History of Madison Square Garden in Timeline

Madison Square Garden (MSG), located in Midtown Manhattan above Pennsylvania Station, is a renowned multipurpose indoor arena in New York City. As the fourth venue to carry the name, it follows two earlier Gardens situated on Madison Square and a third located further uptown. MSG is a major hub for sports and entertainment events, cementing its place as a landmark in the city.

January 9, 1925: Groundbreaking of Third Madison Square Garden

On January 9, 1925, groundbreaking took place for the third Madison Square Garden, built by Tex Rickard.

1925: Madison Square Garden II Demolition

In 1925, the New York Life Insurance Company decided to tear down Madison Square Garden II to make way for a new headquarters building, the New York Life Building.

1925: Third Madison Square Garden

In 1925, the third Madison Square Garden was established, although it was located further uptown than its predecessors at Eighth Avenue and 50th Street.

1939: German American Bund Nazi Rally

In 1939, Madison Square Garden was the location of a Nazi rally sponsored by the German American Bund.

February 1959: Graham-Paige Buys Interest in MSG

In February 1959, Graham-Paige purchased a 40% interest in Madison Square Garden for $4 million.

November 1960: Rights to Build at Penn Station Purchased

In November 1960, Graham-Paige president Irving Mitchell Felt purchased the rights from the Pennsylvania Railroad to build at Penn Station.

1964: Original building slated for demolition

In 1986, Gulf and Western announced that the demolition of the 1964 Madison Square Garden building was included in plans to replace it with a new office tower development.

February 11, 1968: Madison Square Garden Center Opening

On February 11, 1968, Madison Square Garden Center officially opened on the site of the old Pennsylvania Station.

1968: Demolition Commences

In 1968, demolition commenced on the third Madison Square Garden after the opening of the current Garden.

1968: Third Madison Square Garden closure

In 1968, the third Madison Square Garden was closed.

1969: Demolition Completed

In early 1969, demolition of the third Madison Square Garden was completed.

1970: Billy Joel's Rise to Fame

Billy Joel, a 1970s pop star, would eventually dominate the record for most concerts performed at Madison Square Garden.

1972: Elvis Presley's Performances

In 1972, Elvis Presley gave four sold-out performances at Madison Square Garden, his first and last ever in New York City.

1972: Felt Proposes Moving Knicks and Rangers

In 1972, Irving Felt proposed moving the New York Knicks and New York Rangers to the Meadowlands Sports Complex in New Jersey.

1972: Grammy Awards at MSG

In 1972, Madison Square Garden hosted the Grammy Awards.

1972: Stanley Cup Final and NBA Finals Simultaneously

In 1972, Madison Square Garden hosted the Stanley Cup Final and NBA Finals simultaneously.

July 1973: Led Zeppelin Concerts Recorded

In July 1973, Led Zeppelin's three-night stand at Madison Square Garden was recorded and released as both a film and album titled "The Song Remains The Same".

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1974: John Lennon's Final Concert Appearance

In 1974, John Lennon made his final concert appearance during an Elton John concert on Thanksgiving Night at Madison Square Garden.

1974: The Who's Four-Night Stand

In 1974, The Who had a four-night stand at Madison Square Garden.

1976: 1976 Democratic National Convention

Madison Square Garden hosted the 1976 Democratic National Convention.

1977: Inauguration of the Gold Ticket Awards

In 1977, Madison Square Garden inaugurated the Gold Ticket Awards for performers exceeding 100,000 unit ticket sales, requiring at least five sold-out shows. Eligible performers at the time included Chicago, John Denver, Peter Frampton, the Rolling Stones, the Jackson 5, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Sly Stone, Jethro Tull, the Who, and Yes.

1977: Arena Sold to Gulf and Western Industries

In 1977, Madison Square Garden was sold to Gulf and Western Industries.

1977: Parliament-Funkadelic Concerts

In 1977, Parliament-Funkadelic headlined numerous sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden.

