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  Madison Square Garden first opened its doors in New York City in 1879. That year, it hosted the third annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and "The Garden" has been home to the world's greatest dog show every year since.
Generations of fans have come to express their pride and passion for teams, athletes, performers, and statesmen who have "played the Garden." Today, "The World's Most Famous Arena" is one of America's most recognizable landmarks, a uniquely diverse sports and entertainment facility drawing over four million fans a year for concerts, games and events. The current Garden - located between 31st and 33rd Streets and Seventh and Eighth Avenues on Manhattan's West Side - is home to the New York Knicks, Rangers, Liberty, and MSG Networks. The Garden is comprised of several venues: the Arena, Theater, Expo Center, The Play-by-Play and Club Restaurants, and the Garden terrace. This is the fourth building (third site) to be named Madison Square Garden. Garden I was located at Madison Square (26th Street and Madison Avenue). That building was officially named "Madison Square Garden" by William Vanderbilt and stood until its demolition in 1889. Garden II was constructed on the site of Garden I. It opened in 1890 and contained an 8,000-seat main arena, 1,500-seat concert hall, 1,200-seat theatre and the world's largest indoor swimming pool. Garden III - the "Old Garden" - was built in just 249 days at 49th Street and Eighth Avenue. The fabled 18,000-seat arena opened with a six-day bicycle race on November 24, 1925, and for 43 years was America's premier sports and entertainment showplace. The last event ever staged at Garden III was the Westminster Dog Show, February 12-13, 1968. Today's Garden -- Garden IV -- was built at 33rd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, atop Pennsylvania Station. It opened in 1968 when Bob Hope and Bing Crosby hosted the "Night of the Century", a salute to the USO. A glittering sports and entertainment showplace, it features a distinctive circular, cable-suspended roof above the 19,000-seat arena, its 5,000-seat Felt Forum, 48-lane Bowling Center, 500-seat cinema, Hall of Fame Club, National Art Museum of Sport, 50,000-square foot Exposition Rotunda and 29-story office building (2 Penn Plaza) attached by a pedestrian mall. |
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