Madison Square Garden – Defining Moments

The name Madison Square Garden has over a century of history behind it. The first MSG opened all the way back in 1879, believe it or not. Since then there have been four Madison Square Gardens; the one standing today opened its doors in 1968.

Madison Square Garden is quite aware of its legendary place in the worlds of sports, music, and entertainment. All older venues have their fair share of stories that will go down in history, passed down through the generations by print and word of mouth. But few can compare with The Garden. Here are 10 of the most memorable defining moments in Madison Square Garden history.

 

1970

The New York Knicks win their first championship

The first team to win a championship at the fourth Madison Square Garden was the 1970 New York Knicks. Not only was it the first championship to be celebrated in the current MSG, it was the first one in Knicks franchise history. Led by Finals MVP Willis Reed, the Knicks endured a tough seven-game series against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The championship matchup was electrifying throughout, but Game 7 at MSG got out of hand quickly. By the second quarter with 3:05 remaining, the Knicks led 61-37. Point guard Walt “Clyde” Frazier kept his foot on the gas and ended the final game with 36 points and 19 assists.

By the final buzzer, the scoreboard read New York 113, Los Angeles 99. The Knicks then hoisted their first Walter A. Brown Trophy, now known as the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.

 

1971

Ali vs. Frazier: Fight of the Century

Few events live up to the hype when they’re heavily promoted, but the Fight of the Century delivered. The legendary heavyweight matchup between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, dubbed the Fight of the Century, didn’t just live up to the hype, it surpassed it.

This marked the first time that two undefeated boxers matched up for the heavyweight title. The grueling battle lasted 15 rounds. The early round scoring reveals that both fighters were performing well. As the match entered the latter half, Frazier began to get the best of Ali.

Somewhere in the sixth round Ali started to show some sluggishness, but fought through it for a few more rounds. The ninth round was where Frazier started to dominate. He kept landing devastating blows to Ali, knocking him down, but to Ali’s credit he kept bouncing back up.

By the end of round 14, Frazier led all scorecards. Early in the 15th, Frazier landed a vicious left hook that knocked Ali on his back. Ali managed to finish the round, but the officials called it after. Frazier was awarded the heavyweight title in a unanimous decision. The color commentator Burt Lancaster’s call rang out through the world when he said, “Just listen to the roar of this crowd! The tension, and the excitement here, is monumental!”

 

1973

The New York Knicks become NBA champions once again

The 1970s was a great decade to be a Knicks fan. Just three years after the team won their first championship, they were back in the NBA finals, once again facing off against the Los Angeles Lakers. The year prior, the two teams met in the finals as well, but the Lakers defeated the Knicks in five games. This time around it was the Knicks that beat the Lakers in five.

Willis Reed took over for the Knicks again and was crowned the Finals MVP. After the Lakers snagged Game 1 in a 115-112 victory, the Knicks reeled off four straight games in convincing fashion.

While the Knick’s second championship definitely belongs in the defining moments of Madison Square Garden history, the victory took place on the Lakers’ home court. The 1973 NBA Finals is also such a monumental moment because to date it was the last championship the Knicks won.

 

1974

John Lennon’s final performance

November 28, 1974 marked the last major concert appearance of Beatles guitarist John Lennon. The show wasn’t even his own. Lennon was a surprise guest, joining Elton John on stage at Madison Square Garden.

The only reason Lennon played the show was because of a bet he lost about whether or not his song “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night” would reach number one on the charts. Since it reached number one, Lennon had to join Elton John for one of his performances.

The two sang Lennon’s new number one hit, along with renditions of Beatles classics like “I Saw Her Standing There” and “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.” Looking back, the crowd witnessed a special moment, as they were some of the last people to see John Lennon perform. Six years later, he was murdered near his Manhattan home.

Had Lennon went on to perform after that night at Madison Square Garden, this performance would have still been one to remember. But because it was the final major performance of one of rock and roll’s most iconic artists, the concert has forever gone down in history.

 

1985

WrestleMania hosts its inaugural event at Madison Square Garden

“The Greatest Wrestling Event of All Time” was born under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. For those that don’t know, WrestleMania is a professional wrestling event produced every year by WWE, or World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

WrestleMania I was the organization’s first event. It showcased nine wrestling matches. The main event was an epic face-off between Hulk Hogan and Mr. T versus Paul Orndorff and Roddy Piper.

