event
Apr 20 [Marathon] Boston Marathon All day — — 261 in-bar celebration
Apr 25 [NWSL] Chicago Stars vs. Boston Legacy 6:30 PM ION
Apr 29 [NWSL] North Carolina Courage vs. Boston Legacy 8:00 PM Victory+
Do you travel for food? Stay at The Envoy Hotel and receive a $30/night food and beverage credit for Para Maria.
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