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How long is a basketball game at madison square garden


Madison Square Garden Tickets & Events

Madison Square Garden

Without question, Madison Square Garden is one of the most famous venues in the world. Located in midtown Manhattan, the Garden is the current home of the New York Rangers of the NHL and New York Knicks of the NBA, not to mention St. John’s basketball and countless other sporting events, concerts, and large events. The current Madison Square Garden is actually the fourth building to hold the name. Opened in 1968, it’s the oldest venue in both the NHL and the NBA.

 

Best Places to Sit at Madison Square Garden

For Madison Square Garden concerts, floor seats will always get you closest to the stage and the performer. However, sections 106-109 are also close to the stage, albeit from a side angle. If you prefer to be looking straight ahead at the stage, sections 1, 2, 3, and 101 will be your best option.

At Madison Square Garden sporting events, courtside seats for an NBA game are the ultimate experience. If that’s not an option, sections 106-108 and 116 will give you the best view of the court or ice while also giving you club privileges like in-seat wait service. Of course, just being in a historic venue like the Garden is a treat, so it’s tough to classify any seat as a bad seat.

 

Tips for Visiting Madison Square Garden

If you want to truly appreciate all of the history Madison Square Garden holds, take time to check out the photo exhibit on the Madison Level Concourse called Garden 366. This exhibit takes you through an iconic moment in MSG history for every day of the year, including February 29, and covers everything you need to know about MSG history in sports, entertainment, and beyond that has taken place within those walls.

 

Food to Try at Madison Square Garden

New York may have some of the best restaurants in the world, but the food options at Madison Square Garden events aren’t bad either. Following the most recent renovation in 2013, the famous Carnegie Deli has a stand inside the Garden where you can get sandwiches that are as delicious as they are big. You’ll also find a tasty brisket sandwich at Hill Country and a burger that’s up to Manhattan’s high standards at Daily Burger.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Madison Square Garden located?

Located near several Manhattan landmarks, including the Empire State Building, Koreatown, and Macy's, Madison Square Garden sits in Midtown Manhattan between 7th and 8th Avenues from 31st to 33rd Streets.

 

What kind of events does Madison Square Garden host?

The Garden is mainly used for professional ice hockey and basketball. Other Madison Square Garden events include boxing, concerts, ice shows, circuses, professional wrestling, and many more.

 

Which team is playing at Madison Square Garden?

The arena is home to both the New York Rangers and the New York Knicks.

 

Where can I park for free at Madison Square Garden?

As “the world’s most famous arena,” Madison Square Garden events attract tourists and locals alike – read: parking is tough. There's no official on-site parking, but there are numerous public parking lots within walking distance of the arena. Prices are reasonable for NYC and tend to start at $20. Generally speaking, the further away from the arena that you park, the less that you'll pay.

There is also street parking available on most cross streets by MSG, but if you’re hoping to catch one of these at a big event, make sure you get there extra early!

 

What is the seating capacity of Madison Square Garden?

MSG can accommodate up to 19,812 fans.

 

Who owns Madison Square Garden?

The arena is owned by the Madison Square Garden Company.

 

How do I get to Madison Square Garden using public transport?

No matter which part of the city you’re coming from, there are dozens of trains and buses you can take to reach MSG. Train lines #1, #2, #3, A, C, E, D, F, N , Q, and R, all serve Penn station and will drop you off right under the arena. Same goes for bus lines M20, M34 M34A, and Q32.

How to Buy Tickets for an NBA Game in New York

One of the most fascinating spectacles you can attend in the United States is an NBA game. Whether it's because basketball is your passion or because you want to experience the madness and the atmosphere that this sport awakens in New York, it's a unique sensation that you have to experience at least once in your life.

1. What NBA games can you watch in New York?

New York Knicks vs Phoenix Suns at Madison Square Garden| ©James Trosh

There are two NBA teams in New York, the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets. Both compete from October to April in the regular season and from April to June in the playoffs if they qualify.

