Both Madison Square Garden Company Arenas Top Billboard Year End Rankings
New York, NY (December 22, 2015) – New York’s Madison Square Garden and Southern California’s “Fabulous” Forum were named No. 1 and No. 2 top U.S. Arenas respectively by Billboard magazine in their 2015 year-end rankings. Results were based on box office revenues with a capacity greater than 15,000. For the period of December 6, 2014 through November 28, 2015, Madison Square Garden staged 120 shows with a total gross exceeding $130,000,000, and the Forum grossed more than $62,000,000 with 76 shows held. Both iconic venues are owned and operated by The Madison Square Garden Company.
“We could not be more proud of the success of our venues over the past year and specifically that Madison Square Garden and the Forum rank as the top two grossing venues in the country,” said Doc O’Connor, president and chief executive officer, The Madison Square Garden Company. “Our venues continually host the hottest shows on tour as well as unique, one-of-a-kind residencies, like “Billy Joel at The Garden,” that can only be seen in our venues. Both MSG and the Forum firmly anchor The Madison Square Garden Company as the leader in live entertainment, in the two most important cities in the country for music.”
Madison Square Garden’s 2015 concert highlights include eight headlining nights of U2; Billy Joel’s on-going residency which recently announced the 30th consecutive monthly performance of the run; multi-night sell-out performances by Dead & Company; Madonna; Phish; comedian Louis C.K.; Jack White and Stromae.
The “Fabulous” Forum’s 2015 concert highlights include five headlining U2 shows; multi-night sell-out performances by The Weeknd; Fleetwood Mac; Maroon 5; as well as Sam Smith; Mumford & Sons; Foo Fighters; Madonna and Rush.
Madison Square Garden has an unprecedented 136-year legacy and has embraced generations of fans worldwide who have come to express their pride and passion for teams, athletes, performers and statesmen at the thousands of historic events that have taken place at “The World’s Most Famous Arena.” Madison Square Garden traditionally hosts more than 400 events annually, attended by over four million fans. The renowned history of The Garden has included countless memorable moments and the biggest names in music make The Garden a “must-stop.” Countless artists—from Katy Perry to Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber to One Direction—talk about performing at MSG as being a “dream come true” in interviews, on-stage, in song lyrics and on their social handles. It’s the pinnacle of an artist’s career to play The Garden and the magic of the venue transcends generations. For more information, please visit www.thegarden.com.
The “Fabulous” Forum is the largest indoor performance venue in the country designed with a focus on music and entertainment, with some select premier sporting events. The interior of the bowl features flexible seating that ranges from 17,500 seats to 7,000 seats, enabling the venue to attract a wide variety of premier events. Fans at the Forum enjoy approximately 8,000 square feet of event level hospitality offerings, including merchandise, along with food and beverage options from some of SoCal’s most celebrated brands. A tinted glass wall separates this concession area from the arena, ensuring fans do not miss a moment of the performance. Additionally, the 40,000 square foot outdoor terrace that surrounds the perimeter of the building offers food and beverage amenities that elevate the guest experience. The Forum delivers a one-of-a-kind experience for all thanks to its superior acoustics, intimate ambiance and state-of-the-art facilities. Designed with entertainers and performers in mind, the Forum includes nine, star-caliber dressing rooms that feature upgraded amenities, providing an unparalleled experience for all. For more information, please visit www.fabulousforum.com.
About The Madison Square Garden Company
The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) is a world leader in live sports and entertainment with a portfolio of legendary sports teams, exclusive entertainment productions and celebrated venues. MSG Sports owns and operates some of the most widely recognized sports franchises: the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL) and the New York Liberty (WNBA), along with two development league teams – the Westchester Knicks (NBADL) and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). MSG Sports also presents a broad array of world-class sporting events, including: professional boxing, college basketball, tennis, bull riding and e-gaming events. MSG Entertainment features exclusive, original productions that include the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and the Rockettes New York Spectacular, both starring the Rockettes, and presents or hosts a wide variety of live entertainment offerings, including concerts, family shows and special events, in the Company’s diverse collection of iconic venues. These venues are: New York’s Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre; the Forum in Inglewood, California; The Chicago Theatre; and the Wang Theatre in Boston, MA. More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com.