See Also

Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, known colloquially simply as The Garden, has been the name of four arena Arena

An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater [i], musical p ... 

s in New York City New York City

[i] in the [[United States]... 

, United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

. It is also the name of the entity which owns the arena and several of the professional sports franchises which play there. There have been four incarnations of the arena. The first two were located at Madison Square Madison Square

Madison Square is a 6 acre public park in the New York City [i] borough [i] of Manhattan [i], n ... 

, thus the name. Subsequently a new 20,000-seat Garden was built at 50th Street and 8th Avenue, and the current Garden is at 7th Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.

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Timeline

1879   At New York City New York City

[i] in the [[United States]... 

's Madison Square Garden the first artificial ice rink Ice rink

An ice rink is a frozen body of water where people can ice skate [i] or play winter sports. ... 

 in North America North America

North America is a continent [i] in the Earth [i]'s northern hemisphere [i] and almost fully in the western hemisphere [i] ... 

 opens.

1879   New York City New York City

[i] in the [[United States]... 

's Gilmores Garden is renamed Madison Square Garden by William Henry Vanderbilt William Henry Vanderbilt

William H. Vanderbilt was a businessman and a member of the prominent United States [i] Vanderbilt family [i] ... 

 and is opened to the public at 26th Street and Madison Avenue.

1945   The "Clash of Titans": George Mikan and Bob Kurland duelled at Madison Square Garden. OSU Oklahoma State University System

The Oklahoma State University System is comprised of five educational institutes across Oklahoma [i]. ... 

 defeats DePaul DePaul University

DePaul University is a private institution of higher education [i] and research [i] in Chicago [i] ... 

 52-44.

1954   Joey Giardello knocks out Willie Tory in round seven at Madison Square Garden in the first televised Television

Television is a telecommunication [i] system for ... 

 prize boxing Boxing

Boxing, also called Western Boxing, prizefighting or the sweet science , is a sport [i] ... 

 fight shown in color.

1964   Campaigning at Madison Square Garden, New York, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson pledges the creation of the Great Society Great Society

The Great Society was a set of domestic programs proposed or enacted in the United States [i] on the ini ... 

.

1971   In Madison Square Garden, New York New York

New York is a state [i] in the northeastern [i] United States [i]. ... 

, Ivan Koloff Oreal Perras

Ivan Koloff "The Russian Bear" is the stage name of a former Canadian professional wrestler [i] Oreal ... 

 pins Bruno Sammartino to win the WWWF World Wrestling Entertainment

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is a publicly traded, privately controlled integrated media [i] , sports [i] ... 

 World Title, ending the longest reign ever of that title to date.

1988   The first World Wrestling Entertainment World Wrestling Entertainment

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is a publicly traded, privately controlled integrated media [i] , sports [i] ... 

 (WWE) (WWF at the time) SummerSlam SummerSlam

SummerSlam is an annual professional wrestling [i] pay-per-view [i] event held in August by World Wrestling Entertainment [i] ... 

 main event — featuring Hulk "Hulkamania" Hogan Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan, is an American professional wrestler, entertainer, actor and TV star.... 

 and "Macho Man" Randy Savage Randy Savage

Randall Mario Poffo,, better known by his ring name [i] "Macho Man" Randy Savage, is a professional wrestler [i] ... 

 versus André the Giant André the Giant

Andr the Giant was a professional wrestler [i] and actor [i], born Andr Ren R ... 

 and "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase Ted DiBiase

Theodore Marvin DiBiase Sr. is an American [i] Christian [i] minister [i] ... 

 — is held in Madison Square Garden in New York City New York City

[i] in the [[United States]... 

.

2004   World Wrestling Entertainment World Wrestling Entertainment

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is a publicly traded, privately controlled integrated media [i] , sports [i] ... 

 (WWE) marks the 20th Anniversary of their flagship pay per view event WrestleMania WrestleMania

WrestleMania is the annual flagship pay-per-view [i] event of World Wrestling Entertainment [i], widely ... 

. Wrestlemania XX WrestleMania XX

WrestleMania XX was the twentieth WrestleMania [i] professional wrestling [i] pay-per-view [i] produced ... 

 is held in Madison Square Garden where the first Wrestlemania was held 20 years previously.



Encyclopedia

Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, known colloquially simply as The Garden, has been the name of four arena Arena

An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater [i], musical p ... 

s in New York City New York City

[i] in the [[United States]... 

, United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

. It is also the name of the entity which owns the arena and several of the professional sports franchises which play there. There have been four incarnations of the arena. The first two were located at Madison Square Madison Square

Madison Square is a 6 acre public park in the New York City [i] borough [i] of Manhattan [i], n ... 