1977: Elton John Inducted into MSG Hall of Fame

In June 1977, Elton John was inducted into the Madison Square Garden Hall of Fame for "record attendance of 140,000," becoming the first non-sports figure to receive the honor.

December 14, 1978: Billy Joel's First Garden Show

On December 14, 1978, Billy Joel played his first show at Madison Square Garden, with follow ups on the 15th, 16th and 18th of that month.

1978: Parliament-Funkadelic Concerts

In 1978, Parliament-Funkadelic headlined numerous sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden.

January 7, 1979: The Grateful Dead's First MSG Show

On January 7, 1979, The Grateful Dead held their first show at Madison Square Garden.

1979: Kiss Concerts

In 1979, Kiss played two shows at Madison Square Garden.

1979: The Who's Five-Night Stand

In 1979, The Who had a five-night stand at Madison Square Garden.

1980: Tax Bill Challenged

In 1980, Madison Square Garden challenged its real estate tax bill, leading to ongoing disagreement with New York City.

1980: John Lennon's Murder

John Lennon's final concert appearance was during an Elton John concert on Thanksgiving Night in 1974 at Madison Square Garden before his murder in 1980.

1980: 1980 Democratic National Convention

Madison Square Garden hosted the 1980 Democratic National Convention with Carter.

1981: Graeme Edge Receives Gold Ticket Award

In 1981, Graeme Edge of the Moody Blues received the Gold Ticket Award. He considered it an interesting piece of memorabilia because it allowed him to attend any event at Madison Square Garden.

1981: The Rolling Stones Receive Platinum Ticket Award

In 1981, The Rolling Stones received a Platinum Ticket Award from Madison Square Garden for selling over 250,000 tickets to their shows throughout the years.

1982: Elton John Receives Platinum Ticket Award

In 1982, Elton John received a Platinum Ticket Award from Madison Square Garden for selling over 250,000 tickets to his shows throughout the years.

1983: New York Cosmos at MSG

In 1983, Madison Square Garden served the New York Cosmos for half of their home games during the 1983–84 NASL Indoor season.

1984: Yes and Billy Joel Receive Platinum Ticket Awards

In 1984, both Yes and Billy Joel received Platinum Ticket Awards from Madison Square Garden for selling over 250,000 tickets to their shows throughout the years.

1984: The Rolling Stones Inducted into MSG Hall of Fame

In 1984, the Rolling Stones were inducted into the Madison Square Garden Hall of Fame for their accomplishment of "13 sell-out concerts" at the venue, along with nine sports figures.

1984: Joe Louis Plaza Designation

In 1984, the four streets immediately surrounding Madison Square Garden were designated as Joe Louis Plaza, in honor of boxer Joe Louis.

April 1986: New Madison Square Garden Announced

In April 1986, Gulf and Western announced plans to build a new Madison Square Garden a few blocks away on the site of present-day Hudson Yards, which was later scrapped in favor of renovation.

1987: The Grateful Dead Receive Platinum Ticket Award

In 1987, the Grateful Dead received a Platinum Ticket Award from Madison Square Garden for selling over 250,000 tickets to their shows throughout the years.

1988: SummerSlam at MSG

In 1988, Madison Square Garden hosted the SummerSlam wrestling event.

1988: Michael Jackson's Bad World Tour at MSG

In 1988, Madison Square Garden was the venue for Michael Jackson's Bad World Tour.

September 1991: The Grateful Dead's Longest Run

In September 1991, The Grateful Dead had their longest run at Madison Square Garden.

1991: Facilities Renovated and Suites Added

In 1991, $200 million was spent to renovate facilities and add 89 suites in place of hundreds of upper-tier seats at Madison Square Garden.

1991: SummerSlam at MSG

In 1991, Madison Square Garden hosted the SummerSlam wrestling event.

1991: First Major Renovation

In 1991, the first major renovation of Madison Square Garden was completed.

