NYC Madison Square Garden to Host Regular Season B1G Hockey & Basketball from 2016 through 2019
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The Big Ten Conference announced today (Tuesday, Dec. 9) an extensive agreement with Madison Square Garden to feature the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament in New York City for the first time in 2018, along with men's basketball and hockey doubleheaders hosted by the legendary arena from 2016 through 2019 and a significant branding presence both inside and outside the building.
Michigan and Penn State will square off in the first men's basketball/ hockey doubleheader at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 30, 2016.
The 2018 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament will be held at Madison Square Garden from Wednesday, Feb. 28, through Sunday, March 4, with all 14 conference programs competing for the Big Ten's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. The 2018 event will be held one week earlier than previous tournaments, ending seven days before NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday.
Big Ten men's basketball and hockey programs will also be featured at Madison Square Garden during the regular season, with four consecutive doubleheaders featuring conference competition held in late January or early February from 2016 through 2019. The first doubleheader will feature the Michigan and Penn State basketball and hockey teams playing at The Mecca on Jan. 30, 2016.
In addition, the Big Ten will receive year-round branding opportunities at Madison Square Garden, including signage inside and outside of the facility and select promotion through print, television and social media outlets affiliated with the arena and its tenants.
Michigan hockey last played at Madison Square Garden in the "Frozen Apple" game against Cornell on Nov. 24, 2012, the program's first-ever visit to MSG. Michigan fell to the Big Red, 5-1, in front of a sellout crowd.
Michigan basketball has a 3-1 overall record under men's basketball head coach John Beilein. The last time U-M played at MSG was when the Wolverines captured the 2012 NIT Season Tip-Off Title after a 71-57 win over Kansas State in the title game and a 67-62 win against Pittsburgh in the semifinal. Prior to that, the Maize and Blue played in the 2008 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer and split its game with a 55-52 win over UCLA before falling to Duke, 71-56.
