The World's Most Famous Arena

Official Review by Jim Mancari, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

Originally built in 1968, Madison Square Garden is steeped in history and tradition. The venue has
hosted shows, concerts, famous boxing matches, NBA Finals, and Stanley Cup Playoffs while serving as the home of the New York Rangers and New York Knicks.

Located on top of Penn Station, "The Garden" sits right in the heart of Manhattan. The stadium holds 18,200 people for hockey games - most of which are diehard Ranger fans.

The Rangers have been around since 1926 and were one of the "Original Six" NHL teams. However, being a Ranger fan has been quite a challenge. The team stresses "Ranger Pride," but the franchise has only won two Stanley Cups in the last 70 years.

The "Blueshirts" are approaching 2,500 victories as a franchise, and the theme of the "New York Legacy" is still alive.

In summer 2011, The Garden underwent a series of renovations that will take three offseasons and cost nearly $850 million. It's one of the older arenas in the league, so these renovations are much needed. The first step was brand new first-level seating which was completed before opening night.

The next stages of construction will further add to the appeal of the legendary Madison Square Garden.

Food & Beverage    3

The Garden has all the typical stadium concessions. Beers are about $9-$10, which is pretty standard, especially for a New York venue.

You can get a multi-colored "Dr. Seuss" Rangers hat with the purchase of a cotton candy, or you can enjoy an 18" jumbo hot dog.

The Play by Play sports bar and the more upscale restaurant and bar, The Club Bar & Grill located on the club terrace, are also popular hotspots.

Atmosphere    4

The atmosphere of The Garden is electric - if the Rangers are winning of course. Seeing the retired jerseys of Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Mike Richter, Adam Graves, Eddie Giacomin, and Rod Gilbert add to the rich tradition of the arena.

Before each game, the "Broadway Breakdown" plays on the main screen to inform the fans of the latest Ranger and NHL happenings.

The Rangers put on a great spectacle when introducing the team before the game and after each intermission. Ranger fans and general hockey fans alike get goose bumps as they see this happen.

One drawback though to the stadium's atmosphere is the lack of Rangers memorabilia and graphics in the stadium walkways and even in the arena itself. Granted, the facility is still undergoing renovations, but a few banners wouldn't hurt. There are a few player pictures on the walk in.

Still, when you're sitting in The Garden, you can just sense the great sports history that occurred in the arena.

Neighborhood    5

It's impossible not to give Neighborhood a "5." The Garden is in the heart of New York City and is surrounded by hundreds of great bars and restaurants.

The area is packed with people at anytime of the day, proving that New York is the "city that never sleeps."

Whoever you talk to will give you suggestions of great places to eat and drink in the area. A few good bars are Stout and Pig'N'Whistle, both of which are packed with Ranger fans before and after games.

Fans    5

Ranger fans are among hockey's best, even though their team has very rarely been the best. Though the team's last Stanley Cup came in 1994, The Garden is sold out every single night with many fans that were likely there almost 18 years ago.

The fans are very opinionated and very passionate. Talking about the team usually extends to the train ride home, and there are very few stretches of game action where the crowd is not making noise or clamoring about something.

"The Garden Faithful" is often quite ruthless to opposing fans. They are the first to rub it in when the Rangers score a goal and the first to tell an opposing fan to "Sit down!" if the opposing team scores.

During the National Anthem, you can hear "Let's Go Rangers" chants in between verses. Also, as soon as the game starts, the popular "Potvin Sucks!" chant gets going for the hated rival New York Islander Dennis Potvin, who played back in the 1970s and 80s.

After each goal, a powerful and fist-pumping "Hey, Hey, Hey!" chant breaks out. Random high fives are the norm.

Ranger fans have to be diehard. They are a long-suffering fanbase but keep coming back for more.

Access    4

Traveling to The Garden is extremely easy by train, since it sits on top of Penn Station. For about $20, you can have a round trip ticket that puts you right where you need to be.

Driving to The Garden is a lot less common, but can be done. But by the time you factor in gas, tolls, and probably about $40 to park, the train seems like a logical alternative.

Bathrooms are a little sparing throughout the building but are expected to increase with the new renovations.

Return on Investment    3

For a diehard Ranger fan, you can't put a price on an experience at The Garden.

But for an average hockey fan, it can be quite an expensive night. Even the worst seats in the house sell for about $60 per ticket. Since the games are routinely sold out, trying to find discounted tickets can be tough. Even StubHub is expensive for Rangers tickets.

Season tickets can cost about $40 per game for the fourth level, so the best bet would be to buy tickets off of someone who has season tickets.

But, based on the history and tradition of the arena, seeing a hockey game at The Garden at least once is an absolute must. Any hockey fan would relish the "world's most famous arena."

Extras    3

The arena is still undergoing renovations, but the expected amenities will transform the stadium.

The Garden already has dozens of luxurious skyboxes where fans can enjoy the game. These will actually be moved down one level. To replace these, there will be more seating and concessions that will eventually stretch across the whole top level.

A new fan area opened prior to this season and has been very popular thus far. For $70, a fan can enjoy a great view of the game and have access to concessions and bars right at their seat. The bars have a greater variety than the average arena concession stand.

The first-level seating is completely new with the other levels next on the list. Even in the top seats, there is a good view of the action, since the building isn't as big as some other arenas.

One thing to look out for is the planned construction of pedestrian bridges that will run along the arena's rafters. Fans will be able to have a bird's-eye view of the action, which will likely be a popular perk.

Final Thoughts

Seeing the Rangers salute their fans from center ice after a win is a priceless experience.
The team stresses its "New York grit, New York pride, and New York tough," all of which are
on display at the game both on the ice and in the stands.

The Rangers are a historic franchise that calls a historic venue home.