RebKell's Junkie Boards

[Richard 77]

I'm taking a trip this summer to see my ex-girl friend. (We've maintained our friendship these last 7 years.) During my stay, I'll be looking to get Liberty tickets and see my first W game ever. (As well as a Yankees game...) Are tickets hard to come by for Lib tickets? What's the current prices for good seats? Anything else I should know about getting to MSG? Is MSG hard to find? I will keep you Lib fans posted as to my schedule, maybe I can meet some of you. I'm looking very forward to my trip.

Rich

[Alepp03]

That is very exciting. I took my first trip to New York at the end of last summer almost on the spur of the moment during the Olympic Break. It was awesome seeing RCMH and the huge Liberty posters. I also saw Vickie Johnson in a diner with my dad, but felt like too big of a butthead to say something to her. I don't know how private some people are and didn't want to push any boundaries or anything of that nature. That was the first time I have seen a WNBA player in person off the court that isn't Niele Ivey or Kristen Folkl.

I did however see tons of pictures of WNBA players on the walls at Carnegie Deli, YUM!

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In a world full of people only some want to fly, isn't that crazy?

[Queenie]

To find MSG, follow these steps:

1) Find Penn Station.
2) Look up.

It's damn easy to get to, JUST DON'T DRIVE! The 7th and 8th Avenue lines run right into Penn Station, and the 6th Avenue and Broadway lines stop just a crosstown block away. (In other words, everything but the kitchen sink.)

Tickets hard to come by? I don't think we've sold the place out in years. I used to sit up in 210, and the view was decent, and that level of seats is now only $10. The prices do get steeper as you go further down, and I wouldn't recommend sitting courtside. (Not unless you get to sit right behind the Liberty bench; in that case, there are some crazy people worth meeting.)

Don't buy arena food. Just... don't. And don't go to Cafe 31, either; the food's almost as bad, almost as overpriced, and the occasional W sighting isn't worth it. There's a pretty good diner on 8th and 34th, and the Mustang places down 7th are nice.

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Ardent believer in the separation of church and stadium.

[dtsnms]

We liked Cafe 31! It was your basic pub burger fare, and not unreasonably priced I thought.

There is something about the Garden; it is the Mecca.

[Slovydal]

[BCBG25]

[Admiral_Needa]

Hey Shyguy, yeah, courtside is definitely the way to go.

I would just go to the MSG Ticket Booth a couple hours before tipoff which is when the booth opens. That way you will have access to all the unused 'player friends and family tickets' which only open up for sale the day of the game, and those are some of the best seats in the house. That's what I did and I was able to get a 1st row seat in Section 17, with the rail separating my seat from the player tunnel on my right, and Becky Hammon's main squeeze on my left, lol. When I first arrived at my seat, Plenette Pierson was sitting in it signing autographs. It only cost me $69.50 too.

Maybe that sounds a bit pricey, but hey, that's New York, lol. Yeah, at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, $85 will get you a 1st row seat on the floor sitting next to Bobby Jackson. At MSG, it will take $229.50 just to get a seat next to Stephon Marbury's bodyguards

And if you do take those seats, be sure to bring a digital camera with a video feature... you'll catch a lot of funny soundbites and gestures from the players, which is one of the best parts of going to the games. BCBG has some funny ones of Svetlana I still can't get over

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2002 WNBA Virtual GM Overall Winner
2006 WNBA Triple Threat Overall Winner
2007 NBA ESPN Fast Break Overall Winner

[BCBG25]

Yes, Admiral has better tips for the occasional tourist, such as hotels and other stuff. Last couple of years I stayed on the Jersey side. What we do is sometimes go over to the NBA store and grab a bite during happy hour at a TGI Friday's further down on 5th av. Don't drink too much though as from 6 to 7, you get 2 drinks for the price of 1. Then take the bus and walk a couple of blocks to MSG. This is a fun pre-game ritual and I think I'll do it again, esp. if there are players making appearances at the NBA store, which make it the more fun. One time I went to a Sue Wicks appearance and ended up running into C-Rob browsing through t-shirts in the W section. It was very cool. Don't know if it was cool because it was Suuuuuuuue, but still

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Kings of the World!

[Richard 77]

My ex lives with her mother, and I'll be staying there, so the cost of lodging will be $0.00. And most of my meals may probably be on her mom and dad, so my food expense will probably be near $50.00 for the whole week. And her mom will probably drive me around a lot, so taxi service won't be a problem. All I'll have to pay for tickets to get into games.

