Nicknamed “the world’s most famous arena,” Madison Square Garden – also known as “the Garden” or “MSG” – is one of the best things to see in New York.
You may already know it as the home of the New York Rangers and the New York Knicks, but it also hosts concerts, dog shows, political events, and everything in between.
In fact, the Garden also hosts up to 320 events a year.
Some of the most prominent of events held at the Garden are presented in an exhibit called “Garden 366” – a retrospective highlighting one event for each of the 366 days of the year, including leap years.
Keep reading for more interesting facts about Madison Square Garden!
Table of Contents
1. There have been four Madison Square Gardens
The current circular building is not the original Madison Square Garden. In fact, it’s the fourth iteration of “Madison Square Garden.” In all, they have been:
Madison Square Garden I (1879 – 1890): The original Madison Square Garden was located at the corner of East 26th Street and Madison Avenue, giving the venue its name. Before it got its famous moniker, the location was used by the great impresario P. T. Barnum for his circus and other performances.
Madison Square Garden II (1890 – 1926): Built on the same site as the original, the second Madison Square Garden featured a 32-story bell tower that made it New York’s second tallest building at the time. The building was demolished in 1926 to make way for the gold-leaf-topped New York Life Building, which you can still see today.
Madison Square Garden III (1925 – 1968): This was the first Madison Square Garden to have moved away from Madison Avenue. It was located on 8th Avenue and 50th Street.
Madison Square Garden IV (1968 – present): Now located between 33rd Street and 31st Street, the current iteration of Madison Square Garden was opened in 1968, to some controversy. (More on that below.)
2. It was the site of an infamous murder
In 1906, prominent architect Standford White was shot and killed at a performance at Madison Square Garden II – a building which he designed. His killer was millionaire Harry Kendall Thaw, who murdered White because White had previously raped Thaw’s wife, well-known model Evelyn Nesbit.
The murder caused a sensation, and the resulting trial was dubbed the “Trial of the Century” by the press. Thaw was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
3. The current building sits atop the Western Hemisphere’s busiest train station
The old Pennsylvania Station, commonly known as Penn Station, was considered an architectural marvel and beauty. Sadly, it was demolished beginning in 1963 to make way for the fourth Madison Square Garden, despite protests from architects and locals.
After the destruction of its celebrated building, the station moved underground, with the new Madison Square Garden directly overhead.
Serving the Northeast and Empire corridors of Amtrak, the Long Island Railroad, and New Jersey Transit, as well as several subway connections, Penn Station sees an estimated 600,000 passengers a day, making it the busiest train station in the Western Hemisphere.
4. You have an amazing view no matter where you sit
Madison Square Garden is round. It was designed that way to optimize attendees’ views, so that everyone can see the action no matter where they’re sitting.
The arena is also ingeniously designed so that even the people seated above or behind the floating bridges don’t have their line of sight obstructed.
5. There are different seating capacities for different events
Madison Square Garden can accommodate around 18,000 people for ice hockey games, nearly 20,000 for basketball games, and nearly 21,000 for boxing matches.
The reason for the different numbers? It has to do with the arena floor. For instance, the hockey rink takes up the most floor space, and therefore, fits the least number of fans.
6. It’s not just the crowds that are large
On event day, the Garden has up to 2,500 employees working everything from concession to security to backstage to janitorial services. They’re not necessarily all there at the same time, but it still takes a boatload of people to ensure events run as smoothly as they do.
7. It’s apolitical
Both the Democratic and Republic National Conventions have been held at the Garden.
President John F. Kennedy’s 45th birthday celebration was held at the Garden. It was at that gala that Marilyn Monroe sung her sultry “Happy Birthday, Mr. President.”
It hasn’t just been the major American political parties that have held events here.
More darkly, the German American Bund, a pro-Nazi group, held a rally at Madison Square Garden in 1939, just a few months before the start of World War II. A couple of years earlier, an anti-Nazi group, the Joint Boycott Committee, also held a rally at the Garden.
8. The locker rooms are round
The New York Rangers and New York Knicks have separate locker rooms at the Garden. (In case you’re wondering, the Rangers’ locker room is bigger, on account for the larger amount of equipment the hockey players have to wear.)
Both locker rooms are round and are specifically designed this way to help foster a greater sense of cohesion among the players. The idea came from Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier, who played with the Rangers from 1991 to 1997.
9. It was the venue of one of the most famous boxing matches of all time
On March 8, 1971, two of the greatest heavyweight boxing champions of all time, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, both then undefeated, faced off for the first time in what was billed as “The Fight of the Century.” It remains the biggest boxing match in history and one of the most hyped sports events ever.
On a related note, another heavyweight boxing championship – this time contested between James J. Braddock and Max Baer – took place at the related Madison Square Garden Bowl in 1935. The event was the basis for the 2005 movie Cinderella Man, starring Russell Crowe.
10. Billy Joel holds the record for the most musical performances at Madison Square Garden
The New York native, known for such hits as “Piano Man,” “Uptown Girl,” and “New York State of Mind,” has played at the Garden a whopping 150 times.
But don’t just take my word for it. It even made it into the Guinness Book of World Records.
11. Its future is uncertain
Yes, I know the title of this post is “10 Interesting Facts about Madison Square Garden.” But I did want to make a note about the future of the Garden.
When MSG was undergoing major renovations in 2013, the Manhattan Community Board 5 voted unanimously against granting Madison Square Garden its operating permit in perpetuity. Instead, a 10-year permit was granted by the New York City Council Committee on Land Use. The reason? To make way for a new Penn Station building.
When the permit was up for renewal in 2023, the Council this time voted in favor only for a 5-year operating permit.
With its permission to operate in its present location looking increasingly precarious, Madison Square Garden may be moving elsewhere in the not-too-distant future.
But that just would be another chapter in the Garden’s fascinating history.
How to visit Madison Square Garden
Address: 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10001
Located on 7th Avenue between W. 31st St. and W. 33rd St.
The nearest subway station is the 34th Street/Penn Station stop, directly below the Garden. The A, C, and E (blue lines) and 1, 2, and 3 (red lines) all stop here.
You can also take the B, D, F, and M (orange lines) and N, Q, and R (yellow lines) to 34th Street/Herald Square and walk one block west.
From Grand Central Terminal, take the 7 (purple line) to Times Square, then hop on the (red) 1, 2, or 3 south to 34th Street/Penn Station.
What’s on at Madison Square Garden and how to get tickets
Interesting in seeing an event at Madison Square Garden? Visit the arena’s website for its event calendar and tickets.
While you’re in town, don’t forget to take a guided tour of Madison Square Garden to learn even more fascinating facts about the venue and its history and see parts of Garden that are normally off-limits to the public. (I took the tour and found it really interesting.) Learn more at MSG’s website.
Note that tour availability is subject to change, depending on whatever is happening at MSG that day.
Want to see more fascinating facts about other New York City places? Check out:
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