Madison Square Garden Game Day Guide
New York Knicks · New York, NY
Know Before You Go
Essential details checked against official venue information.
- Bag policy
Bags do not need to be clear but must fit under the seat; bags larger than 22 x 14 x 9 inches are prohibited.
Applies to: New York Knicks games
- All bags are screened with X-ray technology.
- Bag storage
Madison Square Garden does not provide a check area for bags, coats, or other belongings.
Applies to: New York Knicks games
- Mobile tickets
Madison Square Garden uses digital tickets and recommends downloading them to a phone wallet before arrival.
Applies to: New York Knicks games
- Knicks members can also use the team app; an event marked device-free may require a print-at-home ticket instead.
- Re-entry
All exits are final; guests cannot leave Madison Square Garden and then re-enter.
Applies to: New York Knicks games
- Prohibited items
MSG prohibits weapons, stun guns, knives, pepper spray, lasers, fireworks, aerosols, signs and flags, noisemakers, balls, drones, hoverboards, illegal substances, outside food and drink, and other listed items.
Applies to: New York Knicks games
- Large bags, professional cameras, tripods, selfie sticks, and audio or video recording devices are also prohibited; event pages may add restrictions.
- First aid
First Aid is behind the Guest Services Office on the Kalshi Concourse, sixth floor, outside Section 117.
Applies to: New York Knicks games
- For immediate help, notify an usher, security officer, or Guest Experience representative; the security office number is 212-465-6799.
- Nursing and lactation
A nursing facility is beside the Guest Services Office on the Kalshi Concourse, sixth floor, outside Section 117.
Applies to: New York Knicks games
- Breast pumps, associated equipment, and breastmilk are permitted; parents may also use family or all-gender restrooms.
- Family restrooms
Family and all-gender restrooms are available throughout Madison Square Garden.
Applies to: New York Knicks games
- Ask an usher or Guest Experience representative for the nearest location.
- Tickets for children
For most events, children under age 2 may attend without a ticket if they sit on a parent or guardian's lap and do not occupy a seat.
Applies to: New York Knicks games
- Check the event page because some family events require tickets for children older than 1.
- Guest services
The main Guest Services Office is outside Section 117, with Guest Experience assistance also available outside Sections 206 and 328.
Applies to: New York Knicks games
- Guest Relations can be reached at 212-465-6225.
- Service animals
Service animals are permitted inside Madison Square Garden, with dedicated-space seating available throughout the arena if requested.
Applies to: New York Knicks games
- Contact Accessibility Services at 888-609-7599 before the event when bringing a service animal.
- Smoking and vaping
Smoking and electronic cigarettes are prohibited everywhere inside Madison Square Garden.
Applies to: New York Knicks games
- Violation is grounds for ejection.
Game Day Timeline
What the day looks like at Madison Square Garden, hour by hour.
Arrive in Midtown
Take the subway or rail to Penn Station. You're in the center of Manhattan. Grab a pregame meal at one of the hundreds of restaurants within walking distance.
Pregame drinks
Stout NYC, Blarney Rock, or The Ainsworth are popular pregame spots near MSG. Expect crowds on big game nights.
Doors open
Enter MSG through the 7th Avenue or 8th Avenue entrances. Watch warm-ups and take in the iconic circular ceiling and championship banners.
Find your seat
MSG fills up for every Knicks game. Settle in and soak up the atmosphere, there's nothing quite like a packed Garden.
Game time
The MSG crowd is famously passionate. When the Knicks are rolling, the building shakes. Games run about 2-2.5 hours.
Halftime break
Hit the concourse for NYC-style eats. Lines are long at popular stands, 400-level concessions tend to be less crowded.
Post-game scene
Spill out into Midtown. The bars on 7th and 8th Avenues stay busy. Or take the subway anywhere in the city, the night is young.
Tips & Fan Reports
Celebrity sightings are common courtside, Spike Lee's seat at the scorer's table is legendary.
This is the most expensive arena experience in the NBA. Budget accordingly, tickets, food, drinks, everything costs more.
Halftime lines are notoriously long. Buy food during the first or third quarter.
The Chase Bridge seats above the 200 level are unique to MSG - suspended from the ceiling with a straight-down view of the court.
Penn Station gets mobbed after the game. Walk one block to Herald Square (B/D/F/M/N/Q/R/W) for a faster exit.
MSG is notoriously strict about re-entry - once you leave, you cannot come back in.
Weather
Madison Square Garden is indoor, so these are the conditions for the parking lot and the walk in, not the seats.
Across the NBA season the warmest month is October, with an average high of 65°F, and the coldest is January, when the average low is 28°F. October is the wettest month at 4.4 inches and January the driest at 3.6 inches.
That January low ranks 12th coldest of the 30 NBA venues, and October here ranks 10th wettest.
October
4.4 inchesDecember
4.4 inchesJanuary
3.6 inchesMarch
4.3 inchesApril
4.1 inchesNew York Knicks Clear Bag Policy
Most venues require a clear bag. Get an approved one before you travel.
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How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Game day timeline
Official venue page / team game day guide
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
- Venue policies
Current Madison Square Garden FAQ, accessibility-services, and venue-guide pages reviewed for New York Knicks game-day policies.