8 Unforgettable Events That Took Place at Madison Square Garden
8 Unforgettable Events That Took Place at Madison Square Garden
Emma BanksThu, July 2, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC
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Sly Stone and Kathy Silva during their wedding at Madison Square Garden on June 5, 1974 in New York.Credit: Oscar Abolafia/TPLP/Getty -
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are reportedly set to tie the knot at Madison Square Garden ahead of the Fourth of July weekend
The storied venue has hosted several other history-making events over the years
In May 1962, for example, Marilyn Monroe took the stage at MSG to sing "Happy Birthday" to President John F. Kennedy
As anticipation mounts for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's upcoming nuptials, all eyes are on Madison Square Garden — a venue that has already borne witness to plenty of history-making moments.
The Grammy Award-winning singer and the Chiefs tight end will reportedly tie the knot at MSG ahead of the Fourth of July weekend.
Swift and Kelce wouldn't be the first couple to say "I do" at the World's Most Famous Arena, however. That distinction goes to Sly Stone and Kathy Silva, who got married there on June 5, 1974.
MSG has also hosted some of the sports world's most iconic match-ups, including the New York Knicks' first-ever NBA Finals win in 1970 and the New York Rangers' Stanley Cup victory in 1994.
From John Lennon's final concert to the "Fight of the Century," here are some of the most memorable events to ever take place at Madison Square Garden.
01 of 08
Marilyn Monroe's "Happy Birthday Mr. President" performance
Marilyn Monroe sings "Happy Birthday" to President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 1962.Credit: Bettmann Archive via Getty
Marilyn Monroe famously took the stage at MSG on May 19, 1962 to sing "Happy Birthday" to President John F. Kennedy. The actress wore a shimmering Bob Mackie gown for the special occasion that later sold at auction for $4.81 million.
Reflecting on the moment with Life magazine editor Richard Meryman, Monroe recalled thinking, "I’ll sing this song if it’s the last thing I ever do."
"There was a hush that came over the place," she told Meryman, who authored a 2026 biography of the singer that was excerpted in PEOPLE. "I didn’t think anything was going to come out. When I got to the microphone, I just took one breath and suddenly, I thought, here goes!”
In 2022, Skims founder Kim Kardashian donned the gown at the Met Gala.
02 of 08
John Lennon’s final concert
John Lennon performing on stage during Elton John's 1974 concert at Madison Square Garden.Credit: Steve Morley/Redferns
Lennon performed back-to-back concerts at MSG on Aug. 30, 1972. Two years later, the iconic Beatles singer returned to the venue and joined Elton John on stage for a live rendition of his song, "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night." It was Lennon's last concert performance before his death on Dec. 8, 1980.
"I played on John's record, 'Whatever Gets You Thru the Night,' and sang on it too," John later explained during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. "And I said, 'Okay, if this record gets to number one, you've got to come on, play live with them.'"
He went on, "And he said, 'Okay, you're on.' And by Jove, it did get to number one, and then he had to keep his promise, which he did, at Madison Square Garden on Thanksgiving. And it was one of the most magical moments in my life."
03 of 08
The Knicks' first-ever NBA Championship win
Walt Frazier #10 of the New York Knicks drives against Jerry West #44 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1970 NBA Finals.Credit: James Drake/Getty
MSG was also the site of game seven of the 1970 NBA Finals, which saw the New York Knicks triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers. The win marked the first NBA Championship title in Knicks franchise history.
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The Knicks have only won two titles since then. They won it all in 1973 and overcame a 53-year drought to win for a third time in 2026.
04 of 08
Elvis Presley’s first and only N.Y.C. concerts
Elvis Presley performing at Madison Square Garden concert in 1972.Credit: Thomas Monaster/NY Daily News Archive via Getty
Elvis Presley hosted his first and only concerts in New York City when he played four sold-out shows at MSG in June 1972. According to the Graceland website, the singer made history at the time by becoming the first artist to sell out four shows in a row at the storied venue.
After the concerts, Presley released a special album from one of the shows, titled Elvis as Recorded at Madison Square Garden.
05 of 08
Sly Stone and Kathy Silva’s wedding
Sly Stone and Kathy Silva at their wedding at Madison Square Garden in 1974.Credit: Bettmann/Getty
If and when Swift and Kelce tie the knot at MSG, they'll be doing so in the wake of Stone and Silva's iconic 1974 nuptials. The former couple said "I do" in front of more than 20,000 fans during one of the "Family Affair" singer's concerts.
"When you are as much in love as Sly and I are, you just go to extremes and get married," Silva told Vogue at the time. After two years of marriage, Silva and Stone divorced in 1976.
06 of 08
The “Fight of the Century”
Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier during their championship bout on March 8, 1971 at Madison Square Garden.Credit: James Drake/Getty
On March 8, 1971, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier faced each other in a heavyweight championship boxing match at MSG that later became known as the "Fight of the Century."
Frazier won the fight after 15 rounds, delivering Ali his first professional loss. Since then, the fight has been memorialized as one of the most important sporting events of all time.
"It transcends all generations," Frazier's son, Joe Frazier Jr., once said.
07 of 08
The Rangers' Stanley Cup win
The New York Rangers after winning the Stanley Cup at Madison Square Garden in 1994.Credit: Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty
The last time the New York Rangers took home the Stanley Cup was back in 1994 when they defeated the Vancouver Canucks in a thrilling seven-game series that ended with a win at MSG. The long-awaited victory ended a 54-year championship drought for the franchise.
08 of 08
Billy Joel’s record-breaking concert run
Billy Joel playing at Madison Square Garden in 1978.Credit: Don Aters/Icon and Image/Getty
On July 1, 2015, Billy Joel officially broke the record for most shows ever performed at MSG with his 65th concert at the venue. The singer has now played 150 concerts there in total. He ended his historic 10-year residency in July 2024.
"I'm kind of flabbergasted that it lasted as long as it did," Joel said in a statement at the time. "My team tells me that we could continue to sell tickets, but 10 years, 150 shows — all right already!"
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