The event packed in 19,121 fans with another million-plus watching on pay-per-view. To this day, WrestleMania I is one of the most purchased pay-per-view wrestling events in history.

WWE pulled out all the stops it could to launch WrestleMania into the limelight. The first show featured boxer Muhammad Ali as the referee, Yankees second baseman Billy Martin as ring announcer, and Liberace as the timekeeper.

WrestleMania I was largely a success. Not only did it entertain millions, it launched the event into center stage; WrestleMania has now taken place every year since 1985.

 

1994

The New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup

The third and final professional championship, thus far, celebrated at the fourth Madison Square Garden was thanks to the New York Rangers. The Rangers have won the Stanley Cup three other times, but all three of those successful seasons were before the team moved into the current iteration of MSG in 1968.

The ’94 championship ended a 54-year drought; the last time the Rangers raised the Cup over their heads was back in 1940, so this was a long time coming. The matchup didn’t disappoint. The series went to Game 7 before the Rangers were able to take the Cup from the Vancouver Canucks.

On the shoulders of series MVP Brian Leetch and thanks to the series-winning goal from Mark Messier, the Rangers sealed the deal in front of their home fans at Madison Square Garden. Over 20 years later, The Garden is still waiting for another championship from either of its professional sports teams.

 

1999

Wayne Gretzky retires as a New York Ranger

There hasn’t been anyone like him before or after. The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, is undeniably the greatest hockey player of all time. His name is recognized around the world by fans and non-fans alike. At the time of his retirement, he held 40 regular season records, 16 playoff records, and 6 all-star records. His intelligence for the game was unmatched, as was his stamina and athleticism.

During his 21 year career, he played for five teams: Indianapolis Racers, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers. He ended his career with the Rangers in 1999 after playing three seasons with the team.

In his final game, a 2-1 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at MSG, “The Star-Spangled Banner” singer John Amirante changed one of the lyrics to “in the land of Wayne Gretzky.” The Canadian anthem was also slightly changed in honor of Gretzky. Bryan Adams ad-libbed a line, replacing “O Canada, we stand on guard for thee” to “We’re going to miss you, Wayne Gretzky.” What better place for the most legendary hockey player ever to retire than the Big Apple?

 

2001

The Concert for New York City

About a month after the devastating attack on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, Madison Square Garden hosted a benefit concert to honor the New York City Police and Fire Departments, along with the victims and their families.

The Concert for New York City was organized by Paul McCartney. It featured dozens of musical artists and celebrities, such as The Who, Eric Clapton, Kid Rock, Jay-Z, Destiny’s Child, Goo Goo Dolls, Billy Joel, and more. Other notable performers include Adam Sandler, short films by Woody Allen, Spike Lee, and Martin Scorsese, and several appearances by professional athletes.

The entire event was tremendously emotional, with family members of the victims present. Over 60 celebrities participated in the concert, many of them signing memorabilia that would later be auctioned off to support the Robin Hood Foundation.

Overall, the Concert of New York City raised over $35 million and another $275,000 came from the memorabilia auction. The event was a display of the deep connection that New York City had with the rest of the world.

 

2005

From the Big Apple to the Big Easy

Madison Square Garden has been the site of multiple benefit concerts. Back in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, Louisiana, another concert was organized: From the Big Apple to the Big Easy.

This was a combined effort between Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall. Approximately $9 million was raised for multiple foundations, including Habitat for Humanity and Children’s Health Fund. Some of the most noteworthy performances were given by Jimmy Buffett, Elvis Costello, and Simon & Garfunkel.

After the benefit concert, other musicians played shows around the country in an effort to raise even more money for Hurricane Katrina relief. Celebrity chefs, film critics, and even an online poker website got involved with raising money for the victims.

 

2012

12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief

The final defining moment on our list is further proof that Madison Square Garden is an epicenter of community values and togetherness. 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief was a benefit concert that raised money for Hurricane Sandy victims in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The reason it’s called 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief is simply because it took place on December 12, 2012.

Like the other two benefit concerts previously mentioned on our list, the stars were out in full force. Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, The Rolling Stones, Kayne West, and the surviving members of Nirvana all performed. The concert raised $30 million through ticket sales alone.