New York Knicks

The New York Knicks play at the legendary Madison Square Garden, located in downtown Manhattan. The team was founded in 1946 and is the longest-tenured team. Although they have only won two titles (the last one in... 1972!), they are the most famous team in the NBA. Moreover, they are finally a pleasure to watch them play: last season they reached the playoffs and have superstars like Julius Randle or the veteran Derrick Rose.

Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets changed courts a few years ago and now play at the modern Barclays Center in Brooklyn. They possibly have the best roster in the NBA with the duo James Harden and Kevin Durant. They start as favorites for the title and ensure more spectacle than any other team in the league.

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2. Where to buy tickets to watch the NBA in New York?

Boston Celtics vs Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden| ©Erik Cleves Kristensen

NBA tickets can only be purchased online, as all tickets are digital. Hellotickets has an agreement with the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets to sell their tickets in Spain.

After COVID, it is no longer possible to buy tickets at the box office, although they still work to collect some corporate tickets or season ticket holders who have season tickets.

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3. How much does it cost to watch an NBA game in New York?

Madison Square Garden, home stadium of the New York Knicks| ©Ajay Suresh

The price varies depending on the teams facing each other, but the average price is approximately €150 per ticket for both the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets. The minimum price is usually 50 € for a small game and in a seat far from the court. The maximum price is well over €1,000 for a courtside seat.

Something very important is that ticket prices change every day, just like the price of a plane ticket. If there is more demand and there are few tickets left, the price is more expensive, while if the demand is not covered, the price will go down.

The price also fluctuates throughout the season. The games played by the Knicks at Christmas are the most expensive of the year, as the city fills up with international and American tourists who want to go to Madison. However, towards the end of the regular season (April), they tend to be cheaper because fans of both teams prefer to wait for the playoffs.

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4. How to save when buying NBA tickets in New York?

Basketball Ball of the games.| ©Markus Spiske

To save money when buying NBA tickets when traveling to New York, it is important to keep in mind that ticket prices are constantly changing. That is, every day prices go up or down depending on demand just like a plane ticket.

The problem is that the Knicks and Nets have most of the stadium sold out to their season ticket holders before the season starts. Therefore, it is not uncommon for tickets to sell out, so demand is always high. With this in mind, there are a few things you can do to save.

Buy tickets in advance

The most important one to save on NBA ticket prices is to buy tickets as far in advance as possible. Knicks and Nets tickets go on sale in mid-August and that's when their prices are lowest for all games during the season. If possible, this is the best time to buy them. This is similar to booking a flight or hotel.

If there are still more than two months to go before the game, ticket prices will have changed, but will not yet have experienced a large increase.

The biggest problem is if there are less than two weeks left: in that case, there is no choice but to pay a higher price, as there will be a lot of demand and few tickets available.

Choose a less attractive opponent

Another essential factor in determining the price of the game is the Knicks' or Nets' opponent. A game against one of the best teams in the league or one of the most famous teams (such as the Lakers) can be up to 3 times more expensive than a game against a lesser team. Obviously the big games are the ones that are most in demand, but if you care about the experience and have some flexibility with dates you can save by attending a less attractive game.

Choose the seat behind the basket

The last saving tip is to choose a seat that offers a good experience but is not overly expensive. The price of seats behind the basket (no matter if you are near or far from the court) are always cheaper than seats on the side of Madison Square Garden or the Barclays Center.

However, the best seats in terms of value for money are those located in the corners. These tickets have a decent viewing angle and the price is significantly cheaper than a ticket in the center of the side.

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5. How much does a New York Knicks ticket cost?

Knicks team logo| ©Michael Tipton

A ticket for the New York Knicks has an average cost of 148 € per ticket. The minimum price is 52 € if it is an unimportant game towards the end of the season.

The most expensive time of the regular season (before playoffs) to go to see the Knicks is at Christmas, as this is when there is the highest demand. If they qualify for the playoffs, the average price ranges from €200 for the first round to an estimated €1,000 if they make it to the NBA Finals.

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6.

How much does a Brooklyn Nets ticket cost?

