Madison Square Garden Bag Policy 2024: The Ultimate Guide

No matter where you go in the world, sports venues don't come much more iconic than New York's Madison Square Garden. Home to both NHL franchise the New York Rangers and the NBA's New York Knicks, the Garden has been the scene of endless sporting drama over the years.

Located in midtown Manhattan, Madison Square Garden is an unignorable part of one of the world's great cities. The current stadium dates back to 1968 and is the oldest stadium still used in the NHL and the NBA. But the first stadium to bear the name was built in 1879, making the Garden a true icon of New York.

You don’t need to be a sports fan to have heard of Madison Square Garden. The stadium has also hosted concerts by some of the biggest names in music through the decades, as well as other visual performances. In short, Madison Square Garden is a truly iconic arena. So store your bags at a nearby Madison Square Garden storage point and head on in for an evening you won't forget.

Madison Square Garden bag policy

Many stadiums and attractions have strict bag policies, and Madison Square Garden is no different. In fact, not only does MSG ask you to bring as little into the stadium with you as possible, but there's also no bag storage facility available - you can't even check your coat. But don't worry, because not only does Bounce have dozens of luggage storage locations within walking distance of the stadium, we've also created a complete guide to Madison Square Garden's bag policy for you so that you can arrive at your event fully prepared, whether you're watching the New York Knicks or your favorite pop star.

Can you bring a bag into Madison Square Garden?

Yes, you can bring a bag into the venue, but the Madison Square Garden bag policy does strongly discourage all guests from doing so. Don't bring anything that won't fit under your seat, and any bags bigger than 22” x 14” x 9” will be refused entry. Backpacks are prohibited, and all bags are carefully screened before you enter. To further encourage people to travel light, the stadium also has No Bag express lines to let people in quicker if they don't bring anything with them. If you do decide to bring a bag with you, it's best to arrive early so that you can either join the usual entrance queue or find a luggage storage facility nearby.

If you do bring a bag into Madison Square Garden and you lose any of your belongings, find a nearby usher or customer support rep to get advice on what to do next.

Madison Square Garden lockers

Madison Square Garden is iconic for a reason. Its Manhattan location means that before and after your event, you'll have virtually limitless options for further entertainment, bars, and restaurants. You can build an entire New York vacation around an event at Madison Square Garden and know you'll never run out of things to do.

Given that Madison Square Garden doesn't offer any luggage storage facilities, it's no surprise that they don't have any lockers on site either. Instead, drop off any unneeded bags at a luggage locker near Madison Square Garden. Not only will this help you get into the venue quicker and avoid complications with security, but it will also make anything else you choose to do in New York more pleasant. Knowing your belongings are safely looked after will be a load off your mind as well as off your back.

Madison Square Garden camera policy

Professional camera equipment is not permitted inside the Garden. This includes tripods, monopods, and cameras with zoom lenses as well as video cameras. With the Madison Square Garden bag policy that's in operation, that's hardly surprising.

Essentially, the only camera you're likely to get away with is the one on your phone. Even then, picture taking is completely banned at some events.

The safest thing to do is to drop off your camera equipment and anything else you don't need at a suitcase storage point near Madison Square Garden. That way, you won't fall foul of any policies and can concentrate on enjoying the show.

Madison Square Garden food policy

Madison Square Garden's food policy has the advantage of being clear, if a little draconian. No outside food or drinks are permitted inside the venue. It's a shame because the Garden is surrounded by some of the city's best places to eat. But don't worry. You won't go hungry.

As you might expect from New York City, the Garden has a list of excellent food concessions. The food offered goes way beyond hot dogs and nachos. The Grill Room offers New York steaks in an upscale environment, while Mighty Quinn's sells slow-cooked barbecue. Then there's Abigail's Kosher Deli. Arancini Brothers. Kobeyaki Japanese cuisine. Big Gay Ice Cream. Really, whatever you like to eat, you can get it here.

If it's drinks that you're after, then you're in luck - MSG does allow you to purchase alcoholic beverages once you're inside the venue, although when you can buy it is limited depending on the event you're attending. For example, if you're watching the New York Knicks, Madison Square Garden stops selling alcoholic drinks at the beginning of the 3rd quarter, or at the beginning of the 3rd period when it's the New York Rangers.

For both teams, you'll be limited to 1 drink per person during every transaction. Regardless of the event you're attending, if you look younger than 40 years old, you'll be asked to show your ID. A valid driver's license is good enough if you're from the United States or Canada, but if you're from anywhere else, you'll need to show a valid passport.

Other Madison Square Garden rules & information

Other prohibited items

• As well as being prohibited from bringing in certain types of bags and any kind of food or drink, guests are also not permitted to bring any form of weapon, skateboard, or sign into Madison Square Garden.

Family-Friendly Facilities

• All restrooms are equipped with baby changing facilities. Additionally, strollers are allowed inside as long as they can be collapsed and fit under your seat.

Getting to Madison Square Garden

• Due to its Manhattan location, there is no official on-site parking at Madison Square Garden. The stadium does offer an app that can help you find parking nearby. But this is New York City. By far the best thing to do is to reach the stadium on public transit.
• Penn Station is underneath Madison Square Garden and is served by trains 1, 2, 3, A, C, and E. 34th Street station is a block away from the arena, served by trains B, D, N, Q, and R.