1992: Inauguration of the MSG Walk of Fame

In 1992, the walkway leading to the arena of Madison Square Garden was designated as the "Walk of Fame" to recognize athletes, artists, announcers and coaches. Elton John was the first entertainer to be inducted into the MSG Walk of Fame. Twenty-five athletes were inducted at its inaugural ceremony.

1992: 1992 Democratic National Convention

Madison Square Garden hosted the 1992 Democratic National Convention with Clinton.

October 19, 1994: The Grateful Dead's Last MSG Show

On October 19, 1994, The Grateful Dead held their last show at Madison Square Garden.

December 30, 1994: Phish's First MSG Show

On December 30, 1994, Phish had their first MSG show, and has regularly played annual multi-night runs since, typically around New Year's Eve.

1994: Stanley Cup Final and NBA Finals Simultaneously

In 1994, Madison Square Garden hosted the Stanley Cup Final and NBA Finals simultaneously.

1994: Gold Ticket Awards Concluded

The Gold Ticket Awards were given to performers who brought in more than 100,000 unit ticket sales to the venue. Many performers received Gold Ticket Awards between 1977 and 1994, when the awards were concluded.

1996: Survivor Series at MSG

In 1996, Madison Square Garden hosted the Survivor Series wrestling event.

1996: The Who's Six-Night Stand

In 1996, The Who had a six-night stand at Madison Square Garden.

1997: Grammy Awards at MSG

In 1997, Madison Square Garden hosted the Grammy Awards.

1997: New York Liberty at MSG

In 1997, the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) started playing their home games at Madison Square Garden.

1998: SummerSlam at MSG

In 1998, Madison Square Garden hosted the SummerSlam wrestling event.

1998: The Rolling Stones Inducted into the MSG Walk of Fame

In 1998, the Rolling Stones were inducted into the Madison Square Garden Walk of Fame, joining other athletes and artists recognized for their achievements at the venue.

1999: Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune Filmed at MSG

In 1999, the Jeopardy! Teen Tournament, several installments of Celebrity Jeopardy!, and several episodes of Wheel of Fortune were filmed at Madison Square Garden.

2000: Royal Rumble at MSG

In 2000, Madison Square Garden hosted the Royal Rumble wrestling event.

2000: The Who's Four-Night Stand

In 2000, The Who had a four-night stand at Madison Square Garden.

2000: Consideration of a New Arena

In 2000, current MSG owner James Dolan mentioned the consideration of building a new arena, citing the current building's age.

2001: NBA Draft at MSG Theater

From 2001, The Theater at Madison Square Garden hosted the NBA draft.

2001: The Who at The Concert for New York City

In 2001, The Who performed at The Concert for New York City at Madison Square Garden.

2002: Survivor Series at MSG

In 2002, Madison Square Garden hosted the Survivor Series wrestling event.

2002: The Who's Four-Night Stand

In 2002, The Who had a four-night stand at Madison Square Garden.

2003: Grammy Awards at MSG

In 2003, Madison Square Garden hosted the Grammy Awards.

2004: Cablevision Battled with New York

In 2004, Cablevision engaged in a battle with the City of New York over the proposed West Side arena.

2004: Republican National Convention

In 2004, Madison Square Garden hosted the Republican National Convention.

2004: Madonna Receives Platinum Ticket Award

In 2004, Madonna received a Platinum Ticket Award from Madison Square Garden for selling over 250,000 tickets to her shows throughout the years.

2004: Survivor: All-Stars Finale at MSG Theater

In 2004, The Theater at Madison Square Garden hosted the finale of Survivor: All-Stars.

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2005: Plans to Raze the Garden

In 2005, after the cancellation of the West Side arena, Cablevision announced plans to raze the Garden, replace it with commercial buildings, and build a new Garden at the James Farley Post Office site.

2005: NFL Draft Moves from MSG Theater

In 2005, the NFL draft moved from The Theater at Madison Square Garden to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, after MSG management opposed a new arena for the New York Jets.

2006: Billy Joel's Consecutive Concert Record

In 2006, Billy Joel set his first record for most consecutive performances by a music artist at Madison Square Garden after performing 12 consecutive concerts from January to April.

