MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, A Venue of Diverse Use
Written: Jun 01 '04 (Updated Dec 13 '05)
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Pros: Centrally Located in NYC. Easy to get to by train.
Cons: Hard to get Knicks tix at a good price. VERY EXPENSIVE!!
The Bottom Line: Great place to see sports or a concert. A definite NYC stop!
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Madison Square Garden |
Madison Squuare Garden was the recent host to the Republican Convention and all went off well. That's the way it is all the time.
CONVENIENT and SAFE
For most anyone who lives or is staying in the NYC area getting to Madison Square Garden is pretty easy. Most train lines make their way to Penn Station. This includes the Jersey Transit, Amtrak, The Long Island Rail Road and many local Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, and Queens subway lines. Just above the tracks on the same two city blocks is "The Garden". After getting off the train you do not have to go outside. You can follow signs and find an entrance to the garden from inside.
Last week, one of my daughters, she is sixteen, had tickets to see a music show with many artists. It was named Zootopia or something like that. I felt she was safe taking the Long Island Rail Road into the city with a same aged girl friend. I knew when the train arrived and she called when she was in the "Garden". After the show a phone call told me she just left the arena and minutes later I knew which train she was taking home. Even though I feel NYC is quite safe these days, I still do worry about my daughter out on the streets, especially away from home. She simply followed the crowds to and from Madison Square Garden. I felt pretty comfortable about the whole outing.
For those who drive, there are public parking garages in the area. They will cost you about $35.00-$45.00 for an event.
POPULAR VENUE
Madison Square Garden has gone through a number of changes over the years. I started writing this review on May 31 2004 on Memorial Day. Back on May 31st 1879, that was exactly 125 years ago, the first Madison Square Garden was built. It would last just ten years and was razed. One year later Madison Square Garden II opened. By 1925 this one was gone and Madison Square garden III opened and was home to sports events and music specials until the newest and still standing Madison Square Garden was built in 1968.
This arena that is not square on the outside, but round. It holds between 18,000 and 22,000 seats depending on the show or event. The Garden's name "Square" is from the location it was first built, Madison Square. The inside shape of the venue is oval and the seats all have a good clear view. No poles or other obstructions will be found. This arena is 900,000 square ft. Of course the closer you are to the action the better the view. At the same time events truly come alive no matter where you are seated. Acoustics for music shows are very good but not fabulous. The sound must have been perfect however, to "DeadHeads" whose band, the Grateful Dead, played the Garden a record 52 times! Many, many other stars have played this venue including Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Elvis, Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and Billie Joel.
Madison Square garden is home to three professional sports teams, the NBA's Knicks, the NHL's Rangers and the WNBA's Liberty. The Garden was also at one time the premier venue for prize fighting though it lost much of that luster to Las Vegas in more recent years.
Over the years I have been fortunate enough to see an Ali fight, the Ringling Bros., Barnum and Bailey Circus, a few concerts, enjoy the New York Rangers Hockey Team, and see the New York Knicks in a playoff game.
For a NY fan, "The Garden' is the place to go. The fans are fierce in their following of the home teams. They are also tough on their own players who do not play up to their ability. Boos can be heard from the crowd and directed at most anybody especially if their team isn't winning.
SOME BASICS
Tickets for events can be purchased through their online service at thegarden.com or in person at the Garden Box Office. Ticketmaster handles the Gardens tickets too.
The arena is on the city blocks of 31-33 streets between 7th and 8th Ave. Taxis line the front of the entrance. For those interested you are just a seven minute walk to the Empire State Building and if you go uptown on Seventh Ave you will be in the heart of Times Square, 42nd and Broadway, after walking less than ten city blocks.
The rest rooms are clean even at big events. Ha, I've never been at anything I could call a small event at the Garden.
The movement of people getting in and out of the arena has always been pretty free flowing.
Large back packs are not allowed in. All bags and packs are checked and looked into upon entry. There is plenty of marked security guys at all entrances and sections.
Vendors are constantly out hawking their goods in all the seating sections I have ever been in. I rarely ever leave my seat while at the Garden. These guys have some of same basic goods and inflated prices as the over-the-counter vendors.
You can however, get deli-style sandwiches and other more appetizing foods at the counter vendors.
If you really want to eat in better style go to one of the in house restaurants of MSG Play By Play Sports Bar & Grill and the Club Grill. I'm sorry I can't give you any first hand experience of either.
SPECIAL SEATING
At sports events there is a non-alcoholic seating area. This is in the 320-324 sections. Beer is sold to patrons in all other areas, if you can afford it.
Seating for the handicapped is also available. Their web site
http://www.thegarden.com
has some very specific directions and details. Ramps to get into the arena are on both sides of the main entrance on 7th Ave. Lifts are available at other entrances. They do suggest you get there an hour before and also list handicapped parking garages.
As far as the regular seating goes, I feel the seats are a bit tight. That's not just this big guy, "wide in the seat", saying so. There isn't a lot of leg room at all. I do feel cramped after a bit.
But once again it's the event that gets the real attention and Madison Square Garden does put on some great shows and sports event. It should. After all it is the World's Most Famous Arena!
This is one of the many great NYC sites found in this book
The Great Sights of New York: A Photographic Guide
NEW YORK CITY, take a tour right here.
JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT / The Empire State Building / Radio City Music Hall / The INTREPID Sea-Air-Space MUSEUM / Museum of Natural History
TKTS half price tickets to Broadway / Aida, the Broadway Play / Thoroughly Modern Millie
Central Park / Times Square / Times Square Visitors Center / The Statue of Liberty
ESPN ZONEa Times Square Sports Restaurant Manhattan Chili Company
Stardust DinerA great place for before a show in Times Square. Aspiring actors are here. Sylvia's, a southern soul restaurant in Harlem
Grand Hyatt Hotel, NYC
Millenium Hilton Hotel. directly across from ground zero. They have reopened!A great location to all that is downtown
Recommended:
Yes
Seat Location: Mid Level
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