Brooklyn Nets team logo| ©Michael Tipton

A Brooklyn Nets ticket has an average price of 172 € per ticket. The minimum price is 55 €, if the opponent is unattractive and there is nothing at stake at the end of the regular season, just before the playoffs.

The average cost of a playoff ticket to see the Nets is €225 in the first round and is estimated to cost around €850 if they go all the way to the NBA Finals.

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7. How to avoid fake NBA tickets in New York?

Halftime of the game| ©Daniel Torres Bonatto

The only way to avoid fake tickets is to buy from official websites, such as Hellotickets. There are websites of companies that sell unauthorized resale tickets. Not all of their tickets give problems, but there is a possibility that they may be duplicated and, even if they later return the money, you will not be able to enter the stadium.

There are also people outside the stadium who offer tickets. They do not do this openly, but pass by fans and discreetly ask if anyone is looking for tickets. These tickets are always fake. Their modus operandi is to take you to a secluded place to collect the tickets in cash. By the time they have blocked you trying to gain access, that scalper has disappeared with your money.

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8. What are the best seats in each arena?

Inside Madison Square Garden| ©Emmanuel Milou

The NBA game experience will largely depend on the seat you choose when you buy your ticket. Although basketball arenas have less capacity than a soccer stadium, they are huge venues for how small the court is and a ticket in the back rows is really far away from the players.

What are the best seats at Madison Square Garden?

The best seats at Madison Square Garden are in sections 1 through 12. In the corners or behind the basket (sections 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9) you can experience the game up close and, although you can't see the game well, the experience is fantastic. The 100 sections are also highly valued because it is where basketball is best enjoyed and they are still close to the court.

What are the best seats at the Barclays Center?

The best seats at the Barclays Center are between sections 1 and 31. The corner sections, which offer a good relationship between price and how the game is viewed are 3, 13, 19 and 29. One of the last rows in these sections is preferable to one of the first rows in the 200 sections.

9. How many NBA games are there in New York?

Barclays Center entrance| ©Reading Tom

New York plays 82 NBA games from October through April: 41 games for the New York Knicks and another 41 games for the Brooklyn Nets. If either team qualifies for the playoffs, the number would be higher.

10. Can I go see an NBA game at Christmas?

New York Knicks vs Brooklyn Nets| ©Miltiadis Fragkidis

Yes, it is indeed one of the most popular times of the season and the atmosphere is spectacular. The NBA makes sure that all teams, including the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets, play several games in their hometown during Christmas, so it is virtually certain that there will be at least one game during the trip.

11. Can I go to an NBA game in the summer?

New York Yankee Stadium in New York City| ©Marco Verch

Unfortunately not, as the NBA regular season starts in October and ends in April, and the playoffs end in June.

If you are traveling in the summer and want an alternative to the NBA to experience American sports, you can go see the New York Yankees or the New York Mets, two baseball teams that are in mid-season in the summer. Baseball teams play lots and lots of games, so it's easy to catch one of them. You may not even like baseball, but you're sure to get the typical cap, anthem and hot dog look.

You can buy New York Yankees tickets here and New York Mets tickets here.

Alternatively, if you travel at the end of August or in September, the American soccer season will have already started. In New York the New York Giants and the New York Jets are playing. There are few games but you can check if any date fits you in this link for Giants tickets and in this link for Jets tickets.

12. How long is the NBA season?

Inside the Knicks locker room| ©AtlasMasland

The preseason (early October)

NBA teams typically play five to eight games in the preseason, which usually lasts a little over three weeks, to gauge their strength for the start of the league. Buying NBA tickets to watch these games is usually cheaper, although it is true that the quality of the games is lower, as the teams are not yet in full swing and often reserve their stars.

