Dubbed the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden is central to the New York experience. There is a constant state of activity inside the massive complex, from all-American sports events to showstopping concerts. The arena has even seen its share of historic events. As performance venues go, the Garden is second to none.
Events run year-round with an updated calendar available on the Garden’s official website with sporting events making up one critical half of the venue’s attractions. The New York Rangers hockey team and both the New York Knicks and the New York Liberty basketball teams call the Garden their home. Boxing and wrestling matches are also staged here on occasion. The Garden has also hosted a variety of musicians, from Madonna and Justin Bieber to Hall & Oates and The Who. In 2014, Billy Joel became the first-ever music franchise at Madison Square Garden, now performing there on a monthly basis.
The Garden sits directly above Penn Station in midtown Manhattan, making transportation easy. 34th Street/Penn Station is served by the 1, 2, 3, A, C, and E trains. There are several parking garages located in the area, including MSG Parking on West 31st Street and Icon Penn Parking at Pennsylvania Plaza.
Events come and go, making it difficult to plan a single “quintessential” Madison Square Garden visit, but this is just where the venue’s beauty lies. Open since 1968, the Garden has left its mark on New York history. It has hosted everything from the NBA All-Star Games to Democratic National Conventions to the Concert for New York, establishing itself as a true American landmark.