The Theatre at MSG may be demolished in new Penn Station renovation proposal

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/13/23 at 10:59am

This story is from late March but I just caught up now.

Good news for those who hate that vast theatre, and for those of us who regularly use Penn Station and understand its significant limitations.

"To build a grand, street-level entrance for the new Penn Station, ASTM would demolish the Theater at MSG, a 5,600-person venue near the Eighth Avenue side of the complex. The Madison Square Garden arena itself would be surrounded by a roughly 90-foot-tall glass podium designed to mirror the dimensions of the Beaux-Arts-style James A. Farley Building across the street...The demolition of the Theater at MSG would free up substantial room for the train hub below, which is crowded with structural columns that disrupt the passage of commuters."

Updated On: 4/13/23 at 10:59 AM

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 4/13/23 at 11:00am

In all honesty, I'd rather have a sensible theater at Penn Station than the Theatre at MSG.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/13/23 at 11:08am

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "In all honesty, I'd rather have a sensible theater at Penn Station than the Theatre at MSG."

That area is so crowded with the garden and the transit hub that I am A-OK without a theatre performance space there. Let there be trains and breathing room.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 4/13/23 at 1:39pm

I'm all for it. The Penn Station renovation so far has been stunning, and this could be a fantastic way to bring some sunlight, not to mention variety of entrance options, to MSG, not to mention more passageways from the street to all the transit systems underneath. 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 4/13/23 at 2:12pm

I was only in that theatre once for A Christmas Story, and actually kinda liked it with the light bulbs on top. That being said, I completely agree. I would rather have a world class penn station than that theatre there. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 4/13/23 at 2:20pm

Losing The Theatre at MSG would be no great loss.  The acoustics and sightlines are horrible from practically every seat -- and the "orchestra" level is basically rows of chairs on an unraked cement floor.

It would be great to have a new state of the art concert/theatre venue in the 5,000-6,000 seat range over in the Hudson Yards area.

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/13/23 at 2:31pm

MSG probably figures they can consolidate rentals into the Beacon and Radio City. And now with other non-MSG venues like the Kings and United Palace and even NJ venues attracting shows for cheaper, the MSG Theatre might not be a worthwhile piece of real estate for them to keep maintaining & operating. It’s basically the size of Radio City without the prestige or glam.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 4/13/23 at 5:21pm

I've only been here for concerts but, no matter who's performing or who's behind the sound board, one of the worst acoustic venues in all of New York.  Its demised would not be a loss.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 4/13/23 at 9:55pm

Get rid of it as it's a terrible venue