, thus the name. Subsequently a new 20,000-seat Garden was built at 50th Street and 8th Avenue, and the current Garden is at 7th Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station. The present arena is informally known to some by its advertising slogan, "The World's Most Famous Arena".

The arena lends its name to the Madison Square Garden Network MSG Network

The Madison Square Garden Network, more commonly referred to as the MSG Network or simply as MS... 

, a cable television Cable television

Cable television or Community Antenna Television is a system of providing television [i], FM radio [i] ... 

 network that broadcasts most sporting events, and soon special concert and entertainment events, that are held in the Garden.

History

Madison Square Garden derives its name from the park where the first two gardens were located on Madison Avenue at 26th Street. As the venue moved to new locations the name still stuck.

1879-1890


The site of the first Madison Square Garden, now known as Madison Square Garden I, was formerly the passenger depot Train station

For Ottawa [i]'s OC Transpo [i]'s Transitway [i] station and the city's main train terminal, see Train Station [i] ... 

 at 26th and Madison Avenue of the New York and Harlem Railroad New York and Harlem Railroad

The New York and Harlem Railroad was one of the first railroads in the United States [i], and possibly t ... 

. When the depot was moved to the current site of Grand Central Terminal Grand Central Terminal

Grand Central Terminal is a terminal rail station [i] at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue in Midtown Manhattan [i] ... 

 in 1871 the depot was sold to P.T. Barnum P. T. Barnum

Phineas Taylor Barnum, American [i] showman [i] who is best remembered for his entertainin ... 

 and converted into a hippodrome called "Barnum's Monster Classical and Geological Hippodrome." In 1876 it was renamed "Gilmore's Garden." It was an open air arena.

William Henry Vanderbilt William Henry Vanderbilt

William H. Vanderbilt was a businessman and a member of the prominent United States [i] Vanderbilt family [i] ... 

 officially renamed Gilmore's Garden "Madison Square Garden" and reopened the facility to the public on May 30, 1879 at 26th Street and Madison Avenue Madison Avenue (Manhattan)

Madison Avenue is a north-south avenue in the borough [i] of Manhattan [i] in New York City [i] ... 

. The first arena was originally built for the sport of track cycling Track cycling

Track cycling is a bicycle racing [i] sport [i] usually held on specially-built banked tracks or velodrome [i] ... 

, which is still remembered in the name of the Madison event.

1890-1925


The second Madison Square Garden , also located at 26th and Madison Avenue was designed by Stanford White Stanford White

Stanford White was an American [i] architect [i] and partner in the architectural firm of ... 

, who would later be killed at the Garden's rooftop restaurant on June 25, 1906 by Harry K. Thaw allegedly because the murderer's wife, Evelyn Nesbit Evelyn Nesbit

Evelyn Nesbit was an artists' model and chorus girl, noted for her entanglement in the murder of her ex-... 

had been White's mistress before her marriage. White kept an apartment, site of the famous red velvet swing, in the building.

The new structure was 200 feet by 485 feet of Moorish architecture with a minaret-like tower soaring 32 stories over Madison Square Park and was the city's second tallest building. The Garden's main hall, was the largest in the world, measured 200 by 350 feet with permanent seating for 8,000 people and floor space for thousands more.

Topping the garden was a statue of Diana which is now at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Philadelphia Museum of Art, located at the west end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway [i] in Philadelphia [i] ... 

. A copy is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, often referred to simply as The Met, is one of the world's largest... 

. The statue is 18 feet high and is made of finely wrought copper and is gilded. It was designed by Augustus St. Gaudens, and was made by W. H. Mullins at Salem, Ohio. It weighed 1,800 pounds but spun in the wind.

It hosted the 1924 Democratic National Convention 1924 Democratic National Convention

The 1924 [i] Democratic National Convention [i], also called the Klanbake [i], held at the Madison Square Garden [i] ... 

, which nominated John W. Davis John W. Davis

John William Davis was an American politician [i] and lawyer.... 

 after 103 ballots. Afterwards, it was torn down to make way for the landmark New York Life Insurance Building New York Life Insurance Building

The New York Life Insurance Company [i] has commissioned two major skyscrapers.
... 

.

White was a member of the architecture firm McKim, Mead and White McKim, Mead, and White

McKim, Mead, and White was the premier architectural firm [i] in the eastern United States at ... 

 which designed Pennsylvania Station which was torn down to make way for MSG IV. The firm also designed the James Farley Post Office James Farley Post Office

The James A. Farley Post Office, New York City [i]'s General Post Office [i], is located at 421 Eighth Avenue [i] ... 

 which is being proposed as the anchor for the proposed new Pennsylvania Station as well as the proposed MSG V.

