Madison Square Garden Named Nation's "Coolest" Arena By Rolling Stone
It's every aspiring band's dream to play New York City's iconic arena, Madison Square Garden. And now that dream has been further validated by Rolling Stone magazine, which named MSG as America's "coolest venue."
RS picked 26 industry insiders and musicians, including Phoenix's Thomas Mars, Spoon's Britt Daniel, Pearl Jam's Mike McCready, and Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump, to vote on the coolest venue in the U.S. as part of the mag's five-part online series on "Venues that Rock."
Dennis Arfa, a top agent who reps Billy Joel and Metallica, voted in the poll and raved about MSG. "There aren't many venues that make a difference," he said, "but the Garden does."
MSG is currently undergoing a three-year, $1 billion top-to-bottom transformation, which Melissa Ormond, president of Madison Square Garden Entertainment, says will make the venue even "cooler" for both fans and artists.
What does the transformation entail, exactly? Well... an all-new entrance on Manhattan's 7th Avenue that's nearly double in size; a new balcony on the 10th floor with new food and drink options and space to hang out with a view of the arena; 18 remodeled suites; and best of all, two new Chase Bridges suspended above the arena's floor for a seriously unique view of the action below.
It'll only further MSG's reputation as the pinnacle, a musical church and a right of passage to stardom.
Here's the complete ranking for Rolling Stone's poll:
1) Madison Square Garden
2) Wrigley Field
3) Fenway Park
4) Barclays Center
5) Yankee Stadium
6) Bridgestone Arena
7) KFC Yum! Center
8) Staples Center
9) Philips Arena
10) MetLife Stadium
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