22|OCTOBER 29, 2013|COMMERCIAL OBSERVER

Tending the Garden

O
n Thursday, Madison Square Garden unveiled the final stage of its massive $1 billion renovation project to the media and special guests. The following night, the arena reopened to fans for the Knicks final preseason game. The three-year process has yielded a number of unique new features for the iconic venue, which was beginning to show its age, a ripe 45 years. Below are some key facts and figures about the newly renovated arena and what fans have to look forward to this season.

POSTINGS

Over three offseasons, the Madison Square Garden transformation project utilized more than 2.6 million man hours and 2,852 tons of steel.

The famed Blue Seatsthe cheap seats, in other words once home to the loudest of Rangers and Knicks fans, have returned to the arena following Phase II of the renovation.

The controversial Chase Bridges on the north and south sides of the building will offer more than 400 additional seats fully-ticketed for Knicks and Rangers gamesand each weigh approximately 330 tons. At 233 feet long and 22 feet wide, each bridge offers well in excess of 6,000 square feet of area.

Gone are the days when a dirty water hot dog and Bud Light were the only concession options at MSG. Increased by 26 percent, concessions now offer options including Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Andrew Carmellini, Carnegie Deli and Hill Country.

Restrooms, formerly in short supply especially in the upper bowlhave been increased by 22 percent.

The Gardens relatively antiquated scoreboard, dubbed Gardenvision, has been thoroughly upgraded and now boasts 3,400 square feet of LED area. Those patrons with an obstructed view of the screen are compensated with large HD television screens that mimic the scoreboard.

The size of the lowerbowl concourse has more than doubled in the renovations from 13 feet to 28 feet wideand offers city views. The upper-level concourse has also more than doubled in sizefrom 11 feet to 24 feet wide.