1925-1968

The third garden, now known as Madison Square Garden III, was built on 50th Street and Eighth Avenue by boxing promoter Tex Rickard George Lewis Rickard

George Lewis "Tex" Rickard was an American boxing [i] promoter, and founder of the New York Rangers [i] ... 

 and was dubbed "The House That Tex Built." The New York Rangers got their name in a wordplay on Tex's name . It was built in 249 days on the site of the city's street car barns.

In 1928 Rickard built "Boston Madison Square Garden." The name got clipped to Boston Garden Boston Garden

The Boston Garden was an arena built in 1928 [i] and demolished in 1998 [i] after the completion of its ... 

.

Boxing was Madison Square Garden III's principal claim to fame. The building exterior in contrast to the ornate towers of the first two Garden was a simple box. Its most unique feature was its ornate marquee. On January 17, 1941 23,190 people witnessed Fritzie Zivic successful welterweight defense against Henry Armstrong. That is the biggest attendance record of any of the Gardens. MSG III was featured prominently in the 2005 Ron Howard Ron Howard

Ronald William Howard is a double Academy Award [i] winning American [i] actor [i], film director [i] ... 

 film Cinderella Man Cinderella Man

Cinderella Man is a 2005 [i] American [i] Academy Award [i]-nominated drama film [i] ... 

 .

It hosted the only indoor bout in the career of Jack Dempsey Jack Dempsey

William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey was a boxer [i] who held the world heavyweight title between 1919 and 19 ... 

. It cost $4.75 million to build; this one hosted seven NCAA men's basketball championships between 1943 and 1950. It also hosted the NBA All-Star Game National Basketball Association All-Star Game

The NBA [i] staged its first All-Star Game in the Boston Garden [i] on March 2 [i] ... 

 in 1954 and 1955. When it was torn down, there was a proposal to build the world's tallest building on its site prompting a major battle in its Hell's Kitchen Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan

Hell's Kitchen is a neighborhood of New York City [i] that includes roughly the area ... 

 neighborhood that ultimately resulted in strict height restrictions. The space remained a parking lot though until 1989 when Worldwide Plaza One Worldwide Plaza

Built in 1989, One Worldwide Plaza is part of a three-building, mixed-use commercial and residential com... 

 designed by David Childs David Childs

David M. Childs is the Consulting Design Partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill [i] who has projects all ... 

 of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill Skidmore, Owings and Merrill

Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP is a Chicago [i]-based architectural firm [i] ... 

 opened.
Madison Square Garden Bowl
Madison Square built an open air arena Stadium

A modern stadium is a place, or venue, for outdoor sport [i]s, concert [i]s or other events, consisting ... 

, the Madison Square Garden Bowl at 48th and Northern Boulevard in Long Island City Long Island City, Queens

Long Island City is the western-most neighborhood of the borough [i] of Queens [i] in New York City [i] ... 

 in 1932 that could seat 72,000. This was the site where James Braddock James J. Braddock

James Walter Braddock was a champion boxer [i].
... 

 defeated Max Baer for the World Heavyweight title on June 13, 1935 that was dramatized in the film Cinderella Man Cinderella Man

Cinderella Man is a 2005 [i] American [i] Academy Award [i]-nominated drama film [i] ... 

. Ironically Braddock was born on West 48th Street in Hell's Kitchen Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan

Hell's Kitchen is a neighborhood of New York City [i] that includes roughly the area ... 

 just a few blocks from the West 49th Street location of MSGIII. Braddock's first come back fight against John "Corn" Griffin was also in the venue. Jack Sharkey and Primo Carnera also captured the heavyweight crown in the 1930s at the Madison Square Garden Bowl.

The bowl was torn down after World War II World War II

World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide [i] conflict [i] fought betwe ... 

 to make way for U.S. Steel U.S. Steel

The United States Steel Corporation is an integrated steel [i] producer with major production operation ... 

 and Ronzoni Macaroni Company factories. They in turn were torn down and the area is now home to a series of car dealerships.

1968-Present


On February 11, 1968 the fourth Madison Square Garden, Madison Square Garden IV, opened after the financially troubled Pennsylvania Railroad Pennsylvania Railroad

The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American [i] railroad [i] that was founded in 1846 [i] a ... 

 tore down Pennsylvania Station . The current Garden is the hub of Madison Square Garden Center in the office and entertainment complex known as Pennsylvania Plaza, for the railroad station atop which the complex is located.

In 1972, the Garden's then chairman, Irving Mitchell Felt, talked about moving the Knicks and the Rangers to what was then merely a proposed arena in the New Jersey Meadows. This was a result of a row between the Garden and New York City over real estate taxes owed by MSG. The situation flared up again in 1980 when there was a reported threat by the Garden to move the Knicks to Nassau Coliseum Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, commonly known as Nassau Coliseum, is a multi-purpose indoor ar... 

 and the Rangers to the nearly completed Meadowlands Arena Continental Airlines Arena

Continental Airlines Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the Meadowlands Sports Complex [i] in East Rutherford, New Jersey [i] ... 

 if its city real estate taxes were not reduced. Both threats were not taken seriously by the city however, and no moves ever materialized.

