The Theater at Madison Square Garden

This venue sits on the lower level of the Madison Square Garden complex in Manhattan and offers a large auditorium with sloped seating for several thousand guests. All seats lie relatively close to the stage, giving the room a certain proximity despite its size.

The hall opened in February 1968 as the Felt Forum and was named after Irving Mitchell Felt, then president of Madison Square Garden. Later it received new names through different sponsorship agreements before arriving at its current designation.

This stage hosts hip-hop concerts as well as stand-up comedy, with international performers sharing the calendar alongside sports bookings. The visitor flow blends with commuters from the train station below, creating a typical New York mix of entertainment and daily routine.

The entrance sits directly at Penn Station, so you can arrive via several subway lines without changing buildings. Signage inside guides you from the station concourse to the elevators and stairs leading to the lower level.

The stage area sits low and the ceiling above remains flat because the main arena sits overhead. This arrangement creates an unusually compact room height that produces its own acoustic character during events.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1968

Architects: Charles Luckman

Official opening: February 14, 1968

Capacity: 5600

Part of: Madison Square Garden

GPS coordinates: 40.75063,-73.99374

Latest update: December 13, 2025 18:55