View source for Madison Square Garden

{{Short description|Multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City, U.S.}}
{{About|the current New York City arena, open since 1968}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Madison Square Garden
| nickname = ''MSG''<br />''The Garden''<br />''The World's Most Famous Arena''<br />''The Mecca''
| logo_image = Madison Square Garden logo.svg
| logo_size = 275px
| image = Madison Square Garden (MSG) - Full (48124330357).jpg
| image_size = 275px
| caption = Madison Square Garden in 2019
| address = 4 [[Pennsylvania Plaza]]
| location = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| coordinates = {{Coord|40|45|2|N|73|59|37|W|type:landmark_scale:1000|display=it}}
| pushpin_map = United States Manhattan#New York City#New York#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[Manhattan]]##Location in [[New York City]]##Location in [[New York (U.S. state)|New York State]]##Location in the [[United States]]
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_label = Madison Square Garden
| pushpin_mapsize = 250
| broke_ground = October 29, 1964<ref>{{cite news |first=Murray |last=Seeger |title=Construction Begins on New Madison Sq. Garden; Grillage Put in Place a Year After Demolition at Penn Station Was Started |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/10/30/archives/construction-begins-on-new-madison-sq-garden-grillage-pat-in-place.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 30, 1964 |access-date=May 15, 2012}}</ref>
| opened = {{ubl|[[Madison Square Garden (1879)|1879]], [[Madison Square Garden (1890)|1890]], [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|1925]]<br />(former locations)|February 11, 1968<br />(current location)}}
| renovated = {{ubl|1989–1991|2011–2013}}
| owner = [[Madison Square Garden Entertainment]]
| construction_cost = {{ubl|$123&nbsp;million<br />(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|123000000|1968}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})|'''Renovation''' (1991):<br />$200 million<br />(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|200000000|1991}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})|'''Renovation''' (2011-2013):<br />$1 billion<br />(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|1000000000|2013}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})}}
| architect = {{ubl|[[Charles Luckman|Charles Luckman Associates]]|Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects}}
| structural engineer = [[Severud Associates]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Fred Severud; Designed Madison Square Garden, Gateway Arch |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-06-15-mn-42-story.html |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=June 15, 1990 |access-date=March 6, 2012}}</ref>
| services engineer = [[Syska Hennessy|Syska & Hennessy, Inc.]]<ref name="MSGarch">{{Cite web |url=http://nyc-architecture.com/MID/MID127.htm |title=New York Architecture Images- Madison Square Garden Center |website=nyc-architecture.com}}</ref>
| general_contractor = [[Turner Construction|Turner]]/[[Del E. Webb Construction Company|Del E. Webb]]<ref name="MSGarch"/>
| tenants = {{Plainlist|
* [[New York Rangers]] ([[National Hockey League|NHL]]) (1968–present)
* [[New York Knicks]] ([[National Basketball Association|NBA]]) (1968–present)
* [[St. John's Red Storm men's basketball|St. John's Red Storm]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) (1969–present)
* [[New York Golden Blades|New York Raiders/Golden Blades]] ([[World Hockey Association|WHA]]) (1972–1973)
* [[New York Apples]] ([[World TeamTennis|WTT]]) (1977–1978)
* [[New York Stars (WBL)|New York Stars]] ([[Women's Professional Basketball League|WBL]]) (1979–1980)
* [[New York Cosmos (1970–85)|New York Cosmos]] ([[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]]) (1983–1984)
* [[New York Knights (arena football)|New York Knights]] ([[Arena Football League|AFL]]) (1988)
* [[Toronto Phantoms|New York CityHawks]] ([[Arena Football League|AFL]]) (1997–1998)
* [[New York Liberty]] ([[Women's National Basketball Association|WNBA]]) (1997–2010, 2014–2017)
* [[New York Titans (lacrosse)|New York Titans]] ([[National Lacrosse League|NLL]]) (2007–2009)
}}
| seating_capacity = {{ubl|Concerts: 22,000|[[Boxing]]/[[Mixed Martial Arts|MMA]]: 20,789 |[[Basketball]]: 19,812<ref name="postrancap">{{cite news |title=Here's What the Renovated Madison Square Garden Looks Like |first=Joe |last=DeLessio |url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/10/photos-the-renovated-madison-square-garden.html?mid=google |work=[[New York (magazine)|New York Magazine]] |date=October 24, 2013 |access-date=October 24, 2013}}</ref>|[[Pro wrestling]]: 18,538<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=WrestleTix |number=1990415752034185444 |title=WWE Monday Night RAW - Mon • Nov 17, 2025 • 6:30 PM - Madison Square Garden, New York, NY}}</ref>|[[Ice hockey]]: 18,006<ref name="postrancap"/>}}
| dimensions = {{Convert|820000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
| publictransit = {{Plainlist|
* {{Rail-interchange|us|amtrak}} '''[[Amtrak]]''': [[Pennsylvania Station (New York City)|Penn Station]]
* {{Rail-interchange|newyork|lirr}} '''[[LIRR]]''': Penn Station
* {{Rail-interchange|njt}} '''[[NJ Transit Rail Operations|NJ Transit]]''': Penn Station
* {{Rail-interchange|newyork|mta}} '''[[New York City Subway]]''':
* {{NYCS Broadway-Seventh south|time=bullets}}[[34th Street–Penn Station (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line)|34th Street–Penn Station (7th Ave)]]
* {{NYCS Eighth south|time=bullets}}[[34th Street–Penn Station (IND Eighth Avenue Line)|34th Street–Penn Station (8th Ave)]]
* {{NYCS Herald Square|time=bullets}}[[34th Street–Herald Square (New York City Subway)|34th Street–Herald Square]]
* {{Rail-interchange|path}} '''[[PATH (rail system)|PATH]]''': [[33rd Street station (PATH)|33rd Street]]
* {{Rail-interchange|newyork|mta}} '''[[New York City Bus]]''': {{NYC bus link|M4|M7|M20|M34 SBS|M34A SBS|Q32|BxM2|}}}} at {{stl|NYCS|34th Street–Penn Station|Broadway-Seventh}}
| website = {{URL|msg.com/madison-square-garden}}
}}

'''Madison Square Garden''', colloquially known as '''the Garden''' or by its initials '''MSG''', is a multi-purpose indoor [[arena]] in [[New York City]]. It is located in [[Midtown Manhattan]] between [[Seventh Avenue (Manhattan)|Seventh]] and [[Eighth Avenue (Manhattan)|Eighth]] avenues from 31st to 33rd streets above [[Pennsylvania Station (New York City)|Pennsylvania Station]]. It is the fourth venue to bear the name “Madison Square Garden”; the first two, opened in [[Madison Square Garden (1879)|1879]] and [[Madison Square Garden (1890)|1890]], were located on [[Madison Square and Madison Square Park|Madison Square]], on East 26th Street and Madison Avenue, with the [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|third Madison Square Garden]] (1925) farther uptown at Eighth Avenue and 50th Street.

The Garden hosts professional ice hockey, professional basketball, boxing, mixed martial arts, concerts, ice shows, circuses, professional wrestling and other forms of sports and entertainment. It is close to other midtown Manhattan landmarks, including the [[Empire State Building]], [[Koreatown, Manhattan|Koreatown]] and [[Macy's Herald Square|Macy's]] at [[Herald Square]]. It is home to the [[New York Rangers]] of the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL), the [[New York Knicks]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) and was home to the [[New York Liberty]] of the [[Women's National Basketball Association]] (WNBA) from 1997 to 2017.

Originally called '''Madison Square Garden Center''', the Garden opened on February 11, 1968, on the site of the old [[Pennsylvania Station (1910–1963)|Pennsylvania Station]]. It is the oldest major sporting facility in the [[New York metropolitan area]]. It is the oldest arena in the NBA and the second-oldest in the NHL, after Seattle's [[Climate Pledge Arena]]. As of 2016, MSG is also the second-busiest music arena in the world in terms of ticket sales.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pollstarpro.com/files/Charts2016/2016YearEndWorldwideTicketSalesTop200ArenaVenues.pdf |title=Pollstar Pro's busiest arena pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303080211/http://www.pollstarpro.com/files/Charts2016/2016YearEndWorldwideTicketSalesTop200ArenaVenues.pdf |archive-date=March 3, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Including its two major renovations in 1991 and 2013, the Garden's total construction cost was approximately {{USD|1.1&nbsp;billion}}, and it has been ranked as one of the ten most expensive arena venues ever built.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.totalprosports.com/2011/10/27/11-most-expensive-stadiums-in-the-world/ |title=11 Most Expensive Stadiums in the World |publisher=Total Pro Sports |author=Esteban |date=October 27, 2011 |access-date=September 12, 2012 |archive-date=August 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827201315/http://www.totalprosports.com/2011/10/27/11-most-expensive-stadiums-in-the-world/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> It is part of the [[Pennsylvania Plaza]] office and retail complex, named for the railway station. Several [[Madison Square Garden (disambiguation)|other operating entities]] related to the Garden share its name.