In 1991 Garden ownership spent $200 million to renovate the Garden including adding 89 suites. In the process hundreds of seats in the upper mezzanine were removed to make way for the suites. Additionaly the color scheme of the garden was changed.

In 2004-2005 Cablevision was involved in an intense battle with the City of New York over the proposed West Side Stadium West Side Stadium

The West Side Stadium was a proposed football [i] stadium [i] to be built on a platfor ... 

 which they said would be competing with their venue. During the battle, Cablevision announced plans for $360 million in proposed renovations. When the stadium ultimately was stopped, Cablevision signed on to tear down the Garden and rebuild it on Ninth Avenue.

New arena

As of September 2005, the Garden's current owner, Cablevision Cablevision (US)

Cablevision Systems Corporation is an American [i] cable television [i] company that serv ... 

, has plans to build a fifth Garden. If the project moves forward, a new Garden would be built at the western end of the James Farley Post Office James Farley Post Office

The James A. Farley Post Office, New York City [i]'s General Post Office [i], is located at 421 Eighth Avenue [i] ... 

, on 33rd Street and Ninth Avenue across the street, which is also eyed for a western expansion of Pennsylvania Station. The new Garden, which would remain home to the Rangers and the Knicks, would feature wide concourses with stores and restaurants, luxury boxes with better sight lines for basketball and hockey games, a museum, and a hall of fame. The current Garden would be torn down to be replaced with an office tower.

Present operations

The present Garden hosts 320 events a year but it is best known as the home of the New York Knicks New York Knicks

The New York Knickerbocker [i]s, or Knicks, are a professional basketball [i] team based in New York City [i]... 

 of the NBA National Basketball Association

The National Basketball Association is the world's premier men's professional basketball [i] league and ... 

 and New York Rangers of the NHL National Hockey League

The National Hockey League is a professional sport [i]s organization composed of ice hockey [i] teams i ... 

. The aforementioned professional sports teams play their home matches in the arena and are owned by the Garden itself. It also hosts New York Liberty New York Liberty

The New York Liberty is a Women's National Basketball Association [i] team based in New York City [i]. ... 

  home games , the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is an American [i] circus [i] that was formed fr ... 

 when it comes to New York City , selected home games for the St. John's St. John's University (New York City)

St. John's University is a private Roman Catholic [i] university [i] whose main ca... 

 men's Red Storm , the annual pre and postseason NIT National Invitation Tournament

The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball [i] tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association [i] ... 

 tournaments, the NBA Draft, the Millrose Games athletics meet, and almost any other kind of indoor activity that draws large audiences, such as the 2004 Republican National Convention 2004 Republican National Convention

The 2004 Republican National Convention, the presidential nominating convention [i] ... 

. It has previously hosted the 1976, 1980 and 1992 Democratic National Conventions, and hosted the NFL Draft for many years . In 2007, 4 of the 8 home games for the New York Titans will be played at the garden, with the other four to be played at Nassau Collesium.

MSG hosted the 1994 NHL All-Star Game and 1998 NBA All-Star Game, two WNBA All-Star Games , and a portion of the 1996 World Cup of Hockey 1996 World Cup of Hockey

The first World Cup of Hockey, or 1996 [i] World Cup of Hockey, replaced the Canada Cup [i] ... 

.

Connecticut Connecticut

Connecticut is a state [i] in the New England [i] region of the United States [i], located i ... 

-based World Wrestling Entertainment World Wrestling Entertainment

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is a publicly traded, privately controlled integrated media [i] , sports [i] ... 

 considers it a home arena as well, due to the fact that all generations of the , including Vince McMahon Vince McMahon

Vincent Kennedy McMahon is an American [i] Billionaire wrestling [i] ... 

's father Vincent J. McMahon

Vincent James McMahon was a U.S. [i] professional wrestling [i] promoter. ... 

 and grandfather have promoted shows at the Garden. MSG has hosted several WrestleMania WrestleMania

WrestleMania is the annual flagship pay-per-view [i] event of World Wrestling Entertainment [i], widely ... 

 and SummerSlam SummerSlam

SummerSlam is an annual professional wrestling [i] pay-per-view [i] event held in August by World Wrestling Entertainment [i] ... 

 events, two Survivor Series Survivor Series

Survivor Series is an annual professional wrestling [i] pay-per-view [i] event held in November by World Wrestling Entertainment [i] ... 

 events and the 2000 Royal Rumble Royal Rumble

The Royal Rumble is an annual professional wrestling [i] pay-per-view [i] event, produced every January ... 