2006: Latin Grammy Awards at MSG

In 2006, Madison Square Garden hosted the Latin Grammy Awards.

September 19, 2007: Retirement of the Original Boxing Ring

On September 19, 2007, the original 18+1⁄2 ft × 18+1⁄2 ft boxing ring, used since the second and third generation of the Garden, was officially retired and donated to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

2008: Royal Rumble at MSG

In 2008, Madison Square Garden hosted the Royal Rumble wrestling event.

2008: The Police Reunion Tour Finale

In 2008, The Police played the final show of their reunion tour at Madison Square Garden.

2009: Elton John's 60th Birthday Concert DVD Release

In 2009, a DVD recording was released as Elton 60—Live at Madison Square Garden.

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2009: Second Renovation Delayed

In 2009, the $1 billion second renovation of Madison Square Garden was set to begin but was delayed until after the 2010-11 seasons.

2010: Second Renovation Delayed

In 2010, the $1 billion second renovation of Madison Square Garden was delayed until after the 2010-11 seasons.

2010: NBA Draft at MSG Theater concluded

The Theater at Madison Square Garden hosted the NBA draft from 2001 to 2010.

2011: Survivor Series at MSG

In 2011, Madison Square Garden hosted the Survivor Series wrestling event.

2011: Coach K's Milestone Win

In 2011, Mike Krzyzewski surpassed Bob Knight as the coach with the most wins in NCAA Division I men's basketball history when Duke defeated Michigan State at Madison Square Garden.

2011: Construction of Lower Bowl Completed

In 2011, construction of the lower bowl (Phase 1) of Madison Square Garden's renovation was completed.

2011: Renovation Phase One Completed

In 2011, the first phase of a project to renovate and modernize Madison Square Garden was completed.

2012: Construction of Upper Bowl Completed

In 2012, the new upper bowl of Madison Square Garden was completed, including the West Balcony and new end-ice 300 level seating.

February 15, 2013: Community Board Votes Against Operating Permit Renewal

On February 15, 2013, Manhattan Community Board 5 voted against granting a renewal to MSG's operating permit in perpetuity and proposed a 10-year limit.

May 2013: Architecture Firms Submit Penn Station Proposals

In May 2013, architecture firms submitted proposals for a new Penn Station, including suggestions to move Madison Square Garden to different locations.

June 2013: City Council Committee Votes on Ten-Year Permit

In June 2013, the New York City Council Committee on Land Use voted to give Madison Square Garden a ten-year operating permit.

December 2013: Joel Named MSG Music "Franchise"

In December 2013, Billy Joel was named Madison Square Garden's first ever music "franchise."

2013: Wheel of Fortune at MSG Theater

In 2013, Wheel of Fortune taped at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

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2013: Construction of Madison Suites and Madison Club Completed

In 2013, the construction of the upper bowl, along with the Madison Suites and the Madison Club (Phase 2) were completed.

2013: Second Major Renovation

In 2013, the second major renovation of Madison Square Garden was completed.

2013: Liberty Home Games at Prudential Center

Through the 2013 season, during renovations, the New York Liberty played their home games at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

October 2014: Morgan Facility Selected as Ideal Move Area

In October 2014, the Morgan facility was selected as the ideal area for Madison Square Garden to be moved, following the 2014 MAS Summit in New York City.

2014: Billy Joel's Residency Begins

In 2014, Billy Joel started a "residency" of monthly concerts at Madison Square Garden, playing nearly continuously for a decade.

2015: The Grateful Dead Inducted into the MSG Walk of Fame

In 2015, the Grateful Dead were inducted into the Madison Square Garden Walk of Fame, alongside at least three sports-related figures, in recognition of their contributions and memorable performances at the venue.

January 2016: Cuomo Announces Penn Station Redevelopment Plan

In January 2016, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a redevelopment plan for Penn Station that would involve the removal of The Theater at Madison Square Garden, but would otherwise leave the arena intact.

