MSG’s Dark Season Good For NJ

Madison Square Garden has officially started the “Transformation” – the official name for its $850 million renovation – and the big winners are the arenas in New Jersey.

MSG is upgrading its entrance, seating, lighting, sound and video, and is adding more bathrooms, suites, lockers, food options and dressing rooms. The renovations are expected to take place over three summers so sports can take place uninterrupted.

Concerts, on the other hand, will be heading to places like the Prudential Center, Izod Center and Long Island’s Nassau Coliseum.

“MSG is the busiest arena and has been the busiest arena that I’ve seen in the states,” said Prudential Center owner Jeff Vanderbeek, “and anytime you take out that supply, especially if you have an increase in demand, it’s going to benefit the Prudential Center, and certainly we expect that to be the case.”

Prudential Center is 10 miles outside New York and hosted the NBA draft, typically held at MSG. Officials at Prudential and Izod have noted that the commute from the Big Apple is “a breeze” and expect more people to learn that as they travel to see acts like Britney Spears and Taylor Swift.

MSG is expected to resume hosting concerts in October.