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Touring Madison Square Garden presents the optimum technique to perceive this well-known coliseum-style arena intimately. Madison Square Garden (MSG) is a globally-renowned performance site that has hosted a number of the most prominent identities in athletics and serves as home to the New York Knicks basketball group, the New York Rangers hockey team, and the New York Liberty women’s basketball team.
Additionally, MSG regularly hosts concerts, comedy shows, and political events, and it features several exhibits chronicling its 130-year history.
You can explore MSG on your own when attending a NBA game or concert, but if not planning to go to an event, the Madison Square Garden all-access guided tour is a great alternative option. Personally, we don’t prioritize sporting occasions, so being able to take a directed tour of the facilities was very convenient.
After all, MSG is part of the essence of the Big Apple, so visiting the arena is pivotal to any New York experience. During the tour, you’ll get a glimpse backstage preparations, player private rooms, luxury VIP box seats, and other restricted areas. Below, I’ll let you know what to expect from the tour as well as important information like ticket prices and schedules.
If you’re prepared to book and want to bypass our outline of a Madison Square Garden visit, you can sign up for your ticket online here. Note that the visit is contained in several New York city passes such as the New York Pass, so if you intend on seeing some other attractions, I recommend obtaining one of these travel passes.
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Why take a tour of Madison Square Garden?
Madison Square Garden remains one of the most iconic sites in NYC and is worth exploring, especially for fans of live music or sports. With over 130 years of history, this immense performance arena has played a defining role in New York City’s culture.
It`s also an important part of New York’s athletic competitions scene, particularly professional basketball and hockey matches. MSG has hosted numerous All-Star Games for the NBA, WNBA and NHL, and it’s where Stephen Curry broke the NBA’s all-time record for three-pointers in 2021, scoring his 2,977th three-pointer.
Over many years, the performance venue known as Madison Square Garden has seen various respected performers such as musicians, comedians, and politicians take the stage to share their talents. Elton John has said this location is his favorite place to perform, and he once held the record for most shows held here. Billy Joel now owns that record, with 134 appearances.
It is straightforward to understand why celebrities love this place. MSG`s coliseum-inspired design and rich history make it one of the most unique venues worldwide, and taking a Madison Square Garden tour is the finest way to view its most exclusive areas.
The Madison Square Garden all-access tour
During the comprehensive behind-the-scenes tour of Madison Square Garden, you’ll shadow a professional guide to view several backstage areas and intriguing exhibits.
In the Main Concourse, you’ll see the Garden 366 Retrospective, a visual exhibit showcasing one important cultural moment for every day of the calendar year, integrating February 29th. The earliest occasion dates back to 1879 when the arena originally opened, and this Hall of Fame is subject to modification as new moments take place.
Another aspect you’ll see is the exhibit entitled Defining Moments, a documentary-style collection of memorabilia, like articles, photographs, and audio recordings chronicling the centurylong history of Madison Square Garden spanning one hundred thirty years. Here, you’ll obtain a glimpse of pivotal moments from the past, for example John Lennon`s final performance before his death, Wayne Gretzky`s retirement from professional hockey, and the legendary 1971 boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
This backstage tour of Madison Square Garden continues with a visit to more secluded areas like backstage, the luxury suite, and the elevated walkway, a catwalk-style overhang under the roof with two rows of seating. From here, spectators get the most exclusive aerial view of the arena, which is why they’re considered the premier seats in the house.
Finally, each excursion features a bonus surprise visit. Depending on the day, it could involve the ice rink, a new stage setup, the locker room, or another enclosed area that`s ordinarily sealed off from the general public.
- Highlights: Access to exclusive regions, free photo gift, live guide, and virtual actuality expertise
- Duration: 1 hour
- Price: $46
Madison Square Garden tour price
The cost for a live-guided tour of Madison Square Garden is $46 for adults and $41 for children age 12 and under. The price includes an entry ticket to MSG, a professional tour guide on site, and a guidebook available in multiple languages.
Don’t forget that if possessing a New York city pass, a discounted rate can be obtained for a Madison Square Garden tour ticket. The New York Pass is recommended, as it includes the fully comprehensive tour plus other top attractions around NYC such as the Empire State Building.
Madison Square Garden tour schedule
Currently, self-guided visits can be arranged for Madison Square Garden seven days per week. The visit route runs every 30 minutes from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. However, on days when there is a New York Knicks game or other happening, the visiting hours are 12:15 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
I advise obtaining your Madison Square Garden tour tickets online here since reservations are necessary and tickets are released on a first-come, first-served basis. If you don’t procure them online ahead of time, you’ll need to assure you arrive at the MSG box office early to confirm your place.
Our experience and review of the Madison Square Garden tour
Visiting Madison Square Garden is undoubtedly worthwhile, even if you aren`t a huge sports or music enthusiast. Ultimately, the arena is one of the most impressive locations in the Big Apple and a crucial part of its cultural significance and history. If you’re not going to attend a game or event at MSG, the tour is a great alternative that will allow you to explore the famous performance venue.
I also believe the tour of Madison Square Garden excellent for all ages as aspects will appeal to everyone. Whether desiring more knowledge of its history or wanting to observe the expansiveness of the arena, satisfaction will result.
However, I would have preferred if the tour was a bit more extended, so we had additional time to take photos. The tour is only an hour, so the guides are quite strict about moving everyone along. Also, I highly recommend obtaining the New York Pass so you can save money on your Madison Square Garden tour tickets and save money on other nearby attractions like the Empire State Building.
FAQs about Madison Square Garden tours
To summarize, here are answers to some common queries about touring Madison Square Garden:
The location of Madison Square Garden?
The well-known sports arena known as Madison Square Garden is located above Penn Station, between West 31st and West 33rd Streets.
Cost of the Madison Square Garden led visit?
The Madison Square Garden tour costs $46 for adults and $41 for children 12 and under. You can use your New York Pass to gain admission free of charge.
Duration of the Madison Square Garden led visit?
The tour of Madison Square Garden typically lasts one hour.
What is the maximum number of spectators Madison Square Garden can hold?
The arena within the Madison Square Garden complex maintains a maximum capacity of 20,789 attendees. For basketball and hockey games, approximately 19,500 spectators can be seated, and the Theater at MSG accommodates around 5,600 concertgoers.
How does one reach Madison Square Garden?
Madison Square Garden is located near popular spots such as the Macy’s Herald Square department store and the iconic Empire State Building. Multiple subway lines provide transportation to the 34th Street/Penn Station station, or you can disembark at 34th Street/Herald Square and walk one block west to reach Madison Square Garden. From New Jersey, take the PATH train to the 33rd Street/Avenue of the Americas station.
When is the prime time to visit Madison Square Garden?
If you intend on taking the Madison Square Garden guided visit, ensure you go throughout visit hours, which are 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. If you’re going to a day when there is a Knicks game or other occurrence, be certain to double-check the visit times since they normally change.
That’s all the essential information needed regarding a visit to Madison Square Garden. If you have any other inquiries, or wish to share your experience taking the Madison Square Garden tour, feel free to leave a comment below. I’d be pleased to hear your thoughts!
Travel safely and enjoy exploring this famous venue!
