New York - Knicks tickets?

[RosscoPCole]

I did this years ago in 2004.
I booked 5 Knicks tickets and picked them up at the ticket office in Madison Square Garden. How did I do this....
I phoned them up!

[Captain Cadillac]

MP85 said:

All - thanks for all of the ideas, it is much appreciated! Stubhub seems to be brilliant - Yesterday when I was trying to source tickets ticketmaster wasnt having any of it, i dont know if that was because it is 3 months away, but it just wasnt keen on working!

Stub hub has the tickets on sale already for nov/dec - so it seems a winner!

Would anyone recommend any other sports to see during my quick visit? ATM im planning on a Knicks game and a Jets game as states above......

all advice welcomed at this point!!

Hockey.. I'm a Devils fan, but that's because I am from New Jersey which is the greatest place on earth. Sort of.

Football.. I am a Giants season ticket holder as I may have mentioned but the tickets I have bring such a premium that I never go to games, I sell mine. Good seats are very expensive, bad seats are merely expensive. You also have to weigh in the fact that A) The NYC Area tends to be much colder in the winter than Britain and December can be very cold, think 10-20F and B) You're sitting outside. Jets tickets are a bit easier to get, but they aren't going to be $30 each... Also, the stadiums are a bit of a schlep from Manhattan. But a Giants game is a serious experience.. especially if you get parking passes, go with some friends and "Tailgate" which means bring out a small portable BBQ and eat food and get drunk in the parking lot before the game.

[MP85]

Captain Cadillac said:

Hockey.. I'm a Devils fan, but that's because I am from New Jersey which is the greatest place on earth. Sort of.

Football.. I am a Giants season ticket holder as I may have mentioned but the tickets I have bring such a premium that I never go to games, I sell mine. Good seats are very expensive, bad seats are merely expensive. You also have to weigh in the fact that A) The NYC Area tends to be much colder in the winter than Britain and December can be very cold, think 10-20F and B) You're sitting outside. Jets tickets are a bit easier to get, but they aren't going to be $30 each... Also, the stadiums are a bit of a schlep from Manhattan. But a Giants game is a serious experience.. especially if you get parking passes, go with some friends and "Tailgate" which means bring out a small portable BBQ and eat food and get drunk in the parking lot before the game.

That sounds awesome!!!

Im not shying away from the fact that the NFL games are going to be expensive, but price isnt really a concern. I would genuinely just like to go and see it for myself, and soak up whatever atmosphere there may be!

I now need to read up on the 17 million other NYC trip threads in the holidays forum, and steal the touristy sight seeing ideas! anyone please feel free to PM me with any fantistic oppertunities at the end of Nov/start of Dec!

[LostCroc]

Captain Cadillac said:

.... that's because I am from New Jersey which is the greatest place on earth.

Clearly in a better part of northern NJ than me!

[tj2002]

Office_Monkey said:

Jets aren't that good a team though By Feb the NFL season will be over tj (unless you meant NBA tickets, then I have no idea).

Ah that's a shame. I'm more interested in the NBA anyway and I think the action will be more interesting for mrs tj as well so may not be a bad thing

[Fas1975]

GCH said:

Wash your mouth out with soap. Islanders? pffff. LETS GO RANGERS.

Edited by GCH on Wednesday 19th September 16:53

LOL, I just picked an NY team at Random. I'm a Tampa Bay Lightning man. For no other reason than I work with Steve Stamko's aunt. Who hooked me up with this:

[MP85]

Change of topic, but also (to those who frequent the city a bit, or better still the guys who live there!!) can you recommend some really nice places to eat in the evenings?

I can only imagine NYC is like any other city, whereby the places around times sq, and the really tourist'y parts are just churning out expensive, average food?

I'd love to go authentic italian, so a recommendation on that front would really be appreciated. In similar topic change, we are also looking for a sports bar that will be showing the english footy on the Saturday (dont hate me! )

y2b - where are these bloomin' MvF places you speak of - one of these has to be attempted!

TIA guys!!
Matt

[Boozy]

MP85 said:

Change of topic, but also (to those who frequent the city a bit, or better still the guys who live there!!) can you recommend some really nice places to eat in the evenings?

I can only imagine NYC is like any other city, whereby the places around times sq, and the really tourist'y parts are just churning out expensive, average food?

I'd love to go authentic italian, so a recommendation on that front would really be appreciated. In similar topic change, we are also looking for a sports bar that will be showing the english footy on the Saturday (dont hate me! )

y2b - where are these bloomin' MvF places you speak of - one of these has to be attempted!

TIA guys!!
Matt

Legends is just off times sq and is pretty good, watched the Euros there. Food's not bad and they have ace beer. Meat packing district is good for restaurants as is the village, can fire over some restaurant names if you like, don't know any decent italians though...

[LostCroc]

MP85 said:

I can only imagine NYC is like any other city, whereby the places around times sq, and the really tourist'y parts are just churning out expensive, average food?

Yep - sadly that is true. Although off the west side of Times Square there are a few restaurants that are favourites of the Theatre crowds - Carmines and Sardis sping to mind.

MP85 said:

I'd love to go authentic italian, so a recommendation on that front would really be appreciated.

My preferred Italian restaurants are:
- Mario Batali's Babbo at Waverly place in the Village
- Esca - 43rd and 9th ave
- porchetta - 7th and 1st ave
- Il Buco - Lafayette and bleeker

There are hundreds of others. Another option is just go to Little italy and walk along the street (and side streets) looking for a restaurant packed with old Italian gentlemen. Ignore all those with tourist touts on Mulberry street. The touts are only at the touristy restaurants.

MP85 said:

In similar topic change, we are also looking for a sports bar that will be showing the english footy on the Saturday (dont hate me! )

Try this
http://www.worldsoccerbars.com/new-york-soccer-bar...


+1 for Legends

[MP85]

guys, thanks so much for the input!

Managed to find tickets to both NFL and NBA games over the week im there, too on stubhub.

will be buying next wednesday.

Ill keep you posted on how it pans out, y2b.

God, im so excited.

ETA - Also, what's the craic with tipping in bars/restaurants in NY? Does it tell you on the tab how much ordo you just slap down a %age each time? thanks!

Edited by MP85 on Saturday 22 September 22:12

[LostCroc]

MP85 said:

ETA - Also, what's the craic with tipping in bars/restaurants in NY? Does it tell you on the tab how much ordo you just slap down a %age each time? thanks!

Restaurant wait staff normally expect 15%-20% tip. If it was a very high end restaurant then you are 'expected' to be at the 20% mark. For your purposes I would stick with 15%. Most restaurant checks/bills show an empty line for a tip that you then calculate your 15% tip and add it on. I usually calculate 15% in my head and round it up to the nearesr dollar to make the math easier.

However, there is a nasty and increasing trend turning up at NYC restaurants that I do not like. If they think you are a tourist or you are in a tourist restaurant then they will calculate the tip at some percentage (18% was the last one I saw at a Financial district restaurant) and apply it to the check showing it as a "service charge" and then still leave a blank space for you to add a tip. Lots of people fall for this trick and add on another tip - doubling it up. When you see they do this, underline the service charge and cross out the tip blank space to make it clear you did not fall for this sneaky trick.

[MP85]

LostCroc said:

When you see they do this, underline the service charge and cross out the tip blank space to make it clear you did not fall for this sneaky trick.

noted. Thanks for that. I do usually spot that gratuity on the slips, even some places over here are doing this, maybe it is relatively new though. I was aware that these largely form their pay, but I hate it when you get bad service and a gratuity tip is included, i also hate it when paying by card, the handset asks you if you wish to leave gratuity when they guy/girl is stood right next to you... maybe that's just me, though!

[Blockf01]

I agree with all the above.

Wife & I went to NYC last October, saw Jets game V Dolphins. Got tickets via Stubhub before we went, tickets electronically downloaded. Caught bus to / from stadium from bus station, very easy.

We went back this March with our Daughter. Bought tickets for both Knicks & Rangers for games on alternative days, again through Stubhub before we went. My daughter is not a great sports fan, but she thoroughly enjoyed both nights.

My Wife and I are both in our 50's (hope she doesn't see this) and found the procedure very easy, so go ahead and enjoy your trip.

[MP85]

Blockf01 said:

I agree with all the above.

Wife & I went to NYC last October, saw Jets game V Dolphins. Got tickets via Stubhub before we went, tickets electronically downloaded. Caught bus to / from stadium from bus station, very easy.

We went back this March with our Daughter. Bought tickets for both Knicks & Rangers for games on alternative days, again through Stubhub before we went. My daughter is not a great sports fan, but she thoroughly enjoyed both nights.

My Wife and I are both in our 50's (hope she doesn't see this) and found the procedure very easy, so go ahead and enjoy your trip.

Thanks for the input! Much appreciated.....

I have one question re: stubhub, though. Do the prices of events escalate the closer you get to game day? We booked our flights and hotels a couple of weeks ago, but havent booked the sports stuff yet - to be honest with you, after a new set of tyres on the car, mortgage and a new york trip, im pretty broke until payday!! So the plan was to wait until the end of this month for the tickets for end of Nov/start of Dec...

Do you see any issues??

Cheers,
Matt

[Fas1975]

Depending on availability, they tend to get cheaper closer to game day. Remember, these are private individuals usually, who want rid of tickets, so something is better than nothing.

I used stubhub for the Mayweather fight in May. Bought the tickets in March at $200 a pop. Same tickets the night before were $75.