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New York Attractions
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden is known simply as the "Garden" to New Yorkers and fight fans. The arena also calls itself "The Worlds Most Famous Arena". The Madison Square Garden has had three other homes before it found its current site at 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York. The first two sites (1879 and 1890) were situated in the northwest corner of Madison Square from which the arena took its name.
In December 1925 a third location was found with a new capacity of 17,000 all seated area. In February 1968, Madison Square Gardens moved for the final time.
It took an engineering feet to create this new arena when the mayor of New York approved the demolition of the above ground sections of Pennsylvania Station. This new arena would be one of the first constructions that would be built above an active railroad. The job of building this new engineering feat went to the company R.E. McKee from El Paso.
The demolition of parts of Pennsylvania Station was met with a huge Public outcry from many New Yorkers. It was shortly after the demolition that New York created the Landmarks Preservation Commission. This commission ensures that future landmarks are protected from building developers. Madison Squared Gardens Centre today sits above Penn station and is the hub of the entertainment complex.
In 1991 The Garden had a huge cash injection of almost $200 million to be spent on giving the arena a renovation. Some of the new facilities included adding 89 suites of the highest standard. This meant that hundreds of upper-tier seats had to be removed making way for the new suite design. The project for the renovation was given to Ellerbe Becket.
In the year 2004-2005, the Gardens owners, Cablevision found themselves in a fight with the City of New York over proposal of a rival stadium. The City council wanted to build a West Side Stadium, which would compete directly with Madison Square garden. Cablevision threatened to raze the Garden and replace it with a high rise commercial building. The dispute raged on for several years but in April 2008 an agreement was found. The Madison Square Gardens will stay and have a huge renovation and refit once again. Cablevision hope for this to be completed for the New York Knicks and Rangers season starting in 2011.
At present the arena holds about 320 events each calendar year. Though many events are held in the Garden. The arena is most widely known as home of the New York Rangers from the National Hockey League and the New York Knicks from the National Basketball League.
As for boxing fans Madison Square Garden is considered the Mecca of the boxing world. The arena held in the 70s, some of boxings greatest fights with the likes of Ali, Frazier, Norton and Holmes all making nights to remember.
Today's capacity at Madison Square Garden is 19,763 for basketball, 18,200 for hockey and 20,000 for music concerts. When you are next in New York make sure you have enough time to visit The Worlds Most Famous Arena.
