Old vs. New
So they'll replace one dump in Queens and one venerable museum in the Bronx with two beautiful playlands that, ironically, pay architectual homage to the past. Over in Jersey they're building a new football palace as well.
And in the heart of Manhattan there will remain one landmark. Madison Square Garden, which has had three previous addresses, will be the last of New York's sports cathedrals to remain in place. 
There hasn't been a great deal of chatter on this blog about the MSG renovation plans because we've been busy focusing on the team. But I'm curious to hear what Knicks fans think of the plan of a major renovation to the current Garden as opposed to doing what the Yankees and Mets are doing by constructing a completely new arena across the street.
Let's discuss . . .
Deja vu, tell you what I'm gonna do
when they reminisce over you,
my God
* *
- Some of you may have seen from last week that Danilo Gallinari admits he isn't sure if he'll be ready for the start of training camp a week from today. Newsday's Marcus Henry says Gallo told him at last Thursday's Liberty game that he was "optimistic" about being ready for camp, "but I don't know now." Stay tuned . . .
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Comments (27)
The renovation has nothing to do with the team, so I don’t think fans should care. I’m sure they’ll re-hang all the appropriate banners in the right place after the renovation is over.
For any other sports franchise, a new stadium or major renovation signals an urgency to win. The Mets, for instance, stopped acting like a middle class organization right around the time they signed on to build a new ballpark in 2005. But I have never doubted James Dolan’s desire to win at all costs; he has always wanted it bad, he just hired the wrong people, made careless choices and refused to acknowledge mistakes (I have always compared him to President Bush).
I can’t imagine what could be improved about MSG for the average fan who buys the occasional ticket, but I’m sure the finished product will make things even more mind blowing for courtside celebrities and hedge fund managers on expense accounts. I am optimistic that Walsh and D’Antoni will bring us a winner, but, just in case, Dolan should make sure the new construction includes a hermetic bubble that will allow him to sit courtside without hearing people remind him that he sucks.
I'll be truckin on down from Canada to see it when she's finished.
I always compared geek to Jerry Kerry another bumbling blowhard.
Off-season trivia question:
Who preceded Danilo Gallinari from Olimpia Milano to the Knicks?
Bill Bradley. He won the European Champions Cup that year, too.
Bonus question:
Name two players who first played with the Knicks and then later were with Milano?
Bob McAdoo and Rolando Blackman.
Ready for training camp to begin...
everyone give a big warm welcome to thall, jr and heri. they come bearing good news and intelligent analysis for Knicks fans.
@ Alan - PLEASE take out Starberman's trash!!!
He obviously didn't care enough to do it at the NY Boast.
Im looking forward to going to the new Garden. Will the bathrooms and restaurants be bigger? If it is everything and more than a new building who cares if it is just a remodel!
This blog has become infected I see.
I didn't think Zach would have ended up with Memphis, it made no sense from a lot of different perspectives. He has to go to a team that feels they are one piece away. While Zach probably will get good numbers this year, he has to go sooner rather than later because even if he puts up great numbers and is an all-star, the team will stink and be going backwards. Unfortunately, Curry, Lee, Gallo, and Chandler are the future. Zach is just taking playing time away from them and hurting Curry's development. How much more do you think his stock will rise in 1/2 a season or God forbid, at the end of next season? He'll still be seen as a guy putting up good stats on a bad team who isn't a winner.
Sorry Alan, but no one is giong to care about a new stadium when the product on the court is so bad. How many people get really excited about getting a new toilet? At the end of the day the crap in the toilet is still the same.
The new MSG looks fantastic and will look even better with a more contemporary NBA / Euro style D'Antoni ball, with the right players, to bring it all to life!
I agree, it looks like a winner and will help with brining in Lebron in 2010. The Nets don't even have a stadium - I don't even think they broke ground on anything. JZ is a fool. Sorry, but I'm a real Knicks Fan For Life, Not a Starbury Career Loser Fan 4 Life. People go to The Garden for more than Knicks games. It is about time Dolan put some of his money back into the business and cleaned up this dump. It was long overdue! (Before I forget, good to see you Heri.) Seats were too cramped together and it began to reek of Isiah and Starburry's stench over the past few years. I hollar!
Yeah, geek is just like John Kerry - arrogant and elitist. I don't care if you're a dem or a republican only losers bash the president on a bball board.
RealKnicksFan4Life,
The developer for the Nets is supposed to break ground in December but that's just a bunch of baloney I'm told. “There’s no way they’ll get control of the land they need, get the financing, end the litigation and break ground by December,” said Daniel Goldstein, a spokesman for Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn, the project’s primary opponent. Andrew DeSouza, a spokesman for the Treasury Department, declined to comment on whether a decision concerning tax-exempt financing for stadiums and arenas was imminent. The Internal Revenue Service issued proposed regulations in 2006 that would make it more difficult, if not impossible, for tax-exempt bonds to be used for private sports teams.
why the hell is Gallo going to Liberty games? the obvious aside, he shouldn't be allowed to leave the trainer's room.
alan, any word on the Steph situation? I don't think there has been any reaction here to Ho-Beck's report nearly a week ago that Steph was all but bought out.
