Historic Hoops: Madison Square Garden
Welcome to our Historic Hoops series, where we offer a guide to historic places related (at least tangentially) to a televised men’s or women’s NCAA basketball matchup each week throughout the 2015-2016 season. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or simply stuck watching with your significant other, we’re here to assist your viewing experience with some historic context beyond the hardwood.
This week’s matchup(s): Wisconsin vs. Georgetown, and Virginia Commonwealth vs. #5 Duke
Time: 5:00 and 7:30 p.m. EST
Channel: ESPN2
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York City
photo by: Rich Mitchell, Flickr
Madison Square Garden is known as the Mecca of basketball and draws the best performances from the sport's elite.
Opening Tip: The 2K Classic benefiting the Wounded Warriors Project opens the second weekend of the 2015-2016 NCAA basketball season at the “World’s Most Famous Arena.”
Fast Break: The first-ever Madison Square Garden opened its doors back in 1879 on East 26th Street and Madison Avenue in Manhattan, but the current (fourth) incarnation between 31st and 33rd streets and 7th and 8th avenues didn’t pop up until 1968. The construction, though, came at a cost.
In order to build Madison Square Garden, the 1910 Pennsylvania Station that occupied the same site was razed to street level. The Beaux Arts building was world-renowned for its ornate exterior, vaulted concourse, and general architectural beauty. Though preservationists in the community and the press―including Ada Louise Huxtable―fought hard against the plan, demolition began in October of 1963.
Since its construction, the Garden has hosted Stanley Cup Finals, countless music performances, and myriad other events, including tennis matches. It is best known, however, as the Mecca of basketball.
photo by: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division HABS NY, 31-NEYO, 78-2
Pennsylania Station was demolished to the ground in the 1960s to make way for Madison Square Garden.
Three Points:
- The streets immediately surrounding the Garden are designated as Joe Louis Plaza. One of the greatest boxers of all time, Louis defended his title at the previous incarnation of Madison Square Garden on eight separate occasions.
- In September of 2014, more than 19,000 people attended a speech at Madison Square Garden by India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
- Pennsylvania Station still operates below Madison Square Garden today. The transportation hub services Amtrak, the Long Island Railroad, New Jersey Transit, and the A,C,E, 1, 2, and 3 trains of the New York City Subway.
Buzzer Beater: Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski became the first coach to win 1,000 NCAA Men’s Basketball games after the Blue Devils beat St. Johns at the Garden on January 25, 2015.
And-1: Head upstate and watch Elon take on Syracuse at the Carrier Dome Saturday at 7:00 p.m. EST on ESPN3.
