Madison Square Garden Guide: Best Seats, Tips & Nearby Food and Drinks

Madison Square Garden in NYC is one of the world’s most iconic venues, and should be on your NYC bucket list.

But before you go, read this guide to make sure you have the best experience possible!

What we’ll cover:

• Brief history of Madison Square Garden
• Getting to the arena
• Best pre-game bars and restaurants
• Security, ticketing, and merch
• Best food and drink options inside MSG
• Best seats
• Extra tips & things to know

Let’s do it. 👇

Note: This article was written by a real human who lives in NYC, not artificial intelligence. 🥸

Madison Square Garden Guide Podcast Episode

Want to hear more podcasts like this? Head here.

Brief History of Madison Square Garden

Many would argue that Madison Square Garden is one of the most iconic venues in America, and possibly the world. Originally opened in 1879, it has been home to a plethora of famous concerts, sporting events, and cultural events.

Memorable events at MSG include:

• Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier’s boxing match in 1971
• Marilyn Monroe’s famous birthday serenade to President John F. Kennedy in 1962
• Multiple benefit concerts following events like 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and more
• Live performances by the likes of Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Taylor Swift, Madonna, and many, many more
• Landmark visits from Pope John Paul II (in 1979) and Pope Francis (in 2015)
• And even political conventions over the decades

While MSG is currently located on 31st and 33rd Street from Seventh to Eighth Avenue, it is actually the fourth iteration of the iconic venue.

Original Madison Square Garden – 1879 to 1890

The original building at the location on Madison Avenue and 26th Street opened in 1871 and was originally leased to P.T. Barnum. He used it as his “Barnum’s Hippodrome” to showcase circus acts.

When his lease ended in 1879, the building was officially renamed Madison Square Garden. It was used as an arena for activities such as boxing matches and Barnum’s circus acts.

It was demolished in 1890 due to faulty balconies that resulted in deaths and the lack of a roof, making it unfit for the various weather common in New York.

MSG II – 1890 to 1925

The second Garden opened at the same location in 1890 and had a majority ownership by J.P. Morgan. Madison Square Garden II was one of the tallest buildings in the city at the time.

The main events at this arena included cycling, operas, and even the Democratic National Convention in 1924.

Due to a lack of profit, the building was demolished in 1925.

MSG III – 1925 to 1968

Madison Square Garden experienced a surge in popularity with the opening of its third iteration. This new Garden opened in 1925 and was located on 8th Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets.

While it still played host to some cycling events, MSG III became host to more of the events we’ve come to associate with the iconic venue. Hockey, boxing, and basketball became core offerings for the venue.

This version of MSG is what helped it become a world-renowned venue.

Current Madison Square Garden – 1968 to Now

The current Madison Square Garden, with its iconic architecture smack dab in the middle of Manhattan, is the home venue for the New York Rangers and New York Knicks. It also plays host to concerts, comedy acts, rallies, and other events.

Part of its popularity is due to it being constructed on top of Pennsylvania Station, with service from the Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit. This allows for easy accessibility for the entire tri-state area to attend events.

While MSG has gone through multiple renovations totaling in the billions of dollars, it continues to serve as a hub for New York City sports and entertainment.

Over the decades, countless iconic events have helped MSG earn the nickname of ‘The World’s Most Famous Arena.’

Our take? It completely lives up to the hype, and we encourage everyone who travels to NYC to experience the allure of Madison Square Garden.

Getting to the Arena

As mentioned in the previous section, getting to and from Madison Square Garden is straightforward due to its being built on top of a major transit hub.

Penn Station funnels travelers right below MSG, with the NJ Transit, Amtrak, and Long Island Rail Road systems offering train service in and out of this area.

There are also multiple subway lines that run straight into Penn Station, including the 123, ACE. Additionally, the NQRW and BDFM trains have stops nearby at 34th St. Herald Square.

If you’re already in NYC, use Google Maps to help you navigate the subway to Penn Station and then to MSG.

If you’re coming in from out of the city, using the NJ Transit, LIRR via MTA, or Amtrak websites is your best bet.

Feeling overwhelmed by all the train and subway systems? Our Ultimate NYC Transportation Guide simplifies your navigation around the city.

Get it for free (yes, 100% free) as part of our newsletter perks.

Additionally, you can take a taxi or Uber/Lyft (though not our recommendation) to MSG. Just know that the surrounding blocks become very crowded before and after major events.

Biking via Citi Bike is a great option as well! Learn the ins and outs of Citi Bike by listening to our episode below.

Best MSG Pre-Game Bars & Restaurants

If you want to pre-game with some food and drinks before heading to MSG, there are loads of phenomenal options within a couple of blocks.

Be aware that before Knicks and Rangers games, the surrounding bars can be extremely crowded and hectic. Don’t let that stop you, though. Just soak in the atmosphere and know it may take longer to get your food or drink.

Here are some of our favorite bars to eat and drink at near MSG:

• Stout
• Fèile
• Pennsylvania 6
• Jack Doyle’s
• Mustang Harry’s
• Pioneers Bar NYC
• Legends
• Finnerty’s
• The Liberty NYC
• Temakase Hand Roll Bar (10 min walk from there to MSG)
• KazuNori Hand Roll Bar (10 min walk from there to MSG)
• Seeyamañana (Mexican food)
• Ayza Wine and Chocolate Bar
• Keens Steakhouse (higher-end steak house)

Due to the ease of transportation to MSG, you can pre-game anywhere and make your way to the arena via public transit.