The NBA regular season (mid-October - early April)

During these months, each team plays 82 games, one every two days. During the regular season there are several dates that, because they are crucial matches, you will have to mark in your calendar:

  • December 25 (Christmas). A very special day when the NBA usually plans the best games.
  • The first game of the year. The first game of the year both at Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center is usually a party. Many New Yorkers and tourists take the opportunity to go to see this game.
  • The Knicks VS. Nets. A classic game in New York that usually attracts a lot of people is the "derby" between the two teams of the city. If you are lucky and you happen to be there, don't miss it.
  • February (NBA All-Star). The All-Star game where the best players of each team in the league meet to play an exhibition game.

NBA Playoffs (Mid-April - early June)

With the regular season games over, the NBA's top 16 teams begin the playoffs for the title: 8 teams from the Eastern Conference and 8 teams from the Western Conference will face each other.

Playoffs are best-of-7 games and before reaching the NBA Finals there are three rounds: quarterfinals, semifinals and conference finals. These playoffs usually last almost two months and at the end only the two conference winners are left to fight in the finals for the NBA title.

Last season, both the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets managed to qualify for the Playoffs.

NBA Finals (June)

Only one winner can remain. With 2 teams still standing out of the 16 that made the Playoffs, the NBA Finals begin, played as a best-of-seven game once again. These games are, without a doubt, the most anticipated and the best of the year as the protagonists are the two best teams in the United States.

But of course, tickets for these NBA games are the most expensive of the entire season. And yet they sell out quickly because it is, in addition to the Superbowl, the sporting event of the year in the United States.

13. When to travel to New York to enjoy the NBA?

Inside the Barclays Center| ©LunchboxLarry

Knowing all of the above, if you travel to the city before the regular season starts, i. e. during the preseason, I advise you to take a look at the teams' preseason schedule because they usually play friendly matches in early October.

But the NBA games that will take place in New York are only assured between the months of October to April. From then on, everything will depend on whether the New York Knicks or the Brooklyn Nets have managed to qualify for the Playoffs and ultimately the NBA Finals.

14. Do children pay admission to the NBA?

NBA Fans| ©Seth Hoffman

The NBA is a very family-friendly spectacle, but when asked if children pay admission, the truth is that it depends on the team. In the case of the New York Knicks, Madison Square Garden's policy states that children who have reached the age of two must have a ticket.

As for the Brooklyn Nets, according to the Barclays Center stadium for all sporting events, children up to 34" inches tall, or 86.36 centimeters, can access the Barclays Center for free but must share a seat with a ticketed adult who accompanies them. Any child who does not meet this height requirement will require a ticket to enter the stadium and must occupy their ticketed seat only.

If you are going to the stadium with children under the age of two, bring proof of the children's age with you in case you are asked for it at the entrance. Valid forms of identification are a birth certificate or passport.

15. On game day

In the shopping line inside the stadium| ©David Jones

When to go to the stadium?

NBA days in New York are a special time. You can feel it in the atmosphere and there is more hustle and bustle in the streets than usual in the Big Apple. My advice is not to arrive too early. Inside the stadium there are fast food stores, snacks and souvenirs that you can browse while you make time and also do not want to miss the anthem moment.

Madison Square Garden is in the heart of Manhattan so you can walk there if you are walking around after seeing another tourist attraction nearby. On the other hand, to get to the Barclays Center you will need a little more time if you take public transportation so it is convenient that you take into account the traffic or rush hours so you can get to the stadium without rushing.

On the day of the game I advise you to go at least an hour in advance to go calmly, go through the security arch, locate the seats, experience the atmosphere before the game with the music and dances of the cheerleaders, listen to the American anthem before the game starts and watch the players enter the court. A movie!

Is it possible to bring backpacks or cameras?

According to Madison Square Garden's policy, backpacks and unnecessary bags should not be brought into the stadium. All will be subject to strict security screening which may delay access to the stadium. In addition, no video cameras, audio recording devices, professional cameras (including telephoto or zoom lenses), selfie sticks or tripods are permitted.

As for the Barclays Center, according to its access policy, backpacks or bags larger than 14 "x14 "x6" or that have hard sides will not be allowed inside. Professional camera equipment, audio and/or video recording devices, selfie sticks and tripods will also not be allowed.

Where to eat before or after the game?