. WWE's strong relationship with Madison Square Garden prevented competitor World Championship Wrestling from ever having a show at the Garden. In 2005, WWE temporarily severed business ties with the arena because WWE felt that increased rental costs would prevent them from making a profit in the building. However, a year later, World Wrestling Entertainment patched things up with MSG and the hiatus ended with a September 11, 2006 edition of WWE RAW WWE RAW

WWE RAW is the Monday night professional wrestling [i] television program [i] for World Wrestling Entertainment [i] ... 

.

MSG is also known for its place in the history of boxing Boxing

Boxing, also called Western Boxing, prizefighting or the sweet science , is a sport [i] ... 

. Many of boxing's biggest fights were held at Madison Square Garden, including many of Joe Louis Joe Louis

Joseph Louis Barrow, better known in the boxing [i] world [i] as Joe Louis and nicknamed The Br ... 

, the Roberto Duran Roberto Durán

Roberto Durn is a famous boxer [i] from Panama [i], and is generally regarded as the greatest li ... 

-Ken Buchanan affair, and the first and second Joe Frazier-Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali is a retired American [i] boxer [i]. ... 

 bouts. Before promoters such as Don King and Bob Arum moved boxing to Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the state of Nevada [i], United States [i], and a major vacation [i] ... 

, Madison Square Garden was considered the mecca of boxing.

Many large popular-music concerts in New York City take place in Madison Square Garden. Particularly famous ones include The Concert for New York City following the September 11 attacks and John Lennon John Lennon

[i] [[20th century]... 

's final concert appearance before his murder in 1980. The Garden usually hosts a concert each year on New Years Eve New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is December 31 [i], the final day of the Gregorian [i] year, and the... 

, with the Knicks and Rangers usually playing on the road.

Many musical acts released seminal live albums recorded at MSG, including Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin was a Rock and Roll band formed in London England in 1968 by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul ... 

, Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen is an American [i] rock [i] and folk [i] ... 

, Frank Sinatra Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra was an American singer and actor.... 

, Billy Joel Billy Joel

William Martin Joel is an American [i] singer [i], songwriter [i], pianist [i], and composer [i] ... 

, Phish Phish

Phish was an American [i] rock band noted for jamming [i] and improvisation [i]. ... 

, Elton John Elton John

Sir Elton John is a five-time Grammy winning singer/songwriter.... 

 and Elvis Presley Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley (born Elvis Aaron Presley in 1935) was an American musician and actor.... 

. Pearl Jam Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam is an American [i] rock [i] band formed in Seattle, Washington [i] an ... 

 released a DVD of a concert at the Garden. Bands including Phish, Cream Cream

Cream or creme is a dairy product [i] that is composed of the higher-butterfat [i] layer skimmed f... 

 and The Jacksons The Jackson 5

The Jackson 5 was an American popular music [i] quintet [i] from Gary, Indiana [i]. ... 

 have had reunion shows there.

The arena is also used for other special events, including Tennis, Circus, and Wrestling events. The New York Police Academy New York City Police Department

*Reporting to the Chief of Department:
... 

 also holds its annual graduation ceremony for new officers at Madison Square Garden. It has become the New York site of the annual Grammy Awards Grammy Award

The Grammy Awards , presented by the Recording Academy [i] ... 

  and hosted the 2005 Country Music Association Awards .

The Big East Conference Big East Conference

The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference [i] co ... 

 men's basketball tournament has been held at MSG every year since 1983.

Seating


Seating in the present Madison Square Garden is arranged in five ascending levels. The lowest one is referred to as "rink-side" for hockey games or "court-side" for basketball games. Next above this is the First Promenade, followed by the Second Promenade, First Balcony and Second Balcony. The seats of these five levels originally bore the colors red Red

Red is any of a number of similar color [i]s at the lowest frequencies of light [i] discernible by the h ... 

, orange, yellow Yellow

Yellow is any color [i] of light that stimulates both the red [i] and green [i] cone cells [i] of the retina [i] ... 

, green Green

Green is a color [i] with many different shades, all within a wavelength [i] of roughly 520570 nm [i]... 

, and blue Blue

Blue is any of a number of similar color [i]s. ... 

, respectively; however, this color scheme has since been changed, mainly because the "blue seats" had become synonymous with rowdy behavior by fans, particularly those attending New York Rangers hockey games. It was a common sight for Rangers fans to set fire to the jerseys of fans from visiting teams, especially those from the New York Islanders New York Islanders

The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey [i] team based in Uniondale, New York [i]. ... 

, Boston Bruins Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey [i] team based in Boston, Massachusetts [i].... 

, and the Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey [i] team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [i]. ... 

