Thursday, May 27, 2010

New Location for MSG Being Revived

Charles Bagli at the New York Times reports that developer Steven Roth is quietly trying to revive a plan to move Madison Square Garden one block west of its current home atop Pennsylvania Station just as the arena is beginning a major $850 million renovation...

"According to these officials, the developer’s pitch to Mr. Dolan and Mr. Ratner went something like this: The renovation of the 42-year-old arena could be more expensive and more disruptive for the Knicks, the Rangers and the Liberty than anticipated. And in the end, the site would still be inferior to the new arena for the Nets that is under construction in Brooklyn."

Barry Watkins, a spokesman for the Garden, said..

“The process to transform M.S.G. is well under way, and any other option that may or may not be available is not being considered, period.”

...if this guy Roth is pitching that the Dolans could save money with the move you know this idea isn't DOA.

...in my opinion, I don't care where the Garden is as long as it has all the bells and whistles that every modern stadium has.

4 comments:

theking said...

I cant understand the logic of this. I do residential construction for a living. I come across homes and tell the owners don't keep renovating and adding on because it is cheaper and better to just move to a better home. But there are those rare homes that were built in the 1600s, that deserve to be upgraded even though the owner can take that money and line in a bigger, nicer house. But maybe I am the only one that loves walking into the Garden no matter how out dated and inferior it is to other arenas. There is just so much history there. So many concerts and boxing events its awesome knowing that Led Zeppelin once took the stage there. How can it possibly be inferior to the nets new stadium when it has all that history. I am old enough now and I want to be in that same building when they win the cup again. The Nets can have the nicest arena that's perfectly designed but they will never have the history MSG does.

Kevin DeLury said...

King, I don't think you have to worry as MSG is too invested in the renovation to scrap it and start over.

theking said...

Well, thats good to know. It would be nice to go watch them at a state of the art arena but I just love MSG so damn much. I just hope they do a good job with the renovations. They need more seating right up at the glass all the way around the rink. I saw a rendered picture and the bridge looks awesome.

Kevin DeLury said...

Yeah the renderings look pretty sweet.