Back from Europe and Western Canada, Rangers Happy To Be Home, Ready To Rock "New" Garden

It's been 6 months and 7 days since the Rangers last home game. One that closed out the old version of Madison Square Garden in not so great fashion as the Blueshirts we're defeated in double overtime by the Washington Capitals, 4-3 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. A game in which the Rangers led 3-0, and one in which the Garden faithful responded in true fashion to the comments of Caps coach, Bruce Boudreau, who earlier in the series had bashed the Garden, claiming that "It's reputation is far better than the actual building. "The locker rooms are horrible. The benches are horrible." and "It’s not that loud in there."

The fans made their presence well known that night, taunting the portly Washington coach with chants of "CAN YOU HEAR US?!?!" that rocked the old building on 33rd and 8th. But in the end, that was the only act of revenge that was extracted as the Rangers blew a 3-0 third period lead, and then lost 12:36 into the second overtime on a goal by Jason Chimera that was basically handed to him by Marian Gaborik who, instead of letting Henrik Lundqvist freeze the puck, tried to clear it out of the crease himself and swept it right to Chimera who put it past the King, ending the game, and effectively ending the season for the Boys in Blue.

When Mr. Boudreau makes his first visit to the building in February, he will most certainly have a different opinion as "phase one" of the 3 year plan to renovate the World's Most Famous Arena is complete. Some of the changes include the widening of the sixth-floor concourse which has also has been brightened and has new concessions. The eighth floor has been expanded as well, also with new concessions and open viewing areas so you still see the game while getting food. Half of the 10th floor concourse is open (and will eventually expand the length of the arena) with viewing areas behind each net, new concessions, direct views into the arena bowl and a ledge with barstools, so you can eat comfortably while watching the game.

In addition, the entire lower bowl has been re-done, with wider, darker and more comfortable seats and the in-arena walkways have been removed. Bathroom space has also increased by about 50 percent, and for those who can afford it, the Delta Sky360 Club has been opened and will accommodate about 800 season ticket holders who will be able to see (through a glass partition) the Boys in Blue walk from their locker room on to the ice. The Rangers locker room has been completely redone and is state of the art, not sure about the visiting one, but hopefully that will be upgraded as well...if for any reason, just to shut Boudreau up!

More changes are coming for the Garden in the next 3 seasons as the upper bowl will get a similar renovation as the lower. The seating will apparently be shifted an average of about five feet closer to bring fans closer to the action, and in essence, create more concourse space. Also new mid-level suites will be built, and two bridges will be put in and run the length of the arena on either side and have about 1000 seats on them. I think the bridges are an awful idea, are dangerous, and personally hope they will NOT be put in, but that's a blog for another day. Also on the horizon for the 2013-14 season is a complete remodeling and widening of the Seventh Avenue entrance and box-office area.

I am very happy about everything I have heard, and seen with the renovations so far. I love the Garden, but have admittedly grown a little disgruntled with it over the past few seasons. Mostly with the awful sight lines in certain areas, and how hot it always is in there, but also with the "one way" escalators that work on your way into the arena but shut down after the game, forcing you to either walk down them or pile into a very cramped, urine smelling stairwell. My hope is that the next few years that will be a thing of the past.

I am also very pleased Garden management has decided NOT to tear the arena down and build a new one. Yankees fans expressed how they never wanted the old Yankee Stadium torn down, no matter how nice the new one is, and I think most Rangers fans feel the same way about the Garden. Granted, our building doesn't have the same history as the one in the Bronx, but the bottom line is it's not that old, and is considered an iconic structure in New York. Why tear it down when in this day and age with all the modern technology you can just rebuild it from within and make it state of the art? I have been to the Prudential Center a lot over the past few seasons, and it is a beautiful building. And if what I've seen so far from the pics of the "new" Garden are any indication, in a few years, it will be just as beautiful as any new arena in the country. Yet it will still maintain some of the old feel and history that has made the Garden, "The World's Most Famous Arena". There's something to be said for that. Think of how Cubs fans feel about Wrigley Field, or how Red Sox fans feel about Fenway Park, that's how Rangers fans feel about the Garden.

Now, all that aside..we've got a hockey game tonight! The Rangers, after a LENGTHY 7 game road trip to start the season, finally return home tonight for a 7 pm tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs AT the Garden. The Boys in Blue are coming off a 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets this past Monday, a game in which they really had no right winning, but somehow managed to pull off anyway. The Blueshirts are 3-2-2 so far and begin a 6 game home stand in their "newly" renovated digs. This will also be the Broadway debut for newly acquired Brad Richards. Pre-game show starts at 6:30 pm, but cameras start rolling at 6 pm with a special "Blue Carpet" show which will probably be provide an inside look at the renovated Garden and will feature interviews with Rangers Alumni.

Less then 2 hours til Game time, and I can't wait. Let's hope the boys look as good tonight as the new center ice logo does:

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!