The present Garden hosts 320 events a year
but it is best known as the home of the New York Knicks of the NBA and
New York Rangers of the NHL. The aforementioned professional sports
teams play their home matches in the arena and are owned by the Garden
itself. It also hosts New York Liberty (WNBA) home games, the Ringling
Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus when it comes to New York City,
home games for the St. John's Red Storm (college basketball), the annual
pre and postseason NIT tournaments, the NBA Draft, the Millrose Games
athletics meet, and almost any other kind of indoor activity that draws
large audiences, such as the 2004 Republican National Convention. It has
previously hosted the 1976, 1980 and 1992 Democratic National
Conventions.
Most large popular-music concerts in New York City take place in Madison
Square Garden. Particularly famous ones include The Concert for New York
City following the September 11 attacks and John Lennon's final concert
appearance before his murder in 1980.
Many musical acts released seminal live albums recorded at MSG,
including Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel,
Phish, and Elvis Presley. Pearl Jam released a DVD of a concert at the
Garden. Bands such as Phish, Cream and The Jacksons have had reunion
shows there.