==History==

===Previous Gardens===
[[Madison Square and Madison Square Park|Madison Square]] is formed by the intersection of [[Fifth Avenue|5th Avenue]] and [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]] at [[23rd Street (Manhattan)|23rd Street]] in Manhattan. It was named after [[James Madison]], the fourth [[president of the United States]].<ref>Mendelsohn, Joyce. "Madison Square" in {{cite enc-nyc}}, p.&nbsp;711–712</ref>

Two venues called Madison Square Garden were located just northeast of the square, [[Madison Square Garden (1879)|the original Garden]] from 1879 to 1890, and [[Madison Square Garden (1890)|the second Garden]] from 1890 to 1925. The first, leased to [[P. T. Barnum]],<ref name=ballp /> was demolished in 1890 because of a leaky roof and dangerous balconies that had collapsed, resulting in deaths. The second was designed by noted architect [[Stanford White]]. The new building was built by a syndicate that included [[J. P. Morgan]], [[Andrew Carnegie]], [[P. T. Barnum]],<ref name=fednyc>{{cite fednyc}}, pp. 330–333</ref> [[Darius Ogden Mills|Darius Mills]], [[James Stillman]] and [[William Waldorf Astor|W. W. Astor]]. White gave them a [[Beaux-Arts architecture|Beaux-Arts]] structure with a [[Moors|Moorish]] feel, including a minaret-like tower modeled after [[Giralda]], the bell tower of the [[Seville Cathedral|Cathedral of Seville]],<ref name=fednyc /> soaring 32 stories, the city's second-tallest building at the time{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}} and dominating [[Madison Square and Madison Square Park|Madison Square Park]]. It was {{convert|200|ft|m}} by {{convert|485|ft|m}}, and the main hall, which was the largest in the world, measured {{convert|200|ft|m}} by {{convert|350|ft|m}} with permanent seating for 8,000 people and floor space for thousands more. It had a 1,200-seat theater, a concert hall with a capacity of 1,500, the largest restaurant in the city, and a roof garden cabaret.<ref name=ballp>{{Cite web |url=http://hockey.ballparks.com/NHL/NewYorkRangers/2ndoldindex.htm |title=Madison Square Garden/The Paramount |website=hockey.ballparks.com}}</ref> The building cost $3&nbsp;million.<ref name=ballp /> Madison Square Garden&nbsp;II was unsuccessful like the first Garden,<ref>Burrows, Edwin G. and Wallace, Mike, ''Gotham: A History of New York to 1989''. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. {{ISBN|0-19-511634-8}}</ref> and the [[New York Life Insurance Company]], which held the mortgage on it, decided to tear it down in 1925 to make way for a new headquarters building, which would become the landmark [[Cass Gilbert]]-designed [[New York Life Building]].

A [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|third Madison Square Garden]] opened in a new location, on [[Eighth Avenue (Manhattan)|Eighth Avenue]] between [[List of numbered streets in Manhattan|49th]] and [[50th Street (Manhattan)|50th]] streets, from 1925 to 1968. Groundbreaking on the third Madison Square Garden took place on January 9, 1925.<ref name=ballp2>[http://hockey.ballparks.com/NHL/NewYorkRangers/3rdoldindex.htm "Madison Square Garden III"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719002323/http://hockey.ballparks.com/NHL/NewYorkRangers/3rdoldindex.htm |date=July 19, 2017 }} on Ballparks.com</ref> Designed by the noted theater architect [[Thomas W. Lamb]], it was built at the cost of $4.75&nbsp;million in 249 days by boxing promoter [[Tex Rickard]];<ref name=ballp /> the arena was dubbed "The House That Tex Built".<ref>Schumach, Murray (February 14, 1948).[https://www.nytimes.com/1968/02/14/archives/next-and-last-attraction-at-old-madison-square-garden-to-be.html Next and Last Attraction at Old Madison Square Garden to Be Wreckers' Ball] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511001312/https://www.nytimes.com/1968/02/14/archives/next-and-last-attraction-at-old-madison-square-garden-to-be.html |date=May 11, 2022 }}, ''The New York Times''</ref> The arena was {{convert|200|ft|m}} by {{convert|375|ft|m}}, with seating on three levels, and a maximum capacity of 18,496 spectators for boxing.<ref name=ballp />

Demolition commenced in 1968 after the opening of the current Garden,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eisenband |first1=Jeffrey |title=Remembering The 1948 Madison Square Garden All-Star Game With Marv Albert |url=http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/throwback/201502/1968-nba-all-star-game-marv-albert-madison-square-garden-new-york-hal-greer |publisher=ThePostGame |access-date=July 5, 2015 |archive-date=May 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510014614/https://www.thepostgame.com/blog/throwback/201502/1968-nba-all-star-game-marv-albert-madison-square-garden-new-york-hal-greer |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was completed in early 1969. The site is now the location of [[One Worldwide Plaza]].

===Current Garden===
In February 1959, former automobile manufacturer [[Graham-Paige]] purchased a 40% interest in the Madison Square Garden for $4&nbsp;million<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Investors Get Madison Sq. Garden |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=February 4, 1959 |page=20 |url=http://www.archive.org/stream/variety213-1959-02#page/n19/mode/1up |access-date=July 5, 2019 |via=[[Archive.org]]}}</ref> and later gained control.<ref name=NYTObit>[https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/24/obituaries/irving-m-felt-84-sports-impresario-is-dead.html New York Times: "Irving M. Felt, 84, Sports Impresario, Is Dead" By AGIS SALPUKAS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004185651/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/24/obituaries/irving-m-felt-84-sports-impresario-is-dead.html |date=October 4, 2018 }} September 24, 1994</ref> In November 1960, Graham-Paige president [[Irving Mitchell Felt]] purchased from the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] the rights to build at [[Pennsylvania Station (New York City)|Penn Station]].<ref name=MITPlosky>[http://www.subjectverb.com/www/writing/thesis.pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology: "The Fall and Rise of Pennsylvania Station -Changing Attitudes Toward Historic Preservation in New York City" by Eric J. Plosky] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106032110/http://www.subjectverb.com/www/writing/thesis.pdf |date=January 6, 2015 }} 1999</ref> To build the new facility, the above-ground portions of [[Pennsylvania Station (1910–1963)|the original Pennsylvania Station]] were torn down.<ref>{{cite web |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/10/29/archives/demolition-starts-at-penn-station-architects-picket-penn-station.html |title=Demolition Starts At Penn Station; Architects Picket; Penn Station Demolition Begun; 6 Architects Call Act a 'Shame' |last=Tolchin |first=Martin |date=October 29, 1963 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=May 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523100724/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/10/29/archives/demolition-starts-at-penn-station-architects-picket-penn-station.html |archive-date=May 23, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Madison Square Garden 1968.jpeg|thumb|A 1968 [[New York Knicks]] [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] game at Madison Square Garden]]
The new structure was one of the first of its kind to be built above the platforms of an active railroad station. It was an engineering feat constructed by [[Robert E. McKee]] of [[El Paso, Texas]] with the contribution of Arq. Leonel Viera's design for the [[Cilindro Municipal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-educacion-cultura/comunicacion/noticias/homenaje-leonel-viera|title=Homenaje a Leonel Viera|website=Ministerio de Educación y Cultura}}</ref> Public outcry over the demolition of the Pennsylvania Station structure—an outstanding example of [[Beaux-Arts architecture]]—led to the creation of the [[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission]]. The venue opened on February 11, 1968. Comparing the new and the old Penn Station, Yale architectural historian [[Vincent Scully]] wrote, "One entered the city like a god; one scuttles in now like a rat."<ref name="Muschamp 1993">{{cite web |last=Muschamp |first=Herbert |title=Architecture View; In This Dream Station Future and Past Collide |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 20, 1993 |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/06/20/arts/architecture-view-in-this-dream-station-future-and-past-collide.html |access-date=September 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906195706/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/06/20/arts/architecture-view-in-this-dream-station-future-and-past-collide.html |archive-date=September 6, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1972, Felt proposed moving the [[New York Knicks|Knicks]] and [[New York Rangers|Rangers]] to a then incomplete venue in the [[New Jersey Meadowlands]], the [[Meadowlands Sports Complex]]. The Garden was also the home arena for the [[New York Golden Blades|NY Raiders/NY Golden Blades]] of the [[World Hockey Association]]. The Meadowlands would eventually host its own NBA and NHL teams, the [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]] and the [[New Jersey Devils]], respectively. The [[New York Giants]] and [[New York Jets|Jets]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) also relocated there. In 1977, the arena was sold to [[Gulf and Western Industries]]. Felt's efforts fueled controversy between the Garden and New York City over real estate taxes. The disagreement again flared in 1980 when the Garden again challenged its tax bill. The arena has enjoyed tax-free status since the 1980s, under the condition that all Knicks and Rangers home games must be hosted at MSG, lest it lose this exemption. As such, when the Rangers have played neutral-site games—even those in New York City, such as the [[2018 NHL Winter Classic]], they have always been designated as the visiting team.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/25/sports/hockey/rangers-on-road-in-the-bronx-money-may-be-why.html |title=Rangers on Road in the Bronx? Money May Be Why |newspaper=New York Times |date=January 25, 2014 |access-date=January 3, 2017}}</ref> The tax agreement includes an [[act of God]] clause, which allowed Knicks and Rangers home games to be played elsewhere during the [[2020 NBA Bubble]] and [[2020 Stanley Cup playoffs]], respectively, because of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Brooks |first=Larry |date=July 15, 2020 |title=Igor Shesterkin 'outstanding' in first bid to keep Rangers' starting job |url=https://nypost.com/2020/07/15/shesterkin-outstanding-in-bid-for-rangers-starting-job/ |access-date=December 31, 2023 |work=[[New York Post]]}}</ref>

In 1984, the four streets immediately surrounding the Garden were designated as Joe Louis Plaza, in honor of boxer [[Joe Louis]], who had made eight successful title defenses in the [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|previous Madison Square Garden]].<ref>{{cite web |author=John Eligon |date=February 22, 2008 |title=Joe Louis and Harlem, Connecting Again in a Police Athletic League Gym |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/nyregion/22louis.html |access-date=September 26, 2015 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Feirstein |first1=Sanna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ourZIpRoJEC&q=%22joe+louis+plaza%22+named&pg=PA110 |title=Naming New York: Manhattan Places & how They Got Their Names |publisher=New York University Press |year=2001 |isbn=9780814727126 |page=110 |access-date=September 26, 2015}}</ref>