It matters if you are a season ticket holder and have seats in sections 100 and above. The new luxury boxes will be where section 100/200 are. So, I would imagine if you are in this section, you will be moving backwards.
No, everyone is moving closer and getting more room with better seats.
Marburman’s goonies are here.
There goes the neighborhood.
Marburman’s goonies are migrating here.
There goes the neighborhood - LOL
actually, this is not funny
these guys Heri, THall, Jr.
yikes!
Its all about money! MSG is getting a big tax break and the taxpayers are footing the bill -- which I believe is $11 million a year. About the same $$$ as they paid Anucha Brown for sexually harassing her.
They probably would not get this break if they moved into a new arena.
As for the building renovation, you can put crap into a master handcrafted diamond-studded platinum case and it will still be crap.
The Knicks have to become respectable before being showcased in a new arena will matter.
I hope the renovation is just a smoke screen in the negotiation process for a new madison square garden.
I love the garden, and will never forget the experiences I've had there over the years.
Yet when you go check out some knicks road games in some of the more modern areas around the NBA, it becomes more and obvious that the city of New York really does need a new Madison Square Garden.
I'm sure MSG thinks the renovations can address all the complaints associated with the current Garden at 2 Penn Plaza.
This is more than just MSG, this is about Moynihan Station, this is about the travesty that was destroying one of the greatest structures in the history of the United States, the original Penn Station.
New York City is/should be number one. The low celings of Penn Station do nothing to support this claim.
And inside MSG, you've got crappy, sticky floors, a relatively dark arena without natural light, claustorphobic seats, narrow, sometimes ugly corridors.
We've had some championships in MSG but we need a new building. As you mentioned, this is not the first MSG, this is maybe the third or fourth incarnation.
If they ever wanted to do what was right, they'd bring in a new building and restore the palace that was Penn Station.
Since when has Dolan ever been concerned about doing what is right? He'll just continue to do whatever the hell he wants without regard for anything or anyone else besides his own immediate interest.
just bloggin
Its all about money! MSG is getting a big tax break and the taxpayers are footing the bill -- which I believe is $11 million a year. About the same $$$ as they paid Anucha Brown for sexually harassing her.
They probably would not get this break if they moved into a new arena.
As for the building renovation, you can put crap into a master handcrafted diamond-studded platinum case and it will still be crap.
The Knicks have to become respectable before being showcased in a new arena will matter.
for the record:
the renovation will not begin until the end of this coming season.
there are 3 stages of construction, spanning three off seasons.
it will look like crap, the dolan's taste is in their mouths.
the people will get screwed, they always do.
yo Alan... you're gonna lose 'em with the Pete Rock & CL Smooth reference.... i've noticed over time, that your hiphop references hint at a keen ear for classic hip-hop.... nice touch (no homo) ...
Alan, I got a question... That maybe u can ask Walsh if u see him, 4real tho... Why arent the Knicks making a play for Shaun Livingston, i know dude got hurt and it was a serious injury but he cant get a tryout here... We need a pass first point guard bad and with a short 2 like Nate at least Livingston could even things out... He is also a true point, and would be a steal if he is healthy, he fits perfectly in too Donnies to year window, he can play an uptempo style, and allows you to cut Stephon... Plus you wouldnt have to throw him into the fire here, with Duhon already on board we can bring him along slowly...
Shareef Abdur-Rahim announces Retirement. There goes the Kings power Forward. Maybe Donnie gets a phone call from the kings. I see it happening.
They should just knock down MSG and build a new one.
Will the renovation disrupt any team's schedule? Seems like a huge project -- can't imagine how they'd keep play going.
The Garden as it is is holy -- no other place lights me up like it does. I can still feel the deafening nonstop roar of the crowd from the 2 playoff games I went to against the Hawks and Celts in the early 70s. I wish they'd leave it alone and spend the money on player development or better management training. What will new tix cost? The economy is crashing and will be bad for a decade or more. Lavish spending at this time is foolish. I suppose the new version will be awesome, but in a inhuman way. If they don't get LeBron into a Knicks uniform to usher it in, will be a pretty hollow place.
The childish fighting/name calling/dissing/moronics on this forum is pathetic, but NYC boys will be children. Acting like a tough guy on a computer screen, dissing people you don't even know and can't even see is real intelligent, real manly, real brave, real mature -- real dumb. It's a fool who feels better about himself after posting hateful crap to invisible people on a web forum.
DTR
Knicks in 2011: That is absolute Blasphemy. You've shamed yourself and this blog with your lack of integrity.