Inside the stadium there are many food and beverage stands but the prices are quite a bit more expensive than outside. For example, a bottle of water can cost around $5, a hot dog about $7 and a soft drink $6.5 approximately.

Since you are not allowed to enter the stadium with your own food or drink, my advice is that before the game starts, if you are hungry, buy something to snack at one of the restaurants around Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center such as Shake Sack or Five Guys. Or wait until the game is over to go there, celebrate your team's victory and treat yourself.

16. Interesting information to watch the NBA

Outside Madison Square Garden| ©Jordan Staub

Although the NBA is one of the most popular sports in the world, last-minute questions can always arise.

How long does an NBA game last?

Officially it lasts 48 minutes (4 quarters of 12 minutes each), but between the breaks and halftime most games usually last 2 hours or more. After the first two quarters, there is a 15-minute halftime where you can take the opportunity to buy something to eat or go to the restroom.

I don't have Internet access in New York! How do I access tickets?

In case you don't have an Internet connection during your trip to New York, you can always resort to the hotel where you are staying and open your tickets there so that they are ready on your cell phone when you arrive at the venue. You can also go to any public establishment such as a coffee shop or restaurant near the stadium, as they have free WiFi.

NBAForm.ru » How many minutes does a basketball game last?

The popularity of basketball on television, and in general, is easily explained, because it is one of the most spectacular games in the history of mankind. For the National Basketball Association (NBA), this observation is doubly true, since in the States basketball has been brought to a qualitatively different level. Here, even the game system is built and adjusted in such a way as to give the viewer the opportunity to enjoy the maximum amount of emotions, experiences and sharp moments.

How long does the basketball game last ?

In the NBA, what is called "net" game time is 4 quarters of 12 minutes, that is, 48 ​​minutes. At first glance, this is not enough, because the game in other popular sports takes longer: a football match lasts 90 minutes - 2 halves of 45 minutes, hockey - 3 periods of 20 minutes, etc.

But there is a certain trick here - the actual, "dirty" time of the game, includes a huge number of pauses that fill the time between the game segments. Plus, do not forget about the breaks between quarters, they also last from 2 minutes between the first and second, and third or fourth quarters, up to a 15-minute "big" break in the middle of the match.

According to NBA statistics, an average basketball game lasts about 135-140 minutes. This is true for the regular season, in the playoffs, as a rule, matches are longer.

In European basketball, the duration of the match is shorter - four quarters of 10 minutes, that is, 40 minutes of regular time.

Also, not every game ends in the allotted time: according to the rules, if the teams play a draw in regular time, a 5-minute overtime is assigned, when the teams must necessarily determine the winner. If it is not possible to do this in the first, another one is appointed, then, if necessary, another and another, until one of the squads wins. According to the rules of basketball, the winner must be determined.

The longest game in NBA history took place on January 6, 1951. The Indianapolis Olympians played the Rochester Royals in regular time and then six more overtimes. By modern basketball standards, the score for 78 minutes of playing time is simply ridiculous - 75:73. The explanation for this is that at that time there was no time limit for the attack (now it has 24 seconds, and the ring must be touched, or the ball is passed to the opponent), and the opponents simply did not want to attack so as not to risk it.

In fact, for a fan who attends a match live at the stadium, it can last from 2.5 to 5-6 hours. Therefore, for a full-fledged trip to basketball, it is worth allocating a whole day.

Basketball is full of attacks, on average they last from 5 to 24 seconds, and almost every one ends with some kind of active effective action - a throw, a foul, an interception. This is very popular with the audience, and keeps them in suspense. Tall players throw spectacular shots from above, snipers attack the basket from afar, or in beautiful passes - the variability of attack in basketball is very high.

That's why TV companies love basketball so much, it's great in terms of advertising in the breaks. He has great ratings, often no worse than American football or baseball, the undisputed leaders of the US sports media market.