=== 1991 renovation ===
In April 1986, Gulf and Western announced that they would build a new Madison Square Garden a few blocks away on the site of present-day [[Hudson Yards (development)|Hudson Yards]]. The plan would cost an estimated $150 million and included the demolition of the 1964 building to replace it with a new office tower development.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Phifer |first=Thomas |title=Madison Square Garden Site Redevelopment |journal=Oz |volume=11 |issue=1 |date=January 1, 1989 |issn=2378-5853 |doi=10.4148/2378-5853.1181|doi-access=free }}</ref> After years of planning, Gulf and Western decided against building a new arena in favor of a renovation after estimated costs doubled during the process.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McFadden |first=Robert D. |date=January 24, 1989 |title=New Project Will Renovate The Garden |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/24/nyregion/new-project-will-renovate-the-garden.html |access-date=October 13, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gulf & Western has scrapped plans to demolish Madison... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/01/23/Gulf-Western-has-scrapped-plans-to-demolish-Madison/2103601534800/ |access-date=October 13, 2022 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:MSG (4051531795).jpg|thumb|Madison Square Garden following its 1991 renovation]]
Garden owners spent $200 million in 1991 to renovate facilities and add 89 suites in place of hundreds of upper-tier seats. The project was designed by [[Ellerbe Becket]]. The renovation was criticized for perceived corporatization. Additionally, the renovation made bathrooms larger, expanded menus, added a new ventilation system, replaced all of the seats with new cushioned teal and violet seats, and refurbished both home teams' locker rooms.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Lena |date=July 29, 1991 |title=Big Madison Sq. Garden Facelift: 'Tasteful' With Teal |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/29/nyregion/big-madison-sq-garden-facelift-tasteful-with-teal.html |access-date=October 13, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In 2000, current MSG owner James Dolan was quoted as saying that a new arena was being considered as the current building was starting to show its age.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESPN.com - GEN - New Garden in New York considered |url=https://www.espn.com/gen/news/2000/0321/438594.html |access-date=October 13, 2022 |website=www.espn.com}}</ref>

In 2004–2005, [[Cablevision]] battled with the City of New York over the proposed [[West Side Stadium|West Side arena]], which was canceled. Cablevision then announced plans to raze the Garden, replace it with high-rise commercial buildings, and build a new Garden one block away at the site of the [[James A. Farley Building|James Farley Post Office]]. Meanwhile, a new project to renovate and modernize the Garden completed phase one in time for the [[2011–12 New York Rangers season|Rangers]] and [[2011–12 New York Knicks season|Knicks]]' 2011–12 seasons,<ref>{{cite news |title=MSG Executives Unveil Plan for Renovation |first=Arthur |last=Staple |url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/msg-executives-unveil-plan-for-renovation-1.882390 |newspaper=[[Newsday]] |date=April 3, 2008 |access-date=April 3, 2008}}</ref> though the vice president of the Garden says he remains committed to the installation of an extension of Penn Station at the Farley Post Office site. While the Knicks and Rangers were not displaced, the [[New York Liberty]] played at the [[Prudential Center]] in [[Newark, New Jersey]], during the renovation.

Madison Square Garden is the last of the [[NBA]] and [[NHL]] arenas not to be named after a corporate sponsor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2017/04/with_two_arena_closings_in_two.html |title=With two arena closings in two days, Detroit stands unique in U.S. history |author=David Mayo |work=[[Booth Newspapers|MLive]] |date=April 9, 2017 |access-date=April 21, 2017}}</ref>

===2011–2013 renovation===
Madison Square Garden's $1&nbsp;billion second renovation took place mainly over three off-seasons. It was set to begin after the 2009–10 hockey/basketball seasons, but was delayed until after the 2010–11 seasons. Renovation was done in phases, with the majority of the work done in the summer months to minimize disruptions to the NHL and NBA seasons. While the Rangers and Knicks were not displaced,<ref>the Rangers started the [[2011–12 NHL season]] with seven games on the road before playing their first hom game on October 27.{{cite web |title=Rangers Embrace Daunting Season-Opening Trip |first=Dan |last=Rosen |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=589995 |website=National Hockey League |date=September 26, 2010 |access-date=October 3, 2011}}</ref><ref>The Knicks played the entire [[2012–13 NBA season|2012 NBA preseason]] on the road.{{cite news |title=Knicks preseason schedule announced |first=Jared |last=Swerling |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/23494/knicks-preseason-schedule-announced |publisher=ESPN |date=August 2012 |access-date=October 25, 2012}}</ref> the Liberty played their home games through the 2013 season at [[Prudential Center]] in [[Newark, New Jersey]], during the renovation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.msgtransformation.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201021217/http://www.msgtransformation.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 1, 2010 |title=Madison Square Garden – Official Web Site}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Madison Square Garden to Add Pedestrian Walkways in Rafters as Part of $775 Million Makeover |first1=Matthew |last1=Bultman |first2=Larry |last2=McShane |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/11/26/2010-11-26_view_from_the_top_madison_square_garden_to_add_pedestrian_walkways_in_rafters.html |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |date=November 26, 2010 |access-date=July 3, 2011 |archive-date=November 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130043105/http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/11/26/2010-11-26_view_from_the_top_madison_square_garden_to_add_pedestrian_walkways_in_rafters.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

New features include a larger entrance with interactive kiosks, retail, climate-controlled space, and broadcast studio; larger concourses; new lighting and LED video systems with HDTV; new seating; two new pedestrian walkways suspended from the ceiling to allow fans to look directly down onto the games being played below; more dining options; and improved dressing rooms, locker rooms, green rooms, upgraded roof, and production offices. The lower bowl concourse, called the Madison Concourse, remains on the sixth floor. The upper bowl concourse was relocated to the eighth floor and it is known as the Garden Concourse. The seventh floor houses the new Madison Suites and the Madison Club. The upper bowl was built on top of these suites. The rebuilt concourses are wider than their predecessors, and include large windows that offer views of the city streets around the Garden.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704198004575310953707358836 |title=Cultivating a New Garden |work=Wall Street Journal |author=Scott Cacciola |date=June 17, 2010 |access-date=July 23, 2016}}</ref>

[[File:MSG Henrik Lundqvist Retirement Night 003.jpg|thumb|The playing surface before a [[New York Rangers]] game and the retirement ceremony of [[Henrik Lundqvist]]]]

Construction of the lower bowl (Phase 1) was completed in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 19, 2011 |title=First Phase Of Madison Square Garden Renovations Complete |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/first-phase-of-madison-square-garden-renovations-complete/ |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=CBS New York |language=en-US}}</ref> An extended off-season for the Garden permitted some advance work to begin on the new upper bowl, which was completed in 2012. This advance work included the West Balcony on the tenth floor, taking the place of sky-boxes, and new end-ice 300 level seating. The construction of the upper bowl along with the Madison Suites and the Madison Club (Phase 2) were completed for the 2012–13 NHL and NBA seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeLessio |first=Joe |date=August 9, 2012 |title=Hey, So, How's That Madison Square Garden Renovation Going? |url=https://nymag.com/daily/sports/2012/08/hey-so-hows-that-msg-renovation-going.html |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=New York Magazine |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 12, 2012 |title=An Inside Look At Madison Square Garden's Latest Renovations |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/an-inside-look-at-madison-square-gardens-latest-renovations/ |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=CBS New York |language=en-US}}</ref> Phase 3, which involved the construction of the new lobby known as Chase Square, the Chase Bridges on the 10th floor, and the new scoreboard, was completed for the 2013–14 NHL and NBA seasons.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=October 25, 2013 |title=Garden Renovations Come With a Tug of War |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/25/sports/garden-renovations-come-with-a-tug-of-war.html |access-date=January 10, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 15, 2013 |title=Madison Square Garden Unveils New 'Sky Bridge' Seats |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/renovated-madison-square-garden-unveils-sky-bridge-seats/ |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=CBS New York |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Penn Station renovation controversy===
Madison Square Garden is seen as an obstacle in the renovation and future expansion of [[New York Penn Station|Penn Station]],<ref name="nycurbed 20130529" /> which expanded in 2021 with the opening of [[Moynihan Train Hall]] at the [[James A. Farley Building|James Farley Post Office]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Moynihan Train Hall Finally Opens in Manhattan |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/moynihan-train-hall-finally-opens-in-manhattan/2806145/ |access-date=January 1, 2021 |website=NBC New York |language=en-US |date=December 31, 2020}}</ref> and some have proposed moving MSG to other sites in western Manhattan. On February 15, 2013, [[Manhattan Community Board 5]] voted 36–0 against granting a renewal to MSG's operating permit in perpetuity and proposed a 10-year limit instead in order to build a new Penn Station where the arena is currently standing. Manhattan borough president [[Scott Stringer]] said, "Moving the arena is an important first step to improving Penn Station." [[Madison Square Garden Sports|The Madison Square Garden Company]] responded by saying that "[i]t is incongruous to think that M.S.G. would be considering moving."<ref>{{cite news |title=Madison Square Garden Says It Will Not Be Uprooted From Penn Station |first=David |last=Dunlap |url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/09/madison-square-garden-says-it-will-not-be-uprooted-from-penn-station/ |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 9, 2013 |access-date=April 10, 2013}}</ref>

In May 2013, four architecture firms&nbsp;– [[SHoP Architects]], [[Skidmore, Owings & Merrill|SOM]], [[Hugh Hardy|H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture]], and [[Diller Scofidio + Renfro]]&nbsp;– submitted proposals<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ny.curbed.com/2013/5/29/10238978/four-plans-for-a-new-penn-station-without-msg-revealed|title=Four Plans For A New Penn Station Without MSG, Revealed!|first=Hana R.|last=Alberts|date=May 29, 2013|website=Curbed NY}}</ref> for a new Penn Station. SHoP Architects recommended moving Madison Square Garden to the Morgan Postal Facility a few blocks southwest, as well as removing [[Pennsylvania Plaza|2 Penn Plaza]] and redeveloping other towers, and an extension of the [[High Line]] to Penn Station.<ref name="nycurbed 20130529">{{cite web |url=http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2013/05/29/four_plans_for_a_new_penn_station_without_msg_revealed.php |title=Four Plans for a New Penn Station Without MSG, Revealed! |date=May 29, 2013 |author=Hana R. Alberts |work=[[Curbed]] |access-date=October 26, 2014}}</ref> Meanwhile, SOM proposed moving Madison Square Garden to the area just south of the [[James A. Farley Building|James Farley Post Office]], and redeveloping the area above Penn Station as a [[mixed-use development]] with commercial, residential, and recreational space.<ref name="nycurbed 20130529" /> H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture wanted to move the arena to a new pier west of [[Javits Center|Jacob K. Javits Convention Center]], four blocks west of the current station and arena. Then, according to H3's plan, four [[skyscraper]]s would be built, one at each of the four corners of the new Penn Station superblock, with a [[roof garden]] on top of the station; the Farley Post Office would become an education center.<ref name="nycurbed 20130529" /> Finally, Diller Scofidio + Renfro proposed a mixed-use development on the site, with spas, theaters, a cascading park, a pool, and restaurants; Madison Square Garden would be moved two blocks west, next to the post office. DS+F also proposed high-tech features in the station, such as train arrival and departure boards on the floor, and [[Mobile app|apps]] that would inform waiting passengers of ways to occupy their time until they board their trains.<ref name="nycurbed 20130529" /> Madison Square Garden rejected the notion that it would be relocated, and called the plans "pie-in-the-sky".<ref name="nycurbed 20130529" />