. Rangers fans in the blue seats would defend their home from the invading hordes of visiting teams' fans at all costs. Fights were constantly occurring, and ushers would often let Rangers fans get their last punches or kicks in before hauling away the opposing fan. For hockey, the Garden seats 18,200; for basketball, 19,763; and for concerts Concert

A concert is a live performance [i], usually of music [i], before an audience [i]. ... 

 20,000 center stage, 19,522 end-stage. The arena features 20,976 square feet of arena floor space.


Because all of the seats are in one monolithic grandstand, distance from the arena floor is significant from the upper sections. Also, the rows rise much more gradually than other North American arenas, which can cause impaired sightlines, especially when sitting behind tall spectators or one of the concourses.

Other venues

Today's Madison Square Garden is more than just the arena. Other venues at the Garden include:
  • The Theater at Madison Square Garden, which seats between 2,000 and 5,600 for concerts and can also be used for meetings, stage shows, and graduation ceremonies. No seat is more than 177 feet from the 30-foot-by-64-foot stage. There is an 8,000-square-foot lobby at the theater. When the current Garden opened in 1968, the Theater was known as the Felt Forum, in honor of Garden President Irving Mitchell Felt. In the early 1990s, it was renamed the Paramount, after Paramount Communications, which then owned the Garden The theater received its current name in the mid-90s.
  • The 36,000-square-foot Expo Center, is used for trade shows, cat show, often in combination with the arena, banquets, and receptions.
  • A 9,500-square-foot terrace and two restaurants: the Garden Club and the Play-by-Play.

Other corporate operations

In addition to the Garden itself, Madison Square Garden, L.P. also operates two major sports venues in Connecticut Connecticut

Connecticut is a state [i] in the New England [i] region of the United States [i], located i ... 

.

The Hartford Civic Center Hartford Civic Center

The Hartford Civic Center is a sports and convention complex located in Hartford [i] ... 

, an indoor arena Arena

An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater [i], musical p ... 

 in Hartford Hartford, Connecticut

Hartford is the capital [i] of the U.S. state [i] of Connecticut [i], in Hartford County [i] ... 

, is home to the Hartford Wolf Pack Hartford Wolf Pack

The Hartford Wolf Pack are an ice hockey [i] team in the American Hockey League [i]. ... 

, a minor-league hockey team also owned by MSG, and also serves as the part-time home of the men's and women's basketball teams of the University of Connecticut University of Connecticut

University of Connecticut, commonly known as UConn, is the State of Connecticut [i]'s ... 

.

Rentschler Field Rentschler Field

Rentschler Field is a stadium [i] in East Hartford, Connecticut [i]. ... 

, a stadium Stadium

A modern stadium is a place, or venue, for outdoor sport [i]s, concert [i]s or other events, consisting ... 

 in East Hartford, hosts UConn's football American football

American football, known in the United States [i] and Canada [i] simply as football, is a competit ... 

 team. The original plan was to build a larger stadium that would also have hosted the New England Patriots New England Patriots

The New England Patriots, or "Pats" as frequently referred to by sports writers and fans, are a pr... 

.

Notable firsts

  • February 12, 1879 - The first artificial ice rink Ice rink

    An ice rink is a frozen body of water where people can ice skate [i] or play winter sports. ... 

     in North America North America

    North America is a continent [i] in the Earth [i]'s northern hemisphere [i] and almost fully in the western hemisphere [i]... 

     opens at the Garden.
  • 1902 - The first indoor professional American football American football

    American football, known in the United States [i] and Canada [i] simply as football, is a competit ... 

     game is played.
  • 1934 - The first college basketball Basketball

    Basketball is a sport [i] in which two teams of five players each try to score points on one another by ... 

     game at the Garden is played, between the University of Notre Dame University of Notre Dame

    The University of Notre Dame is a leading Catholic institution of higher learning located in Notre Dame, Indiana [i] ... 

     and New York University New York University

    New York University is a major research university [i] in New York City [i]. ... 

    .
  • February 28, 1940 - Basketball is televised Television

    Television is a telecommunication [i] system for

... 

 for the first time .
  • March 19, 1954 - Joey Giardello knocks out Willie Tory in round seven at the Garden in the first televised Television

    Television is a telecommunication [i] system for

... 

 prize boxing Boxing

Boxing, also called Western Boxing, prizefighting or the sweet science , is a sport [i] ... 

 fight shown in color.
  • March 31, 1985 - The World Wrestling Federation , presents the inaugural WrestleMania WrestleMania

    WrestleMania is the annual flagship pay-per-view [i] event of World Wrestling Entertainment [i], widely ... 