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Madison Square Garden: Temple in the Middle of New York - Basketball Virus - Blogs

In 1998, New York's Madison Square Garden hosted the NBA All-Star Weekend for the last time. Looking into the past, we can state that the All-Star Game left a significant mark on the history of this event. For the first time in the matches of the strongest, “heroes of our time” Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant came to the floor, facing the heroes of the 90s Karl Malone, Michael Jordan and others. The duel between Michael and Kobe became one of the highlights of that match, and “His Vozdushestvo” held its last matches on the eve of winning the sixth ring and the second retirement. Jordan got the East team the victory in that meeting and received the well-deserved All-Star Game MVP award, and young Kobe was just taking his first steps towards the status of an association superstar. The following year, fans did not see the NBA stars in action due to the lockout.

The Big Apple has been waiting 17 years for its next All-Star Game. On February 15, 2015, stands Madison Square Garden will again host the main game of NBA All-Star Weekend. Of the participants in the match 17 years ago, only Kobe Bryant had a chance to take part in the match this year, but an unfortunate injury prevented. Kevin Garnett, who took part in that match, is in the ranks today, but his condition no longer allows him to pretend to participate in matches of this level. New heroes will write a new page in the history of the All-Star Games and the history of the arena hosting the meeting. The main sports arena in New York or "The World's Most Famous Arena", as it is also called "Madison Square Garden", has seen many glorious sporting events. About them and how the most expensive indoor sports facility developed, the blog "Thoughts about the NBA" will tell.

Match of all stars of 2015 will be held in New York on two areas -Madison Square Garden and Barkelice Center. The first is home to the New York Knicks and the second to the Brooklyn Nets. The main and most anticipated match of the All-Star Weekend - the meeting of the stars of the East and the West will take place at the Knicks Arena on February 15. It is this sports and cultural facility that will be discussed.

Speaking of Madison Square Garden should be separated by two concepts - the construction itself, which has more than once changed its location in the "Big Apple", and directly the company that makes it possible to rent out the structures to professional teams and for cultural mass events.

The Madison Square Garden Company (founded in 2010 by James Dolan) has its roots in the 19th century with the opening of the first palace in 1879 at 26th Street Rose and Madison Avenue in Manhattan. The place where Madison Square Garden was opened was one of the favorite vacation spots for Manhattan residents and was known as the "Great Roman Hippodrome" - in different years they went here to watch boxing (banned as a professional sport in those years), concerts, tennis , horse racing and ice sports.

The structure was named after Madison Square public park, located next to the arena, with an area of ​​3 hectares. As you already understood, the arena bears this name to this day. For 11 years, the MSG stood in its original form until it was closed in 1890 due to the opening of a second structure in the same place. It is noteworthy that many of us know Madison Square Garden precisely because of the Knicks and basketball battles. When the second MSG was opened, Professor James Naismith had not even written a set of rules for basketball, and no one even suspected such a sport (except Naismith himself, perhaps). Basketball will be born in a year.

MSG 2 was also not yet a basketball temple. The arena has hosted events ranging from boxing bouts, American football, orchestral and opera performances, to the 1924 Democratic National Convention, when John William Davis was the party's presidential nominee. The structure bore little resemblance to the sports arena of today, and the stands looked more like a box in the opera house. Also, this arena is notable for Americans in that it was at the MSG that the first games of the World Series of American Football were held indoors (1902-03 years).

In 1925, the decision was made to demolish the 32-story building (pictured in the center) of the second Madison Square Garden, despite its popularity with the townspeople and cultural significance in the historical context. MSG moved to another street - Eighth Avenue between 49th and 50th streets. The arena began to look more like Soviet-era sports palaces - a dull gray building - but with a much larger capacity than any Soviet sports palace. Capacity at basketball games was 18496 people (hockey - 15925 people). In 1926, the arena became home to the newly created NHL team, the New York Rangers, and already in 1928, the Rangers won their first Stanley Cup at MSG.