[[File:MadisonSquareGarden2024.jpg|thumb|Madison Square Garden in 2024, with the [[Empire State Building]] in the background]]
In June 2013, the [[New York City Council]] Committee on Land Use voted unanimously to give the Garden a ten-year permit, at the end of which period the owners would either have to relocate or go back through the permission process.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bit by Bit, Evicting Madison Square Garden |first=Eleanor |last=Randolph |url=http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/27/bit-by-bit-evicting-madison-square-garden/ |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 27, 2013 |access-date=July 8, 2013}}</ref> On July 24, the City Council voted to give the Garden a 10-year operating permit by a vote of 47–1. "This is the first step in finding a new home for Madison Square Garden and building a new Penn Station that is as great as New York and suitable for the 21st century," said City Council speaker [[Christine Quinn]]. "This is an opportunity to reimagine and redevelop Penn Station as a world-class transportation destination."<ref>{{cite news |title=Madison Square Garden Is Told to Move |first=Charles V. |last=Bagli |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/nyregion/madison-square-garden-is-told-to-move.html?_r=0 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 24, 2013 |access-date=July 25, 2013}}</ref>

In October 2014, the Morgan facility was selected as the ideal area for Madison Square Garden to be moved, following the 2014 MAS Summit in New York City. More plans for the station were discussed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/10/23/moving_the_garden_would_pave_the_way_for_a_new_penn_station.php |title=Moving the Garden Would Pave the Way for a New Penn Station |date=October 23, 2014 |author=Hana R. Alberts |work=Curbed |access-date=October 26, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/244108609/MSG-the-Future-of-West-Midtown |title=MSG & the Future of West Midtown |work=Scribd}}</ref> Then, in January 2016, New York Governor [[Andrew Cuomo]] announced a redevelopment plan for Penn Station that would involve the removal of [[Hulu Theater|The Theater at Madison Square Garden]], but would otherwise leave the arena intact.<ref name = cumorfp>{{cite news |last=Higgs |first=Larry |title=Gov. Cuomo unveils grand plan to rebuild N.Y. Penn Station |work=The Star-Ledger |date=January 6, 2016 |url=http://www.nj.com/traffic/index.ssf/2016/01/cuomo_kick_starts_moynihan_station_plan_to_free_sp.html |access-date=January 6, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/6th-proposal-governor-cuomos-2016-agenda-transform-penn-station-and-farley-post-office-building |title=6th Proposal of Governor Cuomo's 2016 Agenda: Transform Penn Station and Farley Post Office Building Into a World-Class Transportation Hub |work=Governor Andrew M. Cuomo |access-date=January 7, 2016 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142645/https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/6th-proposal-governor-cuomos-2016-agenda-transform-penn-station-and-farley-post-office-building |url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Interior of Madison Square Garden 2024.png|thumb|Interior of Madison Square Garden in June 2024 before [[Justin Timberlake]]'s "[[The Forget Tomorrow World Tour]]" ]]
In June 2023, nearing the end of the Garden's ten-year permit granted by the city, the [[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]], along with [[Amtrak]] and [[NJ Transit]], filed a report stating that MSG is no longer compatible with Penn Station, with the report saying, "MSG's existing configuration and property boundaries impose severe constraints on the station that impede the safe and efficient movement of passengers and restrict efforts to implement improvements, particularly at the street and platform levels."<ref>{{cite news |title=MTA report says MSG and Penn Station are no longer compatible, fueling debate over the arena's future |first=Téa |last=Kvetenadze |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-msg-penn-station-mta-compatibility-20230606-7iymxnmfsjcopg3wssiyounllm-story.html |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |date=June 6, 2023 |access-date=June 10, 2023}}</ref> On September 14, 2023, the New York City Council voted 48–0 to renew the operating permit for Madison Square Garden for five years, the shortest ever granted by the city to the Garden.<ref>{{cite news |title=NYC officials set to give James Dolan five-year permit for Madison Square Garden — but battle over site is brewing |url=https://nypost.com/2023/09/14/nyc-officials-set-to-give-james-dolan-five-year-permit-for-msg-but-battle-over-site-is-brewing/ |work=[[New York Post]] |date=September 14, 2023 |access-date=September 14, 2023}}</ref>

==Events==
{{main|List of events at Madison Square Garden}}
{{see also|List of entertainment events at Madison Square Garden}}

===Regular events===

====Sports====
Madison Square Garden hosts approximately 320 events a year. It is the home to the [[New York Rangers]] of the National Hockey League, and the [[New York Knicks]] of the National Basketball Association. Before 2020, the New York Rangers, New York Knicks, and the Madison Square Garden arena itself were all owned by the Madison Square Garden Company. The MSG Company split into two entities in 2020, with the Garden arena and other non-sports assets spun off into [[Madison Square Garden Entertainment]] and the Rangers and Knicks remaining with the original company, renamed [[Madison Square Garden Sports]]. Both entities remain under the voting control of [[James L. Dolan|James Dolan]] and his family. The arena is also host to the [[Big East men's basketball tournament]] and was home to the finals of the [[National Invitation Tournament]] from the beginning of its existence up until 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hladik |first1=Matt |title=Report: A Major Change Is Coming To The NIT |url=https://thespun.com/college-hoops/report-major-change-nit-semis-finals-moving-msg-2023 |access-date=March 23, 2022 |work=The Spun |date=March 23, 2022}}</ref> It also hosts select home games for the [[St. John's Red Storm men's basketball|St. John's Red Storm]], representing [[St. John's University (New York)|St. John's University]] in men's [[college basketball]], and almost any other kind of indoor activity that draws large audiences, such as the [[Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show]] and the [[2004 Republican National Convention]].

The Garden was home of the [[NBA draft]] and [[NIT Season Tip-Off]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Willis |first=George |date=February 11, 2015 |title=MSG will always be the 'Mecca,' no matter how bad things get |url=https://nypost.com/2015/02/11/msg-will-always-be-the-mecca-no-matter-how-bad-things-get/ |access-date=December 29, 2023 |work=[[New York Post]]}}</ref> as well as the former New York City home of the [[Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus|Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus]] and [[Disney on Ice]]; all four events are now held at the [[Barclays Center]] in [[Brooklyn]]. It served the [[New York Cosmos (1970–85)|New York Cosmos]] for half of their home games during the [[1983–84 NASL Indoor season]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Yannis |first=Pat |title=Hartford Shift Seen For Indoor Cosmos |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/08/sports/hartford-shift-seen-for-indoor-cosmos.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |via=newyorktimes.com |date=March 8, 1984 |access-date=December 22, 2016}}</ref>

Many of [[boxing]]'s biggest fights were held at Madison Square Garden, including the [[Roberto Durán]]–[[Ken Buchanan]] affair, [[Fight of the Century|the first]] [[Muhammad Ali]] – [[Joe Frazier]] bout and the US debut of [[Anthony Joshua]] that ended in a huge upset when he was beaten by [[Andy Ruiz]]. Before promoters such as [[Don King (boxing promoter)|Don King]] and [[Bob Arum]] moved boxing to [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], Nevada, Madison Square Garden was a popular location for boxing. The original {{cvt|18+1/2|×|18+1/2|ft|m}} ring, which was brought from the second and third generation of the Garden, was officially retired on September 19, 2007, and donated to the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]] after 82 years of service.<ref>Baker, Mark A. (2019). ''Between the Ropes at Madison Square Garden, The History of an Iconic Boxing Ring, 1925–2007''. {{ISBN|978-1476671833}}.</ref> A {{cvt|20|×|20|ft|m}} ring replaced it beginning on October 6 of that same year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fine |first=Larry |date=September 19, 2007 |title=Madison Square Garden ring out for count after 82 years |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boxing-ring-idUSN1928248120070919}}</ref> The [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]] has hosted many events at Madison Square Garden in recent years and has put on some of the highest grossing PPV events in history.

====Professional wrestling====
Madison Square Garden has hosted many notable [[WWE]] (formerly WWF and WWWF) events, and it's affectionally known as WWE's "home office".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sullivan |first1=Kevin |title=Madison Square Garden really is the mecca of wrestling arenas |url=http://web.yesnetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150602&content_id=128106928&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb |website=yesnetwork.com |access-date=December 15, 2018 |date=July 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215065850/http://web.yesnetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150602&content_id=128106928&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb |archive-date=December 15, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Garden has hosted three [[WrestleMania]] events, including the [[WrestleMania I|first]] edition of the annual marquee event for WWE, as well as the [[WrestleMania X|10th]] and [[WrestleMania XX|20th]] editions. Madison Square Garden is also one of two venues (the other being [[Allstate Arena]]) to host WrestleMania three times.
[[File:EddieandBenoitWMXX.jpg|thumb|[[Eddie Guerrero]] (right) and close friend [[Chris Benoit]] (left) celebrating as reigning World Champions at [[WrestleMania XX]] at Madison Square Garden]]
It also hosted the [[Royal Rumble]] in [[Royal Rumble (2000)|2000]] and [[Royal Rumble (2008)|2008]]; [[SummerSlam]] in [[SummerSlam (1988)|1988]], [[SummerSlam (1991)|1991]] and [[SummerSlam (1998)|1998]]; as well as [[Survivor Series]] in [[Survivor Series (1996)|1996]], [[Survivor Series (2002)|2002]] and [[Survivor Series (2011)|2011]]. Multiple episodes of WWE's weekly shows, ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]'' and ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown]]'' have been broadcast from the Arena as well.

[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] (NJPW) and [[Ring of Honor]] (ROH) hosted their [[G1 Supercard]] supershow at the venue on April 6, 2019. A year later it was announced that [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] would return to Madison Square Garden alone on August 22, 2020, for NJPW Wrestle Dynasty.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.njpw1972.com/71967 |title=NJPW Returns to MSG for Wrestle Dynasty August 22 【NJoA】 |access-date=February 9, 2020 |work=[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210181729/https://www.njpw1972.com/71967 |archive-date=February 10, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In May 2020, NJPW announced that the Wrestle Dynasty show would be postponed to 2021 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 6, 2020 |title=NJPW Postpones Wrestle Dynasty At Madison Square Garden |url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2020/05/njpw-postpones-wrestle-dynasty-at-madison-square-garden-670027/ |website=Wrestling Inc. |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=New Japan Pro Wrestling is not coming to the United States this year – Sports Illustrated |url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/video/2020/07/03/new-japan-pro-wrestling-is-back |website=www.si.com |date=July 3, 2020}}</ref>

====Concerts====
<!-- ATTENTION: Do not add concerts to this section without first establishing the notability of the concert or concert series on the talk page first. It's not feasible to add an entry for every single band that ever played at MSG -->
[[File:BillyJoelHydeP070723 (57 of 112) (53031688782) (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Billy Joel]], who currently dominates Madison Square Garden's concert performance records and who in 2013 was recognized as a Madison Square Garden "franchise."]]

[[File:Jimmy Page early.jpg|thumb|[[Led Zeppelin]] guitarist [[Jimmy Page]] performing at Madison Square Garden in 1973]]
Madison Square Garden hosts more high-profile concert events than any other venue in New York City. It has been the venue for [[Michael Jackson]]'s [[Bad World Tour]] in 1988, [[George Harrison]]'s [[The Concert for Bangladesh]], [[The Concert for New York City]] following the [[September 11 attacks]], [[John Lennon]]'s final concert appearance during an [[Elton John]] concert on Thanksgiving Night in 1974 before [[Death of John Lennon|his murder]] in 1980, and [[Elvis Presley]], who gave four sold-out performances in 1972, his first and last ever in New York City. [[Parliament-Funkadelic]] headlined numerous sold-out shows in 1977 and 1978. [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]], who were formed in the arena's city and three of whose members were city-born, did six shows during their second half of the 1970s main attraction peak or "heyday": four sold out winter shows at the arena in 1977 (February 18 and December 14–16), and another two shows only this time in summer for a decade-ender in 1979 (July 24–25). They played their final two shows at the venue on the December 1 and 2, 2023, the 50th anniversary year of their formation.

[[Billy Joel]], another city-born and fellow 1970's pop star, played his first Garden show on December 14, 1978, with that month's follow ups on the 15th, 16th and 18th. Joel would eventually dominate the record for most concerts performed at Madison Square Garden.<ref name=msgnonsportrecord>{{cite web|url=https://www.msgentertainment.com/the-greatest-arena-run-of-all-time-to-come-to-an-end/|title=The Greatest Arena Run of All Time to Come to An End|publisher=Madison Square Garden Entertainment|date=June 1, 2023|accessdate=July 27, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/billy-joel-calls-playing-madison-square-garden-a-dream-come-true-in-documentary-11777182|title=Billy Joel Calls Playing Madison Square Garden a 'Dream Come True' in Part 2 of Documentary (Exclusive)|first=Lizzie|last=Hyman|publisher=People|date=July 24, 2025|accessdate=July 27, 2025}}</ref>

[[Led Zeppelin]]'s three-night stand in July 1973 was recorded and released as both a [[The Song Remains the Same (film)|film]] and [[The Song Remains the Same (album)|album]] titled ''The Song Remains The Same''. [[The Police]] played their final show of their reunion tour at the Garden in 2008.

In the summer of 2017, [[Phish]] held a 13-night series of concerts called "[[The Baker's Dozen (concert series)|The Bakers' Dozen]]", during which the band played 237 unique songs, repeating none during the entire run. The Garden commemorated "The Bakers' Dozen" by adding a Phish-themed banner to the rafters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/live-reviews/phishs-bakers-dozen-residency-our-recap-w496328 |title=Phish's 'Baker's Dozen' Residency: Breaking Down All 13 Blissful Nights |work=[[Digiday]] |last1=Jarnow |first1=Jesse |date=August 7, 2017 |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-date=August 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808170305/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/live-reviews/phishs-bakers-dozen-residency-our-recap-w496328 |url-status=dead}}</ref> With their first MSG show taking place on December 30, 1994, Phish has regularly played annual multi-night runs, typically around New Year's Eve.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://phish.net/venue/157/Madison_Square_Garden|title=Madison Square Garden- Phish.net|website=phish.net}}</ref> As of January 2025, Phish has performed 87 times at MSG.<ref>{{cite web |title=Phish Perform Longest "Mike's Song" Equipped with Second Jam for Penultimate Show of MSG Summer Run |url=https://jambands.com/news/2023/08/05/phish-perform-longest-mike-song-equipped-with-second-jam-for-penultimate-show-of-msg-summer-run/ |website=Jambands |access-date=August 18, 2023 |date=August 5, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Iuzzolino |first1=Nicole |title=Phish to play 7 shows at MSG during 2023 tour |url=https://www.nj.com/live-entertainment/2023/02/phish-to-perform-7-shows-at-msg-dates-schedules-where-to-buy-tickets.html |website=NJ Advance Media |access-date=August 18, 2023 |language=en |date=February 22, 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Eric Clapton 01May2015.jpg|thumb|[[Eric Clapton]] at the Garden in 2015; Clapton has played 45 concerts at the venue since 1968.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Eric Clapton to Celebrate 70th Birthday With Two Shows at Madison Square Garden |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/eric-clapton-70-birthday-madison-square-garden-shows-6501911/ |magazine=Billboard |date=April 23, 2016 |access-date=April 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513101700/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6501911/eric-clapton-70-birthday-madison-square-garden-shows |archive-date=May 13, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>]]
[[Elton John]] once held the all-time record for the greatest number of appearances at the Garden with 64 shows. In a 2009 press release, John was quoted as saying "Madison Square Garden is my favorite venue in the whole world. I chose to have my 60th birthday concert there, because of all the incredible memories I've had playing the venue."<ref name="2009Interview">{{Cite web |title=Top 10 Rock N' Roll Sites in NYC That You Can Visit Today |url=https://untappedcities.com/2022/08/05/rock-n-roll-sites-nyc/10/ |access-date=January 24, 2024 |website=Untapped Cities |date=August 5, 2022}}</ref> A DVD recording was released as ''[[Elton 60 – Live at Madison Square Garden|Elton 60—Live at Madison Square Garden]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/elton-john/27292 |title=NME article on 60th birthday concert at Madison Square Gardens |work=NME |location=UK |date=March 25, 2007 |access-date=February 25, 2009}}</ref>

The current record-holder for most appearances is [[Billy Joel]], who as of July 2024 had played the Garden 150 times. That figure includes a "residency" of monthly concerts that he started in 2014 and played nearly continuously for a decade.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dresdale |first=Andrea |date=July 26, 2024 |title=Billy Joel ends historic Madison Square Garden residency with epic show |url=https://www.https/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819141428/http://https/ |archive-date=August 19, 2013 |access-date=January 16, 2025 |website=abcnewsgo.com |url-status=dead }}</ref> Joel has stated that the site "has the best acoustics, the best audiences, the best reputation, and the best history of great artists who have played there. It is the iconic, holy temple of rock and roll for most touring acts."<ref name=2009Interview/> Joel would set his first record for most consecutive performances by a music artist at Madison Square Garden in 2006 after performing 12 consecutive concerts at the arena from January to April of that year.<ref name=msgnonsportrecord /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billyjoel.com/tour-history/?tour_year=2006|title=Billy Joel Tour History - 2006|publisher=billyjoel.com|accessdate=July 27, 2025}}</ref>  In December 2013, Joel would also be named as Madison Square Garden's first ever music "franchise" with this honor also making it so he would join the [[New York Knicks]], [[New York Rangers]] and [[New York Liberty]] in being recognized as an original Madison Square Garden franchise.<ref name=msgnonsportrecord /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msgentertainment.com/msgs-first-music-franchise-billy-joel-at-the-garden-continues/|title=MSG's First Music Franchise Billy Joel At The Garden Continues|publisher=Madison Square Garden Entertainment|date=October 11, 2017|accessdate=July 27, 2025}}</ref>

[[File:Lady Gaga performing live on The Monster Ball Tour, New York City, February 2011 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Lady Gaga]] performing at the Garden in 2011]]
The [[Grateful Dead]] performed in the venue 53 times from 1979 to 1994, with the first show being held on January 7, 1979, and the last being on October 19, 1994; their longest run was in September 1991.<ref name="Madison Square Garden Shows">[http://www.dead.net/search-deadnet?title=madison%20square%20garden&taxonomy=madison%20square%20garden] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628234153/http://www.dead.net/search-deadnet?title=madison%20square%20garden&taxonomy=madison%20square%20garden|date=June 28, 2018}}, dead.net the official site of the grateful dead</ref>

[[The Who]] have headlined at the venue 32 times, including a four-night stand in 1974, a five-night stand in 1979, a six-night stand in 1996, and four-night stands in 2000 and 2002. They also performed at [[The Concert for New York City]] in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thewholive.net/venues/show-venue.php?id=3 |title=The Who Concert Guide – Madison Square Garden |access-date=January 11, 2019}}</ref>

On March 10, 2020, a 50th-anniversary celebration of [[The Allman Brothers Band]] titled 'The Brothers' took place, featuring the five surviving members of the final Allman Brothers lineup and [[Chuck Leavell]]. [[Dickey Betts]] was invited to participate but his health precluded him from traveling.<ref name="rsb50b">{{cite magazine |last1=Browne |first1=David |title=Derek Trucks on Playing Live Before and After the Coronavirus Shutdown |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/derek-trucks-allman-brothers-tribute-new-york-coronavirus-969359/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=April 30, 2020 |date=March 19, 2020}}</ref> This was the final concert at the venue before the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] forced its closure. Live shows returned to The Garden when the [[Foo Fighters]] headlined a show there on June 20, 2021. The show was for a vaccinated audience only and was the first 100 percent capacity concert in a New York arena since the start of the pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/06/20/1008449093/foo-fighters-to-perform-at-madison-square-gardens-first-full-capacity-concert |title=Foo Fighters To Perform At Madison Square Garden's First Full-Capacity Concert |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=June 20, 2021 |access-date=July 21, 2021}}</ref>

====Other events====
[[File:MSG Messier Night.jpg|thumb|Madison Square Garden as it appeared during "[[Mark Messier|Mark Messier Night]]" on January 12, 2006]]
It hosted the [[1976 Democratic National Convention]]<ref name="Barrow2020">{{Cite web |last=Barrow |first=Bill |date=August 5, 2020 |title=Biden Won't Travel to Milwaukee to Accept Party's Nomination for President, Source Says |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/national/biden-wont-travel-to-milwaukee-to-accept-partys-nomination-for-president-source-says/article_31625991-083f-5ca7-ae6f-0dabca46165d.html |website=The Buffalo News |access-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807045142/https://buffalonews.com/news/national/biden-wont-travel-to-milwaukee-to-accept-partys-nomination-for-president-source-says/article_31625991-083f-5ca7-ae6f-0dabca46165d.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> and 1980 Democratic National Convention<ref name="Barrow2020" /> with Carter, the 1992 Democratic National Convention<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Cronin |first1=Tom |last2=Loevy |first2=Bob |author2-link=Robert D. Loevy|date=August 1, 2020 |title=Do national conventions even matter anymore? |url=https://gazette.com/election-coverage/do-national-conventions-even-matter-anymore/article_79aa41ae-d1f6-11ea-ad4b-ef7abaafc6ad.html |access-date=August 6, 2020 |website=Colorado Springs Gazette |language=en}}</ref> with Clinton, and the [[2004 Republican National Convention]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chung |first=Jen |date=August 30, 2019 |title=15 Years Ago, Protesters Took Over NYC During 2004 Republican National Convention |url=http://gothamist.com/news/15-years-ago-protesters-took-over-nyc-during-2004-republican-national-convention |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914103204/https://gothamist.com/news/15-years-ago-protesters-took-over-nyc-during-2004-republican-national-convention |archive-date=September 14, 2019 |access-date=August 6, 2020 |website=Gothamist |language=en}}</ref> with Bush, and hosted the [[NFL draft]] for many years (later held at Garden-leased [[Radio City Music Hall]], now shared between cities of NFL franchises).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Levy |first=Dan |title=NFL Draft Is Moving in Wrong Direction |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1646145-nfl-draft-is-moving-in-wrong-direction |access-date=August 6, 2020 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Future NFL Draft locations: Host cities for 2020 NFL Draft and beyond |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/future-nfl-draft-locations-host-cities/1lnc951fyd6yy1vg3g9iwsiugq |access-date=August 6, 2020 |website=www.sportingnews.com |date=May 24, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> The ''[[Jeopardy!]]'' Teen Tournament and several installments of ''Celebrity Jeopardy!'' were filmed at MSG in 1999,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kaplan |first=Don |date=October 11, 1999 |title='JEOPARDY!' HITS NYC; GAME SHOW CHALLENGES 'MILLIONAIRE' ON ITS OWN TURF |url=https://nypost.com/1999/10/11/jeopardy-hits-nyc-game-show-challenges-millionaire-on-its-own-turf/ |access-date=August 6, 2020 |work=[[New York Post]] |language=en-US}}</ref> as well as several episodes of ''[[Wheel of Fortune (American game show)|Wheel of Fortune]]'' in 1999 and 2013.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weinstein |first=Farrah |date=September 26, 1999 |title=STYLE & SUBSTANCE V-NN- WH-T- |url=https://nypost.com/1999/09/26/style-substance-v-nn-wh-t/ |access-date=August 6, 2020 |work=[[New York Post]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=WHEEL OF FORTUNE to Tape at Madison Square Garden, 3/15-19; Shows Air May 2013 |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/WHEEL-OF-FORTUNE-to-Tape-at-Madison-Square-Garden-315-19-Shows-Air-May-2013-20120523 |access-date=August 6, 2020 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref>

The [[New York City Police Department|New York City Police Academy]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Formoso |first=Jessica |date=October 10, 2019 |title=NYPD welcomes new class of graduates |url=https://www.fox5ny.com/news/nypd-welcomes-new-class-of-graduates |access-date=August 6, 2020 |website=FOX 5 NY |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Baruch College]]/[[City University of New York|CUNY]], and [[Yeshiva University]] also hold their annual graduation ceremonies at Madison Square Garden. It hosted the [[Grammy Award]]s in 1972, 1997, 2003, and 2018 (which are normally held in [[Los Angeles]]) as well as the [[7th Annual Latin Grammy Awards|Latin Grammy Awards of 2006]].

The group and Best in Show competitions of the [[Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show]] have been held at MSG every February since 1877. Its original run at MSG through 2020 was the arena's longest continuous tenancy. In 2021, the event moved to [[Tarrytown, New York|Tarrytown]], and later the [[USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center]], due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Siba the Standard Poodle Wins the 2020 Westminster Dog Show With a Regal Attitude |url=https://time.com/5782524/westminster-dog-show-2020/ |access-date=August 6, 2020 |magazine=Time}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Croke |first=Karen |title=Westminster Kennel Club moves its annual dog show to Tarrytown in 2021 |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/life/2020/10/22/westminster-kennel-club-dog-show-2021-lyndhurst-tarrytown/3725951001/ |access-date=November 22, 2020 |website=The Journal News |language=en-US}}</ref> The show returned to MSG in 2025 for the first time since 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-12 |title=Westminster Dog Show set to return to New York City and Madison Square Garden |url=https://abc7ny.com/post/westminster-dog-show-2025-nyc-madison-square-garden/14940086/ |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=ABC7 New York |language=en}}</ref>

===Notable firsts and significant events===

Madison Square Garden was the location of a [[1939 Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden|1939 Nazi rally]] sponsored by the [[German American Bund]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kramer |first=Sarah Kate |date=20 February 2019 |title=When Nazis Took Manhattan |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2019/02/20/695941323/when-nazis-took-manhattan |access-date=16 January 2025 |website=NPR}}</ref> According to the World War Two Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, the rally falsely presented itself as a "Pro-American Rally".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Episode 2: Nazis at Madison Square Garden |url=https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/podcasts/antisemitism-fight-wwii-america/episode-2-nazis-madison-square-garden |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=The National WWII Museum {{!}} New Orleans |language=en}}</ref> According to NPR, the rally had more than 20,000 people in attendance. The rally featured a 30-foot banner of former American president [[George Washington]], featured next to two [[Flag of the United States|American flag]] banners and two banners featuring the [[Nazism|Nazi]] [[Swastika]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-29 |title=Trump and his allies insist he's 'not a Nazi' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-allies-insist-s-not-nazi-rcna177774 |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>

The Garden hosted the [[Stanley Cup Final]] and [[NBA Finals]] simultaneously on two occasions: in 1972 and 1994.

MSG has hosted the following All-Star Games:
* [[National Hockey League All-Star Game|NHL All-Star Game]]: [[26th National Hockey League All-Star Game|1973]], [[1994 National Hockey League All-Star Game|1994]]
* [[NBA All-Star Game]]: [[1998 NBA All-Star Game|1998]], [[2015 NBA All-Star Game|2015]]
* [[WNBA All-Star Game]]: [[1999 WNBA All-Star Game|1999]], [[2003 WNBA All-Star Game|2003]], [[2006 WNBA All-Star Game|2006]]
* All American Karate Championships held in 1968 and 1969, both won by Chuck Norris. The 1970 edition was won by [[Mitchell Bobrow]].
* [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]] held its first event in New York City, ''[[UFC 205|UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor]]'', at Madison Square Garden on November 12, 2016. This was the first event the organization held after New York State lifted the ban on [[mixed martial arts]].

[[Mike Krzyzewski]] recorded two notable milestones at the arena. In 2011, he surpassed [[Bob Knight]] as the coach with the most wins in [[NCAA Division I]] men's basketball history when [[Duke Blue Devils men's basketball|Duke]] defeated [[Michigan State Spartans men's basketball|Michigan State]]. Four years later, a Duke victory over St. John's gave Coach K his 1,000th career win.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Scott |title=Coach K earns career win No. 1,000 in No. 5 Duke's win over St. John's |url=http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/25/coach-k-mike-krzyzewski-career-win-no-1000-no-5-dukes-win-st-johns/ |access-date=May 31, 2024 |agency=NBC Sports |date=January 25, 2015}}</ref>

[[Stephen Curry]] broke the NBA's [[List of National Basketball Association career 3-point scoring leaders|all-time three-point scoring record]] at Madison Square Garden, on December 14, 2021. The [[Golden State Warriors|Warriors]] defeated the Knicks 105–96 with Curry recording his 2,977th career three-pointer by the end of the game, eclipsing [[Ray Allen]]'s 2,973 career total.

On October 27, 2024, then presidential candidate [[Donald Trump]] hosted a [[2024 Donald Trump rally at Madison Square Garden|campaign rally]] at Madison Square Garden.<ref name="Colvin-Price">{{cite news |last1=Colvin |first1=Jill |last2=Price |first2=Michelle L. |title=Trump's Madison Square Garden event features crude and racist insults |url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-madison-square-garden-new-york-election-fcfe75be7f8281fde7bffa3adb3bba5d |work=Associated Press |date=October 28, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Gabbatt-2024">{{Cite news |last1=Gabbatt |first1=Adam |last2=Pilkington |first2=Ed |date=October 28, 2024 |title=Trump fills Madison Square Garden with anger, vitriol and racist threats |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/27/trump-madison-square-garden-rally |access-date=October 28, 2024 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> The event was particularly notable for remarks by comedian [[Tony Hinchcliffe]], who spoke prior to Trump and made jokes widely considered offensive toward [[Puerto Ricans]], which became a significant talking point going into the [[2024 United States presidential election|presidential election]].<ref name="Colvin-Price" /><ref name="Holland-Mason-Oliphant">{{Cite news |last1=Holland |first1=Steve |last2=Mason |first2=Jeff |last3=Oliphant |first3=James |date=October 28, 2024 |title=Trump headlines Madison Square Garden rally after vulgar, racist remarks from allies |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-kick-off-final-week-campaign-with-madison-square-garden-rally-2024-10-27/ |access-date=October 28, 2024 |work=[[Reuters]] |quote=that began with a series of vulgar and racist remarks by allies of the former president.}}</ref><ref name="Haberman-Swan-Gold">{{Cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |author-link=Maggie Haberman |last2=Swan |first2=Jonathan |author-link2=Jonathan Swan |last3=Gold |first3=Michael |date=October 28, 2024 |title=Trump Team Fears Damage From Racist Rally Remarks |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/28/us/politics/trump-msg-rally-backlash.html |access-date=October 28, 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241028-205412/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/28/us/politics/trump-msg-rally-backlash.html |archive-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>

==Recognition given by Madison Square Garden==

===Madison Square Garden Gold Ticket Award===
{{main|Madison Square Garden Gold Ticket Award}}
In 1977, Madison Square Garden announced [[Madison Square Garden Gold Ticket Award|Gold Ticket Awards]] would be given to performers who had brought in more than 100,000 unit ticket sales to the venue. Since the arena's seating capacity is about 20,000, this would require a minimum of five sold-out shows. Performers who were eligible for the award at the time of its inauguration included [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]], [[John Denver]], [[Peter Frampton]], the [[The Rolling Stones|Rolling Stones]], the [[The Jackson 5|Jackson 5]], [[Elton John]], [[Led Zeppelin]], [[Sly Stone]], [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]], [[the Who]], and [[Yes (band)|Yes]].<ref name="Cash Box Nov5_77">{{cite magazine |date=November 5, 1977 |title=WNEW Gets Madison Square Garden Award |magazine=Cash Box |publisher=George Albert |volume=XXXIX |number=25 |page=16 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/70s/1977/CB-1977-11-05.pdf#page=14 |via=americanradiohistory.com |access-date=March 30, 2019}}</ref><ref name="BB Oct29_1977">{{cite magazine |date=October 29, 1977 |title=Box Office Gold Ticket |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Lee Zhito |volume=89 |number=43 |page=42 |url={{Google books|akUEAAAAMBAJ |page=42 |plainurl=yes}} |via=Google books |access-date=March 30, 2019}}</ref> [[Graeme Edge]], who received his award in 1981 as a member of [[the Moody Blues]], said he found his gold ticket to be an interesting piece of memorabilia because he could use it to attend any event at the Garden.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.moodybluestoday.com/graeme-edge-interview-glide-magazine/ |title=Graeme Edge Interview with Glide Magazine |date=February 10, 2014 |website=The Moody Blues |access-date=March 30, 2019}}</ref> Many other performers received Gold Ticket Awards between 1977 and 1994.

===Madison Square Garden Platinum Ticket Award===
Madison Square Garden also gave Platinum Ticket Awards to performers who sold over 250,000 tickets to their shows throughout the years. Winners of the Platinum Ticket Awards include: the Rolling Stones (1981),<ref name="Central NJ Home News Jun14_84">{{cite news |title=Rolling Stones inducted into Hall |newspaper=The Central New Jersey Home News |location=New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA |date=June 14, 1984 |page=14, On the Go! section |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30326872/the_central_new_jersey_home_news/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=April 6, 2019}}{{free access}}</ref> Elton John (1982),<ref name="St. Petersburg Times Aug7_82">{{cite news |title=Elton gets award |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times |location=St. Petersburg, Florida, USA |date=August 7, 1982 |page=6A |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30327266/tampa_bay_times/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=April 6, 2019}}{{free access}}</ref> Yes (1984),<ref name="Daily News May 16_84">{{cite news |title=Yes, that's quite a feat |newspaper=Daily News |location=New York, New York, USA |date=May 16, 1984 |page=83 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30327439/daily_news/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=April 6, 2019}}{{free access}}</ref> Billy Joel (1984),<ref name="Desert Sun Jul7_84">{{cite news |title=Hot Ticket |newspaper=The Desert Sun |location=Palm Springs, California, USA |date=July 7, 1984 |page=D12 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30327660/the_desert_sun/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=April 6, 2019}}{{free access}}</ref> the Grateful Dead (1987),<ref name="Jaeger Oct1_87">{{cite news |last=Jaeger |first=Barbara |title=Records, Etc.: The Grateful Dead |newspaper=The Record |location=Hackensack, New Jersey, USA |date=October 1, 1987 |page=E-10 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30304576/the_record/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=April 5, 2019}}{{free access}}</ref> and Madonna (2004).{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

===Madison Square Garden Hall of Fame===
The Madison Square Garden Hall of Fame honors those who have demonstrated excellence in their fields at the Garden. Most of the inductees have been sports figures, however, some performers have been inducted as well. Elton John was reported to be the first non-sports figure inducted into the MSG Hall of Fame in 1977 for "record attendance of 140,000" in June of that year.<ref name="BB Oct29_1977 p3">{{cite magazine |date=October 29, 1977 |title=Elton in Manhattan |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Lee Zhito |volume=89 |number=43 |page=3 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1977/Billboard%201977-10-29.pdf#page=3 |via=AmericanRadioHistory.com |access-date=April 2, 2019}}</ref> For their accomplishment of "13 sell-out concerts" at the venue, the Rolling Stones were inducted into the MSG Hall of Fame in 1984, along with nine sports figures icons, bringing the hall's membership to 107.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/05/07/sports/sports-world-specials-173930.html |title=Sports World Specials |last=Thomas |first=Robert MCG. Jr. |date=May 7, 1984 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 2, 2019 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

===Madison Square Garden Walk of Fame===
{{main|List of Madison Square Garden Walk of Fame Inductees}}
The walkway leading to the arena of Madison Square Garden was designated as the "Walk of Fame" in 1992.<ref name="CBS New York2010">{{Cite web |url=https://newyork.cbslocal.com/guide/madison-square-garden-guide/ |title=Madison Square Garden Guide |date=October 19, 2010 |website=CBS New York |language=en |access-date=May 23, 2019}}</ref> It was established "to recognize athletes, artists, announcers and coaches for their extraordinary achievements and memorable performances at the venue."<ref name="Bernstein May 11, 2015">{{cite web |url=https://www.jambase.com/article/grateful-dead-inducted-into-msg-walk-of-fame/ |title=Grateful Dead Inducted into MSG Walk of Fame |last=Bernstein |first=Scott |date=May 11, 2015 |website=JamBase |access-date=April 16, 2019}}</ref> Each inductee is commemorated with a plaque that lists the performance category in which his or her contributions have been made.<ref name="CBS New York2010" />
Twenty-five athletes were inducted into the MSG Walk of Fame at its inaugural ceremony in 1992, a black-tie dinner to raise money to fight multiple sclerosis.<ref name="Seattle Time Sept12_92">{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=September 12, 1992 |title=Madison Square Garden Gets Walk of Fame |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19920912&slug=1512564/ |work=The Seattle Times |location=Seattle, Washington, USA |access-date=April 16, 2019}}</ref> 
Elton John was the first entertainer to be inducted into the MSG Walk of Fame in 1992.<ref name="Cape Breton Post Oct9_2010">{{cite news |date=October 9, 2010 |title=This Day in History: October 9: Also on this date in: 1992 |url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/cape-breton-post/20101009/282883727073282/ |work=Cape Breton Post |location=Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada |access-date=April 16, 2019 |via=PressReader}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor=Gregory, Andy |date=2002 |title=International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002 |location=London, England |publisher=Europa Publications |isbn=9781857431612 |page=260 See entry "John Elton (Sir)"}}</ref> 
Billy Joel was inducted at a date after Elton John,<ref name="Courier-News May15_2015">{{cite news |last=Biese |first=Alex |date=May 15, 2015 |title=Long, strange trip to NYC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30667628/the_couriernews/ |work=The Courier-News |location=Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA |page=2, Kicks section |access-date=April 16, 2019 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}</ref> 
and the Rolling Stones were inducted in 1998.<ref name="BB Feb14_98">{{cite magazine |date=February 14, 1998 |title=Artists & Music: Walk This Way |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1998/BB-1998-02-14.pdf#page=12/ |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Howard Lander |page=12 |access-date=April 16, 2019 |via=AmericanRadioHistory}}</ref> In 2015, the Grateful Dead were inducted into the MSG Walk of Fame along with at least three sports-related figures.<ref name="Courier-News May15_2015"/><ref name="Bernstein May 11, 2015"/>

[[File:Madison Square Garden court.jpg|thumb|Getting the arena ready for a basketball game in 2005]]

===Capacity===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Basketball<ref>{{cite document |title=2011–2012 New York Knicks Media Guide |publisher=New York Knicks}}</ref>
|-
! style="{{NBA color cell|New York Knicks}}"|Years
! style="{{NBA color cell|New York Knicks}}"|Capacity
|-
| 1968–1971
| 19,500
|-
| 1971–1972
| 19,588
|-
| 1972–1978
| 19,693
|-
| 1978–1989
| 19,591
|-
| 1989–1990
| 18,300
|-
| 1990–1991 
| 19,081
|-
| 1991–2012 
| 19,763
|-
| 2012–2013 
| 19,033
|-
| 2013–present 
| 19,812<ref name="postrancap"/>
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Ice hockey<ref>{{cite document |title=2011–2012 New York Rangers Media Guide |publisher=New York Rangers}}</ref>
|-
! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0069AA 5px solid; border-bottom:#D31245 5px solid;"|Years
! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0069AA 5px solid; border-bottom:#D31245 5px solid;"|Capacity
|-
| 1968–1972
| 17,250
|- 
| 1972–1990
| 17,500
|- 
| 1990–1991
| 16,792
|-
| 1991–2012
| 18,200
|-
| 2012–2013
| 17,200
|-
| 2013–present
| 18,006<ref name="postrancap"/>
|}
{{col-end}}

===The Theater at Madison Square Garden===
{{Main|The Theater at Madison Square Garden}}
The Theater at Madison Square Garden seats between 2,000 and 5,600 for concerts and can also be used for meetings, stage shows, and graduation ceremonies. It was the home of the [[NFL draft]] until 2005, when it moved to the [[Javits Center|Jacob K. Javits Convention Center]] after MSG management opposed a [[West Side Stadium|new arena]] for the [[New York Jets]]. It also hosted the [[NBA draft]] from 2001 to 2010. The theater also occasionally hosts boxing matches.