    . The annual event would return to Madison Square Garden in 1994 and 2004 for WrestleMania X WrestleMania X

    WrestleMania X was the tenth annual WrestleMania [i] professional wrestling [i] pay-per-view [i] event f ... 

     and WrestleMania XX WrestleMania XX

    WrestleMania XX was the twentieth WrestleMania [i] professional wrestling [i] pay-per-view [i] produced ... 

    , celebrating the 10th and 20th anniversaries of WrestleMania WrestleMania

    WrestleMania is the annual flagship pay-per-view [i] event of World Wrestling Entertainment [i], widely ... 

    .
  • August 29, 1988 - The first SummerSlam SummerSlam

    SummerSlam is an annual professional wrestling [i] pay-per-view [i] event held in August by World Wrestling Entertainment [i] ... 

     event takes place. The event would return to the Garden in 1998 and will again in 2007.
  • June 14, 1994 - After 54 years, the New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup Stanley Cup

    The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy [i] of the National Hockey League [i] , the major professiona ... 

     at Madison Square Garden. It is the first time that a Stanley Cup has been won by the Rangers at the Garden.
  • June 29, 1997 - The New York Liberty New York Liberty

    The New York Liberty is a Women's National Basketball Association [i] team based in New York City [i]. ... 

     professional women's basketball team plays its first home game - the first WNBA game to be played at Madison Square Garden.
  • March 1, 2003 - Quinnipiac University Quinnipiac University

    Quinnipiac University is a private four-year university [i] in Hamden, Connecticut [i], located on about ... 

     defeats the University of Connecticut University of Connecticut

    University of Connecticut, commonly known as UConn, is the State of Connecticut [i]'s ... 

     4-3 in the first college hockey game played at Madison Square Garden since 1977.

Historical events

Throughout its long history, the Garden has been involved its share of historical events. These events have included ones with political implications. On February 20, 1939, A large German-American Bund convention was held prompting riots and protests in and around the arena by American Jews. Former Republican presidential candidate Wendell Willkie Wendell Willkie

Wendell Lewis Willkie was a lawyer in the United States [i] and the Republican [i] ... 

 led 20,000 African-Americans on June 7, 1943, the largest Civil Rights rally of its time, in demanding equal rights and victory in the war against Hitler. President President of the United States

The President of the United States of America is the head of state [i] of the United States [i]. ... 

 John F. Kennedy's John F. Kennedy

John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), also referred to as John F.... 

 45th birthday celebration took place at the Garden on May 19, 1962. During it, Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe was an iconic American actress, singer and model.... 

 sung her now infamous Happy Birthday, Mr. President Happy Birthday, Mr. President

Happy Birthday, Mr. President is a variant on the traditional Happy Birthday to You [i] song [i] ... 

.

On July 1, 1982 Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon Sun Myung Moon

The Rev. Sun Myung Moon founded the Unification Church [i] on May 1 [i], 1954 [i], in Seoul [i], South Korea [i] ... 

 held a Blessing Ceremony in the Garden for 2075 couples. This event attracted a lot of public and media attention , often being called a "mass wedding."

Madison Square Garden has been host to a series of historical concerts as well. On November 28, 1974, John Lennon John Lennon

[i] [[20th century]... 

 made a surprise guest appearance at an Elton John Elton John

Sir Elton John is a five-time Grammy winning singer/songwriter.... 

 concert - Lennon's last ever concert appearance. They sang together as a duet on Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is a song [i] written mostly by John Lennon [i] in 1967 [i] and recorded ... 

, Whatever Gets You Thru the Night and I Saw Her Standing There.

On August 1, 1971, George Harrison George Harrison

George Harrison, MBE [i] was a popular English [i] guitarist [i], singer [i] ... 

 held his Concert For Bangladesh. This historic event was the first special benefit concert to raise funds for charity . There were two concerts held that day, with one taking place at 2:30pm and the other at 7:00pm. The show featured artists such as Harrison, Shankar, Eric Clapton Eric Clapton

Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE [i] , nicknamed "Slowhand", is a Grammy Award [i] ... 

, Bob Dylan Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan is an American [i] singer-songwriter [i], author [i], musician [i] and poet [i] ... 

, Ringo Starr Ringo Starr

Richard Starkey, MBE [i] , known by his stage name [i] Ringo Starr, is ... 

, Billy Preston Billy Preston

William Everett Preston was an American [i] soul music [i]ian from Houston, Texas [i], rai ... 

, and Klaus Voormann Klaus Voormann

Klaus Voormann is a German [i] artist [i], musician [i], and record producer [i] who was associa ... 

, to name a few.