2016: MSG Ranked Second-Busiest Music Arena

As of 2016, Madison Square Garden was the second-busiest music arena in the world based on ticket sales.

2017: New York Liberty departure from MSG

In 2017, the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) stopped playing their home games at Madison Square Garden.

2017: Phish's "The Bakers' Dozen"

In the summer of 2017, Phish held a 13-night series of concerts called "The Bakers' Dozen" at Madison Square Garden, playing 237 unique songs.

2018: Grammy Awards at MSG

In 2018, Madison Square Garden hosted the Grammy Awards.

2018: Rangers Play Neutral-Site Game

In 2018, the New York Rangers played a neutral-site game designated as the visiting team due to tax agreement conditions.

April 6, 2019: NJPW and ROH G1 Supercard

On April 6, 2019, New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and Ring of Honor (ROH) hosted their G1 Supercard supershow at Madison Square Garden.

March 10, 2020: The Allman Brothers Band 50th Anniversary Celebration

On March 10, 2020, a 50th-anniversary celebration of The Allman Brothers Band titled 'The Brothers' took place at Madison Square Garden. This was the final concert at the venue before the COVID-19 pandemic forced its closure.

May 2020: NJPW Wrestle Dynasty Postponement

In May 2020, NJPW announced that the Wrestle Dynasty show would be postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

August 22, 2020: NJPW Wrestle Dynasty Announcement

On August 22, 2020, it was announced that New Japan Pro-Wrestling would return to Madison Square Garden alone for NJPW Wrestle Dynasty.

2020: Knicks and Rangers Games Played Elsewhere

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Knicks and Rangers home games were played elsewhere due to the tax agreement's act of God clause.

2020: MSG Company Split

In 2020, the MSG Company split into two entities. The Garden arena and other non-sports assets spun off into Madison Square Garden Entertainment, and the Rangers and Knicks remained with the original company, renamed Madison Square Garden Sports. Both entities remain under the voting control of James Dolan and his family.

2020: Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show's Run Ends at MSG

In 2020, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show's original run at Madison Square Garden came to an end, marking the arena's longest continuous tenancy.

June 20, 2021: Foo Fighters Concert Marks Return of Live Shows

On June 20, 2021, Live shows returned to The Garden when the Foo Fighters headlined a show there. The show was for a vaccinated audience only and was the first 100 percent capacity concert in a New York arena since the start of the pandemic.

December 14, 2021: Stephen Curry Breaks Three-Point Record

On December 14, 2021, Stephen Curry broke the NBA's all-time three-point scoring record at Madison Square Garden. Curry recorded his 2,977th career three-pointer, surpassing Ray Allen's 2,973 career total.

2021: Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Moves

In 2021, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show moved to Tarrytown and later the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: NJPW Wrestle Dynasty Postponed

In May 2020, NJPW announced that the Wrestle Dynasty show would be postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: Expansion of Penn Station

Penn Station expanded in 2021 with the opening of Moynihan Train Hall at the James Farley Post Office.

2022: Final NIT at MSG

Up until 2022, Madison Square Garden hosted the finals of the National Invitation Tournament from the beginning of its existence.

June 2023: Report Filed on MSG and Penn Station Compatibility

In June 2023, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, along with Amtrak and NJ Transit, filed a report stating that MSG is no longer compatible with Penn Station, citing severe constraints on passenger movement and improvement efforts.

September 14, 2023: NYC Council Votes on MSG Operating Permit

On September 14, 2023, the New York City Council voted 48-0 to renew the operating permit for Madison Square Garden for five years. This was the shortest permit ever granted by the city to the Garden.

2023: Kiss Concerts

On December 1 and 2, 2023, Kiss played their final two shows at Madison Square Garden, during the 50th anniversary year of their formation.

July 2024: Billy Joel's Record Appearances

As of July 2024, Billy Joel had played Madison Square Garden 150 times, holding the record for most appearances.

October 27, 2024: Donald Trump Campaign Rally

On October 27, 2024, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump hosted a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden. The event was notable for remarks by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe.