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The Phish Expert's Guide to MSG

December 4, 2023

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With the year winding down, it's time once again to get ready for another Phish New Year's Eve run. The band returns to Madison Square Garden from December 28-31 for their end-of-the-year extravaganza. Fans are traveling from far and wide to make it to MSG.

While the World's Most Famous Arena is familiar territory for the band, we realize a lot of people will be making their first trip there. As such, we thought we'd share a little survival guide with some tips for how to make the most out of a YEMSG NYE.

But first... did you know that CashorTrade is running a giveaway for these shows? Click here to enter for a chance to win a pair of floor tickets for each night!

See Available Tickets for Phish at MSG

Whatever You Do, Take Care of Your Shoes

We can even tweak this famous Phish lyric a bit and encourage you to take care of all your clothing. It can be bitter cold and snowy outside in NYC at the end of December, but it's nice and warm in the Garden.

You're going to want layers and things like gloves and a hat outside, but they'll just be a burden at the show. One pro tip for surviving this MSG run is to bring a trash bag or two to stash your things during the show. This helps keep your warm threads dry from those inevitable spilled drinks.

Stay Hydrated and Well-Fed

Dancing to nine sets of Phish over four days is fun, but wow can it be tiring. This is especially true if you plan on hitting some of the many pre and post shows over the weekend.

To make the most out of this huge 4-night run at MSG, it's a great idea to bring a reusable water bottle into the show. There are water filling stations in the 100 level that you can hit before the show starts to ensure you stay hydrated. It's a marathon, not a sprint, people!

There's plenty of great food in NYC that can help fuel you through the shows. Of course, there are always the staple foods like pizza and the classic dirty water dogs for when you need something quick and cheap. We're big fans of hitting Chinatown before the show to fill up on soup dumplings, called xiao long bao in Chinese. These will warm you up on even the coldest New York day.

As a special treat for fans arriving early, MSG has half-price food and non-alcoholic beverages from 6:30-7. This is a great chance to beat the crowd, check out the merch, and grab some food before the band hits the stage.

See Available Tickets for Phish at MSG

Get a Different Vantage Point

We know that Phish fans love being on the floor, but that's not the only great place to enjoy the show at the Garden. Honestly, sitting behind the stage is actually pretty awesome for a New Year's Eve show.

First of all, you get an awesome view of the lights hitting the crowd and everyone losing their minds during a huge jam. Not only that, but you're more likely to find a solid deal on these tickets.

The Chase Bridge is also a super fun place to catch the show from. It almost feels like you're floating above the band up there. You'll get a bird's eye view of the NYE gag and there are also no lines at the concession stands or bathrooms.

One thing to consider with the bridge is that it causes an obstructed view for those in the upper half of the 200 sections. That's just something to keep in mind when shopping around for tickets.

Have a Blast

You've scored your tickets for face value, the hotel and flights are booked, and your spaceship is about to blast off on its voyage of discovery. There's nothing quite like Phish at the Garden on New Year's Eve.

It really is a special thing to be a part of, so enjoy every moment of it. Thirty years since their first performance at MSG, Phish is back for four magical nights. We're so lucky to have this band and they're playing so well. It looks like 2025 is going to be another huge year for Phish, so let's start it off with a bang.

Safe travels to everyone. Remember to get more down and have so much fun at these shows. You'll see quite a few of the COT team members in the crowd, so don't be a stranger and come say hey!

See Available Tickets for Phish at MSG