In 1978 reggae Reggae

Reggae is a music genre [i] developed in Jamaica [i] in the late 1960s.
... 

 superstar Bob Marley Bob Marley

Robert Nesta Marley, OM [i] , better known as Bob Marley, was a Jamaican [i] ... 

 definitely introduced reggae music to America with his performance at the Garden. In 1980 Marley played two concerts as the opener of The Commodores; the performances were sold out, but the Garden was almost empty after Marley's show. The day after Marley, already fatally ill, collapsed while jogging in the Central Park Central Park

Central Park is a large public, urban park [i] in the borough of Manhattan [i] in New York City [i]. ... 

 and performed one last concert in Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh is the second largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania [i] in the United States [i] ... 

 before cancelling the tour. Marley died months later of cancer Cancer

Cancer is a class of disease [i]s or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division [i] ... 

.

English England

England is the largest and most populous constituent country [i] of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

 rock band Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin was a Rock and Roll band formed in London England in 1968 by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul ... 

 filmed and recorded their, for many years, only live album and accompanying concert film, The Song Remains the Same, at The Garden during their 1973 U.S. tour.

New Jersey New Jersey

New Jersey is a state [i] in the Mid-Atlantic [i] and Northeastern [i]... 

 native Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen is an American [i] rock [i] and folk [i] ... 

 sold out a then record 10 night stand at the Garden in June and July 2000.

Billy Joel Billy Joel

William Martin Joel is an American [i] singer [i], songwriter [i], pianist [i], and composer [i] ... 

 played a four hour concert for the New Year's 1999, dubbed 'The Night Of The 2000 Years." Two songs from this concert were broadcasted live on ABC-TV as apart of the ABC 2000 news program.

The Garden has also played host to the significant charity concerts "The Concert for New York City" and "From the Big Apple to the Big Easy".

On 7 September and 10 September 2001, Michael Jackson Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson is a thirteen-time Grammy award winning singer/songwriter who dominated pop music in the 1970s... 

 gave 2 shows commemorating the 30th Anniversary of his legendary career. The show featured tribute performances by artists such as Gloria Estefan, Shaggy Shaggy

Shaggy, is a Jamaica [i]n reggae [i] deejay [i] who takes his nickname from Scooby-Doo [i]'s companion [i] ... 

 and Britney Spears Britney Spears

[i] [[pop music|pop]... 

, as well as the Jackson 5 The Jackson 5

The Jackson 5 was an American popular music [i] quintet [i] from Gary, Indiana [i]. ... 

's first concert together since 1984.

The Garden held the Grammy Awards Grammy Award

The Grammy Awards , presented by the Recording Academy [i] ... 

 in 1997 and 2003.

In 2005 the Country Music Awards were held at the Garden.

On November 2, 2006 the 7th Annual Latin Grammy Awards Latin Grammy Awards

The Latin Grammy Awards were launched in 2000 with a telecast aired on CBS [i].... 

 will be held at The Garden.

In 2006, Billy Joel Billy Joel

William Martin Joel is an American [i] singer [i], songwriter [i], pianist [i], and composer [i] ... 

 set a record with a string of 12 sold-out performances, breaking the record of 10 set by Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen is an American [i] rock [i] and folk [i] ... 

 in 2000. On night 12 of the stand, MSG raised a #12 to the rafters on top of the Garden to join the numbers of Rangers and Knicks New York Knicks

The New York Knickerbocker [i]s, or Knicks, are a professional basketball [i] team based in New York City [i]... 

 players that have had their numbers retired by their respective teams, making Joel the first ever non-sports individual to have his "number" retired at The Garden.

In 2006, Madonna was marked as the performer with most performances played ever at the venue, beating out the Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English [i] rock and roll [i] band that rose to prominence in the earl ... 

, with 23 performances. The artist who holds the all-time record for the greatest number of appearances at the Garden is Elton John Elton John

Sir Elton John is a five-time Grammy winning singer/songwriter.... 

 who has played the arena 58 times. The band that played more dates in the Garden than any other is The Grateful Dead Grateful Dead

The Grateful Dead were an American [i] psychedelia [i]-influenced rock [i] band form ... 

, rocking the arena an amazing 52 times from 1979 through 1994.

Film and television appearances

As an iconic figure, Madison Square Garden has made various appearances in film Film

Film is a term that encompasses motion pictures as individual projects, as well as the field in general.... 

 and television programs. It was featured in the 1979 Robert Redford Robert Redford

Robert Redford is an award-winning American [i] motion picture [i] actor [i], director [i]... 

 film The Electric Horseman The Electric Horseman

The Electric Horseman is a romance film starring Robert Redford [i] and Jane Fonda [i]. ... 

. Madison Square Garden is featured in the opening scenes of Highlander , which included footage of former tag team The Fabulous Freebirds Fabulous Freebirds

The Fabulous Freebirds were a professional wrestling [i] tag team that usually consisted of three wrestl ... 

.

Madison Square Garden was the "nest" for the carnivorous Godzilla babies and was later destroyed by F-18 bombers in the Americanized version of Godzilla