An hour or two before the game starts you say...thanks for that tip.

I know I want to eat once at Hooters. I used to work at the Hooters here in Madison. That was a great job.

Funny...it was a trip to New York that got me fired from Hooters...

[dtsnms]

If you go courtside, just keep an eye out for the blonde guy with the crazy clothes, the dude(?) we were talking about on the world crossing board at one point.

Everybody remember him(?)

[Queenie]

I don't recommend courtside cause of $$$, although yeah, you do meet the craziest people down there. If they don't follow Big Brother's lead and tighten up security, you might have a chance to stroll around down there and do the meet 'n' greet. But the other disadvantage I've found to courtside seats is that it's hella harder to see the plays developing. I've sat on every level in the Garden from 'help, I need oxygen' to 'dang, I just heard Patty cuss up a storm', and generally I find that the 100s or the double-digits at center court provide the most balanced view. My problem with sitting lower is often that people are endlessly crossing in front of you.

The NBA Store is usually fun if there's an appearance, though those have become fewer and further between as the seasons roll by. (Browse the WNBA racks. Sometimes they put the old packs on special for a buck.) The Q32 or the M4 take you right to 32nd and 7th; all you have to do is get off and cross the street. It's also not *that* long a walk; then again, I've walked it from Lexington and 68th to MSG, so I'm a little crazy.

And ye Gods! I remember the blond guy. Hell, I sat next to him for a game at RCMH. Ugh, did he ever stink...

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Ardent believer in the separation of church and stadium.

[dtsnms]

Queenie is the actual queen of sneaking down to courtside for autographs. She took the princess Dani down at MSG in two seconds flat. 'Course the princess showed the queen a thing or two with her ability to flash cute in a heartbeat and secure entire teams' autographs in minutes!

You sat next to him and lived to tell? I've seen him now at MSG, the casino, two diff. locations for UConn games, two diff. locations for Springfield Spirit games, and in New Orleans for the final four. I'd love to know what the dude(?) does for a living

[Queenie]

[KeiraNY]

You mean the blonde guy who looks like something out of the history books (with his Thomas Jefferson pants??) LOL!! He follows the Libs to CT too you know...and his seats aren't cheap either!!

Shy...There are some $27 seats at the Gardent that are not bad (end court and others slightly to the side). If you want center court, they are usually $50. It's not bad if you want to see the action up close and not willing to sit on Dolan's lap. I sit almost behind the Libs bench and I love my view!! As for how to spot MSG, a couple of things: like Queenie said, look for Penn Station and then look up. You can't miss it. Also, it's the only circular building in town. Don't worry, you'll find it.

As for food, I prefer to eat inside the arena for the most part. The chicken fingers are very good (a bit pricy at $6.95) but you get lots of them and nice fries too. You can also go to the Play by Play earlier if you'd like some food, not incredidibly pricy either. Cafe 31 is OK...nothing to write home about but it's not bad.

Lib tix are NOT hard to get at all...a few hours before the game can get you in...not a problem. Yankee tix I say buy them NOW!! The first series against Boston is already sold out...I got myself a ticket though <g>. In my opinion, the best seat at Yankee Stadium is up on the tier level, boxes 601 -- 607. You're right behind the plate and you have a great view.

Keep us posted as to your visit!!

[Queenie]

Well, it's not technically the *only* circular building in town... isn't the Guggenheim round? And there's a round mall in Queens. But yeah. Look for Penn Station, then look up. We like to make our Mecca easily accessible to pilgrims.

I've never been impressed with Garden food, mostly because it's chain food, and you can find that pretty much everywhere in the city. Eat before the game if you can. Heck, if you're really feeling daring, try sneaking something in. I used to pack a sandwich and graham crackers and tuck it into my purse. I realize that this is a little harder for those of the male variety, but hey.

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Ardent believer in the separation of church and stadium.

[KeiraNY]

The Guggenheim has an odd shape I think...I don't know about Queens, I was sticking to the Manhattan scope...

I myself love, LOVE the chicken fingers...they're very yummy. The burgers are good too. I've walked in with a McDonald's bag in my purse and they haven't said a thing. Maybe I just got lucky.

[dtsnms]

[dtsnms]

By the way Keira and Queenie,
I haven't forgotten on the programs. I have a little, um, shall we say, misplacement problem right now?

The house is a disaster area from my wife's basket business, and we're beginning to dig ourselves out. They will materialize shortly I hope, and be sent out accordingly.