Concert Guru

The World's Most Famous Arena!  Located in midtown Manhattan, Madison Square Garden (or simply known as The Garden to most) is nothing short of legendary.  To list the artists who have played here would be a list of the who's who of the all-time greats:.  Billy Joel, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, Madonna, Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, U2, Metallica, Foo Fighters.

Eddie Vedder said it best:  "You ain't nothin' until you play Madison Square Garden."

What most people don't know is that this Garden is the 4th iteration of Madison Square Garden.  The first was built in 1879 on the corner of Madison Avenue and 26th Street.  The second iteration was built in 1890 on top of the original site.  The third was built in 1925 on 8th Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets.  The current Garden opened on February 11, 1968 at its current location atop Penn Station, between 31st and 33rd Streets between 7th and 8th Avenue.  The current Garden was renovated as recently as 2013, which included all new seats, the removal and expansion of seating sections, the addition of a catwalk seating area (Chase Bridge), and an overhaul of all of the inner facilities.

With a concert capacity of 19,500, The Garden has consistently been ahead of the game with lighting and sound options for concerts for decades.  The capabilities of the arena for concerts of all shapes and sizes are limitless and provide best in class on every level.  There's hardly a bad seat anywhere to be found, and the sound quality is unmatched.

While at its core, The Garden is a basketball and hockey arena first and foremost, the concessions throughout are still the same for concerts.  However, due to it being obviously larger than a typically smaller concert venue, the food options are always welcome, even if they are outrageous New York City prices.  (Think $10 for a single slice of pizza, $7 for a bottle of soda, $16+ for alcoholic beverages.)

Due to its centrally located position in NYC, The Garden is incredibly easy to get to, whether it's by car or mass transit, especially if you're taking NJ Transit in from New Jersey or LIRR from Long Island, as you'll arrive literally below The Garden at the newly renovated Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station.  Additionally, Grand Central Station is a relatively short walk (1.1 miles, 24 minutes) or subway ride away (11 minutes, take the Shuttle from Grand Central to Times Square then switch to the 1,2, or 3 to 34th St.-Penn Station).  There are also multiple parking garages nearby, so definitely use that SpotHero app if you're driving into NYC for a show at The Garden, as there is obviously no on-site parking being in the middle of Manhattan.

 
*Guru Tip*:  If you're trying to grab any band merch, this is where I learned/was told by staff that as soon as the doors open, go up the multiple escalators to the 200 section (which is now the top section below the Chase Bridge catwalk seating) and head for the merch stands on that level, as the majority of the crowd heads for the main stands on the ground and 100 levels as soon as they get trhough security, causing ridiculously long lines.  Additionally, by heading all the way up as soon as the doors open, there will also be no lines for concessions, so you can grab those quickly as well before making your way back down to your seats with plenty of time to spare.  HOWEVER, keep in mind that the escalators only operate in the UP direction before the show, so you will have to take the stairwells back down.  The escalators are, obviously, only in the DOWN direction, or stopped to be used as stairs, after the show.  In this case, I recommend taking the stairs, even from the very top, as the crowd typically backs up more at the escalators, which can potentially cause you to miss a train out of town.  The stairs due usually move faster, even if it may not seem like it when you're in there.

Scores

Getting There:  10/10

The original builders and planners definitely knew what they were doing when this Garden was built.  Centrally located in Manahattan and incredibly easily accessible by any transportation method.  Personally, unless I'm going to a show with 3 or more people, taking any train into the city (Metro-North, NJ Transit, or LIRR) is the far cheaper option for getting here, once accounting for gas, tolls, and parking.  (The George Washington Bridge alone is currently costing around $15 to cross, as an example.)

Production Quality:  10/10

While The Garden may not have been renovated since 2013, they consistently upgrade their sound and lighting options and are always at the leading edge for concerts.  Though, would you really expect anything less from a place that rightfully boasts the title of World's Most Famous Arena?

Cleanliness:  9/10

Due to its relatively recent renovation, The Garden does have a much cleaner feel to it these days, which is impressive considering the large capacity of the venue for both concerts and sporting events.  However, on my most recent visit, there was a bit of an issue with how clean the Chase Bridge seating area is, so hopefully it was just a one-off issue that they've remedied and keep up on going forward.

Staff:  9/10

Overall, the staff is very pleasant, especially considering that all of the staff at the concession stands are contracted through a 3rd party company.  However, the MSG staff themselves are always exemplary and very nice and helpful (most of whom I've gained some tips and tricks from).

Food/Drink Options:  8/10

There are definitely plenty of food and drink options throughout the arena to satisfy most cravings, just be forewarned as mentioned above, that the prices are on par with or even above typical NYC prices, so bring your credit card/wallet for sure.  

Other Amenities:  7/10

There's plenty to see walking the halls and walkways of The Garden that literally display the history that has happened in the arena, so arrive early and take a walk around to see some pretty incredible artifacts and stories of events past.  Also, try striking up a pleasant conversation with an usher or member of the staff, as you never know when they might be feeling generous and offer you a glimpse of the backstage area or other areas typically not seen by the public.

Parking:  5/10

Again, due to its location in midtown Manhattan, there is obviously no on-site parking, though there are plenty of parking garages located within walking distance (break out that SpotHero app!).  However, being one of the largest cities in the world, mass transit is absolutely your best bet.  As is just walking to and/or from the arena before and after the show.

Overall:  9/10

Overall, even with its small imperfections, it's hard to fault The Garden for anything simply because of its iconic status.  If you're not from the NYC area, or visiting for the first time, this should definitely be on your list of places to visit and experience a concert at once.