Madison Square Garden in New York

Madison Square Garden (MSG or ‘The Garden’ for short) is the best-known and largest event hall in New York. It accommodates up to twenty thousand people and each year hosts many concerts and sporting events. It is the home of both the basketball team New York Knicks and the New York Rangers ice hockey team. In addition, it houses a cinema, a theatre, a restaurant and a conference centre. MSG is so famous that it even has its own television channel to broadcast the games played at the stadium.

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Visiting Madison Square Garden in New York

Would you like to visit Madison Square Garden? That’s possible! Of course, the easiest and, in my opinion, most fun way to do that is by booking tickets for a game or event at the venue. But if that’s not an option, or if you would like to get to know the stadium even better, you can also book a tour.

Madison Square Garden Tour Experience

Would you like to have a look behind the scenes in such a big event complex, or are you just curious about the venue itself? Join the Madison Square Garden Tour Experience.

You will tour The Garden with a guide, and might even enter the dressing rooms of the famous teams like the Knicks and the Rangers, who call this place home! Meanwhile, you’ll pick up on some history about epic moments that have been taking place there during the last 145 years.

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What kind of events take place at MSG?

Apart from sports games, Madison Square Garden hosts concerts by some of the world’s greatest stars. A performer who is lucky enough to play in this very place will follow in the footsteps of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Madonna and our own rock band Queen.

This venue is not only in history books for its pop history though, it’s also the place where several political conventions took place. For example, the Republicans, led by George W. Bush, held their first Convention in New York City at The Garden back in 2004. And in 2024, Donald Trump headed to MSG to hold a rally for his presidential campaign. Several Democratic National Conventions have also been held at MSG.

Buy Madison Square Garden Tickets

Almost daily there are concerts and sports events in Madison Square Garden that you can attend. Buy tickets and enjoy the atmosphere in this legendary hall yourself!

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About Eric »

Hey there, I'm Eric!

I'm a true New York fan with over 20 years of experience visiting and living in NYC. Here on my website, I share all my tips and valuable information to help you make the most of your trip. I personally test and regularly re-test everything on my site to ensure that what I write is useful, honest, and always up-to-date.

If you have questions, are unsure about something, or want me to check your itinerary, please email me at eric@newyork.co.uk. You can also follow me on Facebook or Instagram to get daily updates from New York.

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Eric’s Tip: “If you get the opportunity to go to an event at Madison Square Garden, you should absolutely take it! It is always fantastic to experience a sports game or concert amongst an audience of enthusiastic New Yorkers. Due to its central location, the arena is also very easy to get to.”

The History of Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden, which we know today, isn’t the original stadium. It was preceded by a number of other versions of the venue.

• The first one was built in 1879 at Madison Square. It served primarily as a circus tent.
• In 1890, this building was demolished to make way for a new variant at the very same spot.
• In 1925, MSG moved to the intersection of 50th Street and 8th Avenue.
• The hall we know today dates back to 1968 and is located above Pennsylvania Station.

How to get to Madison Square Garden?

It’s easy to get to Madison Square Garden as it is situated in Midtown Manhattan. The round building sits atop Pennsylvania Station, on 7th Avenue (between West 31st and West 33rd Street).

Seeing a concert or a game there is relaxing, as you can probably just walk to Madison Square Garden from your hotel. If you are staying further, take the subway: lines ACE to Eighth Avenue station. Or take lines 123 and get off at Seventh Avenue in Penn Station.

There is no place to store any personal belongings, so don’t bring any big bags with you. MSG has a strict bag policy. Your bag must fit under your seat. Did you know that during the hockey season, the ice rests underneath the basketball court? That way you can watch a basketball game during the day and a hockey game at night!

Hotels near Madison Square Garden

If you would like to stay close to where it all happens, there are several hotels near Madison Square Garden that you can book. Around the corner, you can stay at the Fairfield Inn & Suites New York Midtown Manhattan/Penn Station. And the classic New Yorker Hotel is also only a few minutes walk. Other good options are Arlo NoMad and DoubleTree by Hilton New York Times Square South.