Best concert seats at MSG for The Police?

April 19, 2007 7:43 AM

Going to watch my first favorite band (The Police) at MSG in August - where to sit?

I'm so excited that The Police are touring this year - they were my first favorite band as a kid and I can't wait to see them! I'll be watching at Madison Square Garden in August and want some advice where to sit. I don't mind paying the $$ to see these guys as it's a once in a lifetime for me but I want to have the best seats that will give me the best view and experience.

My gut instinct is that the best seats would be inthe lower bowl at an angle to the stage (section 50-59 or 74-80). Or maybe row A of the section right above those? My initial thoughts were that floor seats centre stage 10-20 rows back would be the best but I'm not sure what the view will be like (people standing on chairs, etc) and I'm not sure what the experience will be like (close proximity, people pushing, etc).

Any advice about the MSG concert experience and best seats for an event like this would be much appreciated. Also, any lines on where I can get tickets at reasonable prices - right now brokers are selling these tickets at about $2000 apiece and only 1 or 2 listings are appearing on eBay every day.

Thanks!

posted by snatchos to Travel & Transportation (5 answers total)

I can't say what the concert experience will be like but keep in mind MSG is not that huge a place. There aren't any really "nosebleed seats" (unless you're sitting all the way at the back of the 400's). Looks like the 70's through 90's (and 40's to 50's) would be really awesome seats if you can afford it as those are the first stadium like seats (i.e. there won't be anyone blocking your view). The place I always go (for sports tickets admittedly) is stubhub, I haven't had a bad experience with them yet. Check out their listings for the two Police shows here and here.
posted by jourman2 at 8:22 AM on April 19, 2007

Also, any lines on where I can get tickets at reasonable prices - right now brokers are selling these tickets at about $2000 apiece and only 1 or 2 listings are appearing on eBay every day.

More than a month after tickets went on sale, and even after adding a second show, aftermarket ticket prices for the Vancouver shows keep going up. I don't see that this will be any different for New York. Whatever you can get tix for right now is a reasonable price, sadly, particularly if you're looking for "the best seats".

This Craigslist search may help you find more moderately-priced tickets in a less awesome seating section.

I'm in the same boat as you: I've wanted to see them since I was a kid and finally have the opportunity. But I wasn't going to pay upwards of $500 per ticket for a floor seat or $2000+ to be a dozen rows from the front. I chose to pay $95 for a view from the other end of the arena, and I'll bring binoculars.
posted by solid-one-love at 8:27 AM on April 19, 2007

I saw Radiohead twice at MSG - once from their General Admission section right in front of the stage - I was about 10 feet back - and again from the first row of seats behind the GA section, so the equivalent of about 30 rows back. I also saw Paul McCartney from the floor about 50 or so rows back - seated directly next to the sound board on one side and Lenny Kravitz on the other ;-). The sound was best in the last instance. But seeing absolutely every expression and interaction from such a close experience is difficult to surpass. The sound isn't great anywhere in that building, so I'd do what you can to maximize the visual experience.
posted by fingers_of_fire at 9:04 AM on April 19, 2007

I've got four tix on the field at Wrigley in Chicago, in case you decide to go west this summer. Sorry if this is an inappropriate comment-- feel free to delete if so.
posted by orangemiles at 11:20 AM on April 19, 2007

the floor at MSG sucks. Really. lower bowl is best, and the angles are ok. It's not that big of an arena, so even the second tier is pretty decent.
posted by kumquatmay at 8:48 PM on April 19, 2007