The fall 1999 [[List of Jeopardy! tournaments and events|''Jeopardy!'' Teen Tournament]] as well as [[List of Jeopardy! tournaments and events#Celebrity Jeopardy!|''Celebrity Jeopardy!'']] competitions were held at the theater. ''[[Wheel of Fortune (American game show)|Wheel of Fortune]]'' taped at the theater twice in 1999 and 2013. In 2004, it was the venue of the ''[[Survivor: All-Stars]]'' finale. No seat is more than {{convert|177|ft|m}} from the 30' × 64' stage. The theater has a relatively low {{convert|20|ft|m|adj=on}} ceiling at stage level<ref>[http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/NR/rdonlyres/ev5qhbpo72cywqlemcpzwpdry4lg5cjh3wsanshe3kvn3d3egsugdb2kdxq2edhqa2h2n5k24z2qu27nnymz3qdj7jc/PressRelease7nov_EN.pdf "''Wintuk'' created exclusively for Wamu Theater at Madison Square Garden"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327112136/http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/NR/rdonlyres/ev5qhbpo72cywqlemcpzwpdry4lg5cjh3wsanshe3kvn3d3egsugdb2kdxq2edhqa2h2n5k24z2qu27nnymz3qdj7jc/PressRelease7nov_EN.pdf |date=March 27, 2009 }}, cirquedusoleil.com, November 7, 2007</ref> and all of its seating except for boxes on the two side walls is on one level slanted back from the stage. There is an {{convert|8000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} lobby at the theater.

==Accessibility and transportation==
[[File:Madison Square Garden Penn Station 7th Ave Entrance 2024.jpg|thumb|The [[Seventh Avenue (Manhattan)|7th Avenue]] entrance to Madison Square Garden and [[Pennsylvania Station (New York City)|Penn Station]] in 2024]]
Madison Square Garden sits directly atop a major transportation hub, [[New York Penn Station]], which is served by [[Long Island Rail Road]] and [[NJ Transit Rail Operations|NJ Transit]] commuter rail, as well as [[Amtrak]]. The Garden is also accessible via the [[New York City Subway]] at the [[34th Street–Penn Station (IND Eighth Avenue Line)|34th Street–Penn Station]] ({{NYCS trains|Eighth south}}) and the [[34th Street–Penn Station (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line)|34th Street–Penn Station]] ({{NYCS trains|Broadway-Seventh}}) stations.<ref>{{NYCS const|map}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of indoor arenas by capacity]]
* [[List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas]]
* [[Madison Square Garden Bowl]], a former outdoor boxing venue in Queens operated by the Garden company
* [[Royal Albert Hall]]

==References==

===Notes===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
* {{cite web |first=Larry |last=McShane |url=http://www.nycvisit.com/content/index.cfm?pagePkey=1255 |title=Looking Back at 125 Years of Madison Square Garden |publisher=New York City |access-date=August 7, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050830054157/http://www.nycvisit.com/content/index.cfm?pagePkey=1255 |archive-date=August 30, 2005}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.thegarden.com/inandaroundgarden_corporate.html |title=MSG: Corporate Information |access-date=August 7, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050806081452/http://www.thegarden.com/inandaroundgarden_corporate.html |archive-date=August 6, 2005}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.thegarden.com/Rentthegarden/general_venue_capacity.html |title=Rent The Garden |access-date=August 7, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050305025746/http://www.thegarden.com/Rentthegarden/general_venue_capacity.html |archive-date=March 5, 2005}}
* {{cite news |first=Charles V. |last=Bagli |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/12/nyregion/12garden.html |title=Madison Square Garden's Owners Are in Talks to Replace It, a Block West |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 12, 2005}}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2006/08/08/arenas-the-star-of-msg-revamp/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902144255/https://www.nydailynews.com/2006/08/08/arenas-the-star-of-msg-revamp/ |archive-date=September 2, 2024 |title=Arena's the Star of MSG Revamp |last=Huff |first=Richard |work=[[New York Daily News]] |date=August 8, 2006 |access-date=September 2, 2024}}
* {{cite news |title=Sports of the Times; Dues for the City |first=Dave |last=Anderson |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/02/19/sports/no-headline-011498.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 19, 1981}}
* [https://archive.today/20121206014649/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1135433/index.htm "A Garden Built For Tomorrow," ''Sports Illustrated'', January 2, 1967.]
* [http://digital.hagley.org/islandora/search/madison%20square%20garden?type=dismax Madison Square Garden under construction] from the [[Hagley Digital Archives]]

==External links==
{{Commons category|Madison Square Garden}}
* {{official website|https://www.msg.com/madison-square-garden/}}
* [https://www.msgentertainment.com/ Madison Square Garden Entertainment corporate website]

{{Navboxes|list1=
{{S-start-collapsible|header={{S-sta|et}}}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|MSG III]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = Home of the [[New York Knicks]]|years = 1968–present (MSG IV)}}
{{s-aft|after = current}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|MSG III]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = Home of the [[New York Rangers]]|years = 1968–present (MSG IV)}}
{{s-aft|after = current}}
{{s-bef|before = first arena<br />[[Prudential Center]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = Home of the [[New York Liberty]]|years = 1997–2010 <br />2014–2017}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Prudential Center]]<br />[[Westchester County Center]]}}
{{s-bef|before = first arena}}
{{s-ttl|title = Home of the<br />[[Orlando Titans|New York Titans]]|years = 2007–2009}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Amway Arena]]}}
{{s-bef|before = first arena}}
{{s-ttl|title = Home of the [[New York Knights (arena football)|New York Knights]]|years = 1988}}
{{s-aft|after = last arena}}
{{s-bef|before = first arena}}
{{s-ttl|title = Home of the [[Toronto Phantoms|New York CityHawks]]|years = 1997–1998}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Hartford Civic Center]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Met Center|Metropolitan Sports Center]]<br />[[Montreal Forum]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = Host of the [[National Hockey League All-Star Game|NHL All-Star Game]]|years = 1973<br />1994}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Chicago Stadium]]<br />[[TD Garden|Fleet Center]]}}
{{s-bef|before = first event<br />[[Caesars Palace]]<br />[[Safeco Field]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = Host of [[WrestleMania]]|years = [[WrestleMania I|1985]]<br />[[WrestleMania X|1994]]<br />[[WrestleMania XX|2004]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Nassau Coliseum]],<br />[[Rosemont Horizon]], &<br />[[Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena]]<br />[[Hartford Civic Center]]<br />[[Staples Center]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Quicken Loans Arena|Gund Arena]]<br />[[Smoothie King Center]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = Host of the [[NBA All-Star Game]]|years = 1998<br />2015}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Oracle Arena|Oakland Arena]]<br />[[Air Canada Centre]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Lakewood Church Central Campus|The Summit]] Houston}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[ATP Finals|Masters Cup]] Venue|years = 1977–1989}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Festhalle Frankfurt]] Frankfurt}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena]]<br />[[Oracle Arena|Oakland Coliseum Arena]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[WTA Finals|WTA Tour Championships]] Venue|years = 1977<br />1979–2000}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Oracle Arena|Oakland Coliseum Arena]]<br />[[Olympiahalle]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{Midtown South, Manhattan}}
{{New York Penn Station}}
{{Madison Square Garden Company}}
{{New York Knicks}}
{{New York Rangers}}
{{New York Liberty}}
{{New York Knights (arena football)}}
{{Toronto Phantoms}}
{{NHL Arenas}}
{{NBA Arenas}}
{{Manhattan Jaspers basketball navbox}}
{{St. John's Red Storm men's basketball navbox}}
{{Big East Conference basketball venue navbox}}
{{NewYorksportsvenues}}
{{New York NCAA Division I college basketball venue navbox}}
{{Democratic National Convention venues}}
{{Grammy Award venues}}
{{Latin Grammy Award venues}}
{{Republican National Convention venues}}
{{James Madison}}
}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Madison Square Garden Sports]]
[[Category:Madison Square Garden| ]]
[[Category:1968 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:Athletics (track and field) venues in New York City]]
[[Category:Basketball venues in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Basketball venues in New York City]]
[[Category:Boxing venues in New York City]]
[[Category:College basketball venues in the United States]]
[[Category:College ice hockey venues in New York (state)]]
[[Category:College wrestling venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Convention centers in New York City]]
[[Category:Eighth Avenue (Manhattan)]]
[[Category:Esports venues in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Gulf and Western Industries]]
[[Category:Gymnastics venues in New York City]]
[[Category:Indoor arenas in New York City]]
[[Category:Ice hockey venues in New York City]]
[[Category:Indoor lacrosse venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Indoor soccer venues in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Indoor track and field venues in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Manhattan Jaspers men's basketball]]
[[Category:Mixed martial arts venues in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Music venues in Manhattan]]
[[Category:NBA venues]]
[[Category:National Hockey League venues]]
[[Category:New York Knicks]]
[[Category:New York Liberty]]
[[Category:New York Rangers]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) indoor venues]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Plaza]]
[[Category:Round buildings]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1968]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Manhattan]]
[[Category:St. John's Red Storm basketball venues]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Manhattan]]
[[Category:Women's National Basketball Association venues]]
[[Category:World Hockey Association venues]]
[[Category:Wrestling venues in New York City]]
[[Category:WWE]]