The arena was the first home of the New York Knicks, a new basketball team formed in 1946. Today, the MSG and the Shoemakers seem to be almost inseparable concepts, and are also the property of the same businessman James Dolan. In 1946, the newly formed team agreed to lease the 67-year-old Madison Square Garden Arena for home games. The Knicks will take their first title at 1970, and this significant event will happen already in the new arena - the fourth "Madison Square Garden", opened in 1968. MSG III will go down in history as the arena where the first televised NHL game (1940: Rangers-Montreal) will be played, the first NBA championship will be held, and President John F. Kennedy will celebrate his birthday in 1962 . The arena hosted the NBA All-Star Game three times, in 1954 and 1955, and in the arena's last year (1968). In 1969, the building of the third MSG will be demolished.

In addition to all the others, another "Madison Square Garden" entered the story. This facility has little in common with the indoor arena in the center of New York and hosted spectators for 13 years (1932-1945). We are talking about the "Madison Square Garden Bowl" - more often for boxing meetings and circus performances (pictured above), destroyed due to US participation in World War II for the needs of the army. The stadium belonged to the owner of the indoor arena, Tehu Ricardo, and had a capacity of 72,000 spectators, which is quite a lot, considering that only boxing matches were held there.

in the form in which the audience used to visit Madison Square Garden, the arena was opened in 1968 and is a cult structure not only for local residents, but also in mass culture. For sports fans, MSG is associated primarily with sports competitions. However, today Madison Square Garden is a multifunctional cultural complex with many facilities ranging from a basketball arena to a theater. In addition to basketball, the MSG hosts hockey competitions, boxing, concerts, ice shows, a circus, and the residence of Billy Joel, a singer and songwriter, is also located. The estimated cost of the entire complex is over $1 billion, making Madison Square Garden one of the most expensive arenas in history and the most expensive indoor arena. The last major renovation of the arena took place in 2013.

                                            9003 In anticipation of the NBA All-Star Game, we will remember what mark certain basketball players left in the history of the NBA directly under the arches of the modern Madison Square Garden. The arena was officially opened on February 11, 1968. Season 1967/68 "New York" finished playing at the old MSG, and the new season began in a new arena. It can be said that the first pancake for the Knicks came out lumpy - on October 15, 1968, New York lost on its parquet to the Chicago Bulls 96:100. The photo shows a report from that match, taken from basketball-reference. com, where you can see who was the soloist in that match. Three-pointers were not yet introduced in those years, interceptions, block shots and losses were not yet counted, so the game report is very different from the modern one.

As time has shown, Madison Square Garden will become a truly lucky and iconic arena for New York. In the first five seasons on the new court, the Knicks will play in the Finals three times and take two NBA championship titles, which will be the only ones for the team. Today we turn the pages of history and know about the two lost finals in 1994 and 1999. In the 1970s, New York City enjoyed a real basketball euphoria from the success of the Red Holtzman team, and not least the team's success was attributed to the influence of the new arena, Madison Square Garden.

In the 1970 NBA Finals, New York faced the Los Angeles Lakers, led by Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. The final series turned out to be unusually tense and ended only in the seventh match, which took place just on the New York home parquet. Throughout the final series, Chamberlain averaged 23.3 points and 24.1 rebounds, while Jerry West averaged 31.3 points per game. The Knicks played more team-based basketball without a lot of individualism, and Willis Reed, the most prolific player in the series with the Lakers, scored 23 points.

The seventh game, played in front of 19,500 spectators, was a benefit performance for Walt Frazier. The New York point guard scored 36 points, 19 assists and 7 rebounds in the playoff game in one of the best individual performances in Madison Square Garden history as his Knicks beat the Lakers 113-99. Interestingly, the final MVP award will eventually go to the more loyal audience, Willis Reed.

Two years later, the final will be repeated, but the result will be completely opposite. Knicks to lose to Lakers in Final Series 1972 years with virtually no fight 1-4. Reed was absent from the final episode, but Frazier continued to lead. Wilt Chamberlain won his second NBA title, picking up the Finals MVP along the way. He won his only victory in the New York series in an away match in Los Angeles, and lost both home games at Madison Square Garden.

