Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. – the guide of Broadway’s major theater company

A leading live entertainment company based in New York, operating Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and the Beacon Theatre.

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. - Broadway entertainment

Overview
History of MSG
Business operations
List of theaters
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Overview of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., often called “MSG,” was re-established as a separate public company in 2010 under executive James L. Dolan. Based in New York City, MSG focuses on live sports and entertainment, and in 2015 the company was split into two divisions: MSG Sports and MSG Entertainment.

MSG Sports manages teams such as the New York Knicks (NBA) and New York Rangers (NHL) and oversees games at Madison Square Garden arena, while MSG Entertainment owns and operates theaters across the United States, producing concerts, live events, and special productions.

History of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.

From Gilmore’s Garden to Madison Square Garden

The first Madison Square Garden (opened in 1879)

The arena now known as Madison Square Garden traces its origins back to February 21, 1879, when it opened under the name “Gilmore’s Garden.” It went through four incarnations: the first Madison Square Garden (1879), the second (1890), the third (1925), and the current venue, which opened in 1968 at its present location above Penn Station.

Ownership shifted many times. In 1959, the Graham-Paige Corporation acquired a stake and later merged with MSG in 1962. The company was sold to Viacom in 1977, then transferred to Cablevision in 1997. In February 2010, Cablevision spun off Madison Square Garden as its own entity, Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., with James L. Dolan as Executive Chairman. On September 30, 2015, the company separated into MSG Sports and MSG Entertainment to focus on distinct areas of business.

MSG Sports

MSG Sports owns Madison Square Garden arena and manages several professional teams:

・New York Knicks (NBA)
・New York Liberty (WNBA)
・New York Rangers (NHL)
・Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL, based in Connecticut)

A New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden

MSG also owns the regional sports networks MSG Network and MSG Plus, which broadcast games for the Knicks, Rangers, Liberty, Islanders, Devils, Sabres, and Red Bulls. Thanks to its earlier ties with Cablevision, MSG once held broadcast rights for other New York teams, giving it a dominant presence in New York sports coverage.

MSG Entertainment

MSG Entertainment manages the main Madison Square Garden Arena and The Theater at Madison Square Garden, as well as other iconic venues including Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theatre in Manhattan. Beyond New York, MSG owns the Chicago Theatre (acquired in 2008), Boston’s Wang Theatre, and The Forum in Inglewood, California (purchased in 2012, 17,500 seats). These venues host concerts, theatrical events, and special productions throughout the year.

Major theaters operated by MSG

Radio City Music Hall

Radio City Music Hall
Address: 1260 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020

Managed by MSG since 1980, this world-famous venue hosts concerts, film premieres, and the annual holiday production Radio City Christmas Spectacular. It has also been home to prestigious events such as the Tony Awards, Grammy Awards, Emmy Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and the NFL Draft.

Beacon Theatre

Beacon Theatre
Address: 2124 Broadway, New York, NY 10023

Built in 1929 with 2,600 seats, the Beacon Theatre has served as both a cinema and live performance venue. After periods of decline, it was restored in the 1970s and has since become one of New York’s premier concert halls. In 2006, MSG signed a 20-year lease and invested nearly $10 million in renovations.

Business operations of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.

MSG operates across both sports and entertainment, owning Madison Square Garden arena and multiple theaters, while also running other high-profile ventures.

Boston Calling Music Festival

Each May, MSG co-produces the Boston Calling Music Festival, one of New England’s largest music festivals. Hosted at Harvard Athletic Complex in Boston, the event features internationally renowned artists and attracts over 120,000 attendees annually.

TAO Group

In January 2017, MSG acquired a majority stake in TAO Group, which operates high-end restaurants, lounges, and nightclubs. TAO venues are known for modern designs such as rooftop restaurants, poolside lounges, and integrated dining-and-entertainment spaces. The group runs dozens of locations across New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, as well as internationally in cities like Singapore and Sydney.