MSG, also known as Madison Square Garden, is one of the most famous and iconic entertainment venues in the world. Located in New York City, MSG has hosted countless concerts, sporting events, and other productions over its history. Many people wonder if MSG is a Ticketmaster venue and if they need to use Ticketmaster to buy tickets for events at MSG. In this article, we’ll examine the relationship between MSG and Ticketmaster and provide a definitive answer.
Overview of MSG
MSG first opened in 1879, although the current arena bearing the name opened in 1968. MSG has a maximum capacity of around 20,000 for concerts and sports. It is home to the New York Knicks of the NBA and the New York Rangers of the NHL. In addition, MSG hosts around 300 other entertainment events every year, including concerts, shows, and more. Some of the biggest names in music have performed at MSG, such as The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin, and many more.
Given its prestige and capacity, getting tickets to see events at MSG can be extremely competitive. This is why many people want to know the best way to secure tickets. Understanding MSG’s relationship with Ticketmaster can help ticket buyers make the right decisions.
Ticketmaster’s Relationship with Large Venues
Ticketmaster is the largest ticket sales and distribution company in the United States. They sell tickets online, over the phone, and at retail outlets for a wide variety of events, including concerts, sports, theater shows, and more.
Ticketmaster has exclusive contracts with many of the largest venues and promoters in the U.S. This gives them the exclusive right to sell the primary tickets for events at those venues. In many cases, venues will only work with Ticketmaster to sell their inventory of tickets. This applies to major venues like Madison Square Garden.
Benefits to Venues Working with Ticketmaster
There are several benefits for venues like MSG to work exclusively with Ticketmaster:
- Wide reach – Ticketmaster has an enormous customer database and marketing apparatus to promote events and sell tickets quickly.
- Advanced technology – Ticketmaster offers venue clients advanced ticketing software, analytics, and other technology.
- Convenience – Integrated ticketing means customers can easily purchase tickets online, reducing box office needs.
- Costs – Ticketmaster takes on much of the cost of marketing events, running ticketing operations, and paying credit card fees.
With these advantages, it makes sense that a venue like MSG would partner with Ticketmaster instead of handling all of their ticketing needs in-house. The arrangement allows MSG to focus on hosting great events while letting Ticketmaster leverage its expertise in ticketing.
MSG’s Partnership with Ticketmaster
Given Ticketmaster’s relationships with major venues, it should come as no surprise that Madison Square Garden currently has an exclusive ticketing agreement with Ticketmaster. The partnership has been in place for over 20 years and was recently extended through 2023.
This means that Ticketmaster is the only way to buy primary tickets for events happening at MSG venues. Season ticket holders may get tickets directly from the venue or sports team, but all other tickets are sold through Ticketmaster.
You cannot buy primary tickets directly from MSG’s box office or website. If you want to buy tickets for a Knicks game, a Rangers game, or any concert or show at MSG, you will need to go through Ticketmaster.
Ticketmaster Official Resale
In addition to selling the primary tickets, Ticketmaster also runs the Official Resale marketplace for MSG events. If ticket holders want to resell their tickets, they have to do so through Ticketmaster’s resale platform. MSG events will not appear on any other secondary marketplaces like StubHub.
This gives Ticketmaster control over the entire ticketing process for Madison Square Garden events. It helps limit counterfeit tickets and ensure fairness in pricing.
Other Ways to Get Tickets
The Ticketmaster partnership means the best way to get tickets for events at MSG is through Ticketmaster channels. However, there are some other limited ways to get tickets:
- Season tickets – Sports teams and venues sell season ticket packages directly to fans.
- Promotions – Radio stations, sponsors, and promoters may give away small numbers of tickets for certain events.
- Scalpers – Purchasing from illegal scalpers outside the venue is extremely risky.
These methods will be very hard to obtain or risky. The only reliable way for most fans to buy MSG tickets is through Ticketmaster.
Tips for Buying MSG Tickets on Ticketmaster
Here are some tips for having the best experience purchasing MSG tickets through Ticketmaster:
- Create an account – Having a Ticketmaster account ahead of time saves time during checkout.
- Use the app – The Ticketmaster app typically has the smoothest buying experience.
- Check on sales – Sales and presales often give early access to tickets.
- Buy early – Prices tend to go up over time as events get closer.
- Avoid resale – Resale prices can be inflated; buy direct when possible.
While Ticketmaster fees can be frustrating, deals and discounts are sometimes available. Overall, going through Ticketmaster directly is the best way to secure guaranteed authentic tickets for events at MSG.
Conclusion
Madison Square Garden certainly does have an exclusive partnership with Ticketmaster to sell tickets. This has been the case for over 20 years and will continue through at least 2023. All primary tickets for events at MSG must be purchased through Ticketmaster channels – online, phone, app, or in-person at Ticketmaster outlets.
There is no way to buy tickets directly through MSG for concerts, shows, Knicks games, Rangers games, or other events. Fans looking to attend events at Madison Square Garden need to utilize Ticketmaster to guarantee they are getting valid tickets. While Ticketmaster service fees are annoying, the peace of mind of legitimate tickets makes it worth using Ticketmaster when buying MSG tickets.
