Madison Square Garden is one of the most famous places in the world to attend sporting events, huge music concerts, comedy acts and international trade shows. The original Madison Square Garden opened in 1879 near Madison Square Park and had a seating capacity of 10,000, today it holds nearly double that.
But the thing is you’ve turned up at Madison Square Garden and none of these things are on – it’s an away day. Don’t worry, you’re in luck. There are still some great things to do in and around the arena.
The Madison Square Garden All Access Tour
Tours run daily at Madison Square Gardens between 10.30am and 3.00pm. Your entrance fee will let you explore exclusive VIP areas in the state-of-the-art arena and also learn about its rich history. Highlights include the Knicks and Rangers locker rooms, the iconic Arena bowl and the “Garden 366” retrospective which details some of the venue’s defining moments.
The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
A short distance away from the arena (approx. 3 blocks) is FIT, one of New York’s premier colleges dedicated to design, fashion, art communications and business. As you’re probably not planning a permanent course of study on your short visit to the area why not take a quick look at the museum? The museum’s permanent collection encompasses some 50,000 garments and accessories from the 18th century to the present. This includes seminal designers such as Adrian, Balenciaga, Chanel, and Dior. The award winning museum puts on special exhibitions regularly – a must for fashionistas.
Walk the highline
If it’s a nice day and you don’t feel like being inside make your way over to the High Line, about half a mile away from Madison Square Garden. The High Line is an old railway line that has been converted into an elevated walkway, landscaped with wild looking vegetation and dotted with pop-up art installations. The route takes you through the Meat Packing district of Manhattan and is a favourite with the locals. The walkway offers you a carefree stroll in the heart of one of the busiest cities in the world. Definitely worth a look!
No sport? No worries. Madison Square Garden is ideally situated for visitors to get a taste of the arts, history and lifestyle of the Big Apple.