Want to see all of our favorite bars, including our top close-to-MSG options, in a handy Google Maps list?

Get access to a dozen+ lists for free as part of our newsletter perks here.

Security, Ticketing, and Merch

While there are multiple entry points, the largest and often quickest entry is on the 7th Avenue side between 31st and 33rd. Ultimately, it doesn’t make a major difference which side you enter, and you can also enter on 8th Ave.

You will go through standard security, including a metal detector and a bag x-ray machine. After security, tickets are scanned before you enter the escalators to go up to your section.

Between security and ticketing, you will find merchandise booths and a main team store. The team store holds gear mostly for the Knicks and Rangers. If you attend a concert at MSG, the merchandise booths will usually be selling artist merch. There are some merchandise options inside the arena, but the main floor offers the widest selection.

You’ll Have to Check It Out – Chick Chick

If you want the best fried chicken in New York City, go to Chick Chick on the Upper West Side!

This spot, opened by Jun Park, who runs Jun Men Ramen Bar in Chelsea, has become one of our favorite spots for dine-in, takeout, and delivery.

I don’t know what they do to the batter and chicken, but it’s perfect. Crispy, crunchy, full of flavor, and not too greasy.

Plus, the sauces are to die for. You have to try the Korean Sweet Gochujang.

If you’re gonna go to one spot in this UWS guide, go to Chick Chick!

Check out Chick Chick here.

Best Food & Drink Options Inside MSG

Inside Madison Square Garden, expect to pay higher-than-average prices for both food and drink.

Here are the average prices for food and drinks at MSG:

• Hamburgers – $17
• Chicken fingers and fries – $21
• Mixed drinks – $25
• Tall boy beer cans – $18
• Draft beer – $18

Yes, food at MSG is extremely expensive. We personally bring in some snacks like protein bars, candy, etc., and have never had any issues bringing them in, although it’s likely not “permitted”.

If you want to drink as part of your experience, we highly recommend pre-gaming at a bar beforehand. Bodega beers/CVS beers are your cheapest option. 😉

Related Reading: 5 Cheapest Bars in Manhattan

Best Seats at MSG

Most seating options at Madison Square Garden are great. But this is quite dependent on the type of event.

The best seats for basketball may not be the best for concerts, for example. While looking for tickets, we highly recommend checking aviewfrommyseat.com and seeing if there are example photos for the specific type of event you’re attending.

So, let’s look at each one below. 👇

Best Seats at MSG for Basketball/Knicks

Of all the events, your seats for a basketball game are probably the least important compared to hockey or concerts.

We have sat in the 100s, 200s, Chase Bridge, and 400s for basketball games and had a great viewing experience in all spots. If money isn’t a factor, the 100s are obviously your best bet.

Here is the view from the 100s during an NCAA basketball tournament game.

Personally, we have loved our experience in the 200s for basketball, as seen in the video below.

Best Seats at MSG for Hockey/Rangers

For hockey, we usually try to prioritize better seats than when attending basketball games. Sitting in the upper rows of the 400s at MSG for hockey isn’t the best experience due to the puck’s size and the gameplay.

Best Seats at MSG for Concerts

Concerts at MSG have multiple different setups. Sometimes it’s an open center area with the performer in the middle, most common for DJs and electronic music.

The video below shows the open-pit style arrangement, taken from the Chase Bridge.

Other concerts have the stage on one side of the arena, usually with some type of catwalk out toward the middle.

When this is the case, we have absolutely loved sitting on the side of the stage. This allows you a much closer view without missing much, especially since there is usually a large video board on each side of the stage.

You can see that type of view in the video below for a Carrie Underwood concert.

We have also sat directly in the middle, at the far end of the stage. We also loved these seats, although the performer felt a bit further away than when seated on the side.

You can see that view in the video below for a Sam Smith concert.

Related: 15 Useful NYC Apps

Extra Tips & Things to Know

When attending an event at Madison Square Garden, consider a few additional tips to ensure the best experience.

• Arriving 30-60 minutes before a sporting event’s start time is ideal
  • If you wait too close to the game’s start time, you will likely deal with long lines at the ticketing turnstiles
• For concerts, when you don’t care to see the opener, you can typically arrive at the arena around the actual start time listed on the ticket, as main acts usually come on 45-90 minutes after the actual ticket start time
• There are water fountains throughout MSG, so if you buy a bottle of water, you can refill it later
  • Some of the vendors will give you a free cup of ice if you order other items, which you can then fill with water

Madison Square Garden Guide Recap + Next Steps

Madison Square Garden is one of the greatest venues in the world! We hope this guide helps you check this amazing spot off your NYC bucket list.

Check out MSG’s calendar of events (and ticket options) here. 👈

Want to learn more about NYC each week?

Sign up for our newsletter to access dozens of Google Maps lists, our NYC Transportation Guide, and weekly insights to the best restaurants/bars, things to do, and upcoming events in the city.

All 100% free. No fluff, no bs, no AI… Only practical advice to make your NYC trip unforgettable! 👇