Madison Square Garden is the world’s most famous sports and entertainment arena. Situated on top of Pennsylvania Station, the newest Madison Square Garden complex (there have been three in total) is currently home to hundreds of sporting events, concerts, and broadcast programs. Named for the park where the first two gardens were located on Madison Avenue and 23rd Street, this revolutionary sports arena is best known as the home of the New York Knicks NBA team and the New York Rangers NHL team.
The arena is also proud to host the New York Liberty WNBA team, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, and the St. John’s Red Storm college basketball team. Numerous other indoor events, such as the 2004 Republican National Convention have also been held inside the arena. In total, Madison Square Garden hosts nearly 320 events every year making it the most sought-after American entertainment venue. From boxing to ballads you’ll find it all inside the legendary Madison Square Garden arena, so why wait? Plan to visit this towering piece of entertainment history during your upcoming New York City vacation!
Madison Square Garden Tours
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Madison Square Garden is officially part of the Pennsylvania Plaza office and retail complex. Rated among the busiest music arenas in the world in terms of ticket sales, it’s also home to the NFL and NBA teams, hosts regular sports events, family shows and theatricals, TV premieres, various shareholder meetings, product launches, award ceremonies, corporate employee meetings, college graduations, and religious conferences.
If you’re after something beyond concerts and shows, then consider getting a ticket to Madison Square Garden’s behind-the-scenes tour, which includes visiting the locker rooms of the Rangers hockey team and Knicks basketball team. These are operating daily from 9:30am – 3pm, departing approximately every half hour for 75 minutes. Click to book your Madison Square Garden All Access tour.
Dining and Nearby Attractions
When it comes to dining, then the arena has in addition to the numerous food and drinks stands also a bar and restaurant The Club Bar & Grill. Located on the 3rd Floor Terrace Level, it’s open to all Club Seat holders 2 hours before all Knicks and Rangers games and will remain open for all ticketed patrons for up to 1 hour after. Alternatively, guests are invited to dine at one of their affiliated restaurants in the proximity.
Transportation-wise, the venue offers no private parking and is about a 15-minute walk to the nearest underground station, Chelsea Market.
While making the most out of the Madison Square Garden experience, consider dropping by at one of the other Midtown Manhattan landmarks too, including the Empire State Building, Radio City Music Hall, Koreatown, and Macy’s at Herald Square.
More than Just an Arena
Madison Square Garden is proud to be much more than you’re average sports arena. A handful of important non-sporting venues are also located inside the venue. These include:
- The Theater at Madison Square Garden: This exciting venue is the perfect place for almost any important business presentation. Customers of Action Car Rentals in New York City can actually reserve this 5,600-seat theater for everything from meetings to stage shows! No seat in the expertly designed theater is more than 177 feet from the 30-foot by 64-foot stage.
- The Expo Center: Formerly known as the Rotunda, the Expo Center is used for a wide variety of trade and convention shows. The venue is also commonly used for banquets and receptions. The Expo Center features over 36,000 square feet of space.
- The Restaurants: Hungry customers of Action Car Rentals in New York City can enjoy an outstanding meal inside anyone of the arena’s top restaurants. From steak and seafood to hamburgers and French fries, you’re sure to find something tasty at the Garden Club or Play-by-Play.
The Future of NYC’s Famed Gardens
When the fourth Madison Square Garden opened after the destruction of Pennsylvania Station, many believed that it would be the venue’s final relocation. Action Car Rentals in New York City has learned otherwise! In 2004-1005 Cablevision, which now owns the Garden, involved itself in an intense battle with the City of New York in order to block the construction of a new competing sports venue. In order to do this, the company made the daring revelation that it planned to build a new stadium on Ninth Avenue. Cablevision officially signed on to the project during the dispute, ultimately stopping the proposed West Side Stadium.
Cablevision is now moving forward with the project which is set to unveil a new Garden at the western end of the James Farley Post Office. The new Garden would remain the home of the Knicks and the Rangers and it would also feature a myriad of exciting new visitor features. It is believed that the current and fourth installment of the Garden would be torn down and replaced with an office tower. Stay tuned to Action Car Rentals in New York City to learn more about this arena project!
Exciting Events at the Garden
In recent years the Garden has become synonymous with the best entertainment in New York City. From sports to concerts, there’s no other place quite like Madison Square Garden!
Having undergone a $1 billion renovation between the years 2011 and 2013, Madison Square Garden is now better than ever prepared to host between 5,600 and 20,000 spectators in its different arenas, for approximately 350 often sold-out events each year. Among the many updates are larger concourses, even more, dining options, and an upgraded roof.
There are many levels dedicated to various events, including tennis, hockey, basketball, and wrestling. After all, like the arena, the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL), New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA), New York Liberty (WNBA) are too owned by the Madison Square Garden Company.
Once considered the mecca of boxing, the arena is also a perfect place to see boxing, MMA, and UFC fights, though it doesn’t have the same popularity as the Las Vegas venues any longer.
MSG is also the go-to place in New York City for concerts, being a favorite of many famous musicians and bands like Billy Joel, Elton John, Madonna, and U2. Currently, there is a world-class concert every few days.
Tickets to events are available at the Garden Box Office, and Ticketmaster.
Visiting Madison Square Garden
Aside from attending an event at Madison Square Garden, visitors can tour the complex with the “All Access Tour,” a “behind-the-scenes” look at the locker rooms, the theater, and the arena floor.
Location: 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY, 10001
Click here to visit Madison Square Garden official website.
Note: This information can change without notice. Confirm all details directly with the company in question.