"New York" managed to rehabilitate itself in front of its own fans for the defeat in the final a year later. For the third time, the Knicks reached the finals and the third time fate brought them to the Los Angeles Lakers. This time, Red Holtzman's team did not fall into the dirt face and beat the opponent with a score of 4-1. The last decisive victory was obtained in Los Angeles, but that did not become less deserved and pleasant. Both home meetings of the Knicks ended with victories. It is noteworthy that the entire starting five of New York scored 15+ points in the final series, and Bill Bradley became the most productive with 18.6 points. Willis Reed was again the Finals MVP with 16.4 points and 9 points against the Lakers., 2 rebounds.

The vaults of Madison Square Garden had to wait a long 21 years for the next finale. The new hero of New York and the idol of MSG is Patrick Ewing. Unfortunately, the Georgetown University graduate was not lucky enough to play in the era of Jordan and Hakim. In the 1993-94 season, the Knicks reached the NBA Finals, but Olajuwon's career pick, who was just on his way to his first title, stood in the way of the team.

A seven-game showdown between the two great centers of the 90s ended in victory for the Nigerian native. For the final series, Hakim scored 26.9points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists, eventually receiving the well-deserved MVP award of the final series. Patrick Ewing had a great series, but in the final he was opposed by a very strong opponent.

Ewing's best performance of the series was just the game at Madison Square Garden - the fifth game of the series, after winning which the Knicks led in the series 3-2. In the presence of 19,763 spectators in New York, the center scored 25 points, 12 rebounds and 8 blocks, and New York won 91:84. By the way, referee Joey Crawford, well-known to current NBA fans, served that meeting. This ended the series in the Big Apple, as all good things for the Knicks ended. The next two matches in Houston were released and Olajuwon's team got the rings.

In 1998, the last and only All-Star Game took place today (it was discussed in the introduction) in the renovated Madison Square Garden in 1968. I suggest watching the video and remembering the highlights of that game: The season shortened due to the lockout consisted of 50 regular season matches. New York took full advantage of the lack of match practice among the strongest competitors and burst into the decisive final, where David Robinson and Tim Duncan were waiting for Jeff Van Gundy's team with another sensation in the face of the San Antonio Spurs. Today, Greg Popovich’s team reaching the final will not surprise anyone, and at 19In 1999, this was seen as a sensation. The Spurs, although they won the regular season, were not called specialists among the favorites of the playoffs. But something happened that we all know very well and call "The Last Dynasty" in the NBA - "San Antonio" confidently and for a long time broke into the elite of the association. Unfortunately for the New York fans, the Knicks had no chance of clinging to victory in that Finals. The Two Towers decided the final in five matches, with young Tim Duncan earning his first Finals MVP.

Oddly enough, New York celebrated their only victory at their home Madison Square Garden (89:81), and Allan Houston, who scored 34 points, became the best of the winners in that match. It is also very symbolic that the best (according to the author) team of the new millennium won its first of five titles in such a legendary arena. In the fifth match of the series, with the stands filled to capacity, the Spurs put the squeeze on the Knicks and conquered New York, winning a minimal, but such a great victory in a historical context 78:77. Tim Duncan scored 31 points and 9rebounds, eventually becoming the most valuable player in the final series.

On January 24, 2014, Knicks player Carmelo Anthony scored 62 points in a 125-96 game against Charlotte to set a New York scoring record previously held by fellow Knicks player Bernard King ( 60 points). Also, a new performance record was set at Madison Square Garden, which was previously held by Kobe Bryant (61 points).

Currently, 8 players who played for the New York Knicks at different times are immortalized under the arches of Madison Square Garden:

In addition to basketball and hockey, Madison Square Garden is known for its boxing matches. For any professional boxer, participation in the MSG means not only that the fight will be important and 20,789 spectators will watch it live (filling capacity in boxing fights), but also the opportunity to make good money. The fights taking place in the arena are always broadcast by the leading TV companies and attract a lot of investment.

In the near future, the world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko will fight at Madison Square Garden against hitherto invincible American Bryant Jennings.


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