Is Madison Square Garden really moving? Where the arena could wind up

The idea’s been floated for years — move Madison Square Garden so it’s no longer on top of Penn Station.

In one month, Amtrak is set to choose among three finalists to revitalize the station, six decades after the original facade was demolished.

One of those three finalists — Grand Penn Partners — would move The Garden across Seventh Avenue and add new green space covering the top of the old Penn Station. The price tag for the plan? $7.5 billion.

The project is estimated to open in 2036.

James Dolan, owner of The Garden, as well as the Knicks and Rangers, has opposed a move in the past.

“No. I’m not gonna move Madison Square Garden. It’s in a good place right now,” Dolan said in 2023.

Three years later, his stance may have changed.

His stance may have changed.

“We’ve spoken with Mr. Dolan and we believe he’s open to it,” said Bob Yaro of the Grand Penn Community Alliance, a civic group separate from the real estate team making the bid. “We have a window right now to get this right.” 

Yaro said moving The Garden can untangle the tracks at Penn and create more room on the train platforms. President Donald Trump is even said to support the plan.

Many longtime Garden attendees don’t want “The World’s Most Famous Arena” — which has moved before — to go anywhere again. 

“Oh man! No no. Keep it like it is,” Knicks fan Clyde Coughman told NBC New York.

And government watchdogs worry it’s taxpayers who’ll suffer. 

“The problem is we don’t know exactly what Amtrak is asking the bidders to submit to them,” said Rachael Fauss.

Fauss, who works for Reinvent Albany, says the deal might allow real estate giants to profit.

“But there may be a backdoor way for New York taxpayers to pay for it if the feds are proposing development as part of this,” she said.

Amtrak is expected to make their decision by May 4.