I will be in NYC within 2 weeks (hopefully), and would like to go to a hockey game. The Rangers are playing the Devils on the 15th I think. I've tried to get tickets (I need 2)on ticketmaster - but there are none available.

What are my chances of getting tickets from the scalpers before the game? I'm unfamiliar with buying tickets this way - how much is a fair price to pay, and how long before the game should I go to the stadium?

Thanks for the help.

DSM

Since you're only going to be here for one game you might want to consider a ticket broker rather than a street scalper. With the former you know you have real tickets, can choose the seats you want and have time to decide if the price is worth it. With the latter you may be stuck with tickets you hate or overpay. You can eaily find brokers online.

Where are you staying. Most hotels will be able to get tickets for you if you can't find a broker.

Unfortunately I am travelling from the UK and I am afraid that I may not recieve the tickets from the broker in time. I may call the hotel and see what they suggest.

By the way - are you familiar with the layout of Madison Square Gardens? If so, are seats in t he 300s too far from the action to enjoy it?

Thanks for the help.

David

David

The 300 seats in The Garden (as it's known locally) are the next to last tier, fairly high.

Note that Rangers tickets have been sold out for years, so it's difficult to get any seat.

You can see the seating chart here -

http://www.thegarden.com/seating.html

Click on "the Arena"

Please be aware that scalping tickets in illegal inNew York - both buying and selling. Normally this is not a problem but once or twice a year the cops sweep through and pick up everyone buying and selling. (They'll let the buyer go with a warning but if it happens you would miss the game.) For this reasons no one ever offrs tickets for sale. To buy from a scalper, go to the sidewalk in front of the garden (Penn Sta entrance on 7th Ave) and look for seedy looking guys saying they are trying to buy tickets. These are the scalpers. Make sure you don't hand over any money until you see the tickets (all the tickets if you are buying more than one ) and have checked the date and the seat numbers.

Good luck!

Another thought - there are Ranger tickets on ebay now. Looks like you can get 2 tickets for $200 - $250 range. Perhaps you could have then shipped to your hotel?

Thanks to everyone who has offered me their advice - I really appreciate it.

Unfortunately we gave up on the hockey! It was starting to get complicated and expensive (not a great combination!).

We decided to see Lion King (got good seats from Ticketmaster), and also found cheap seats for a Knicks game on ticketmaster too. It'll be good to see Madison Square Gardens/Kincks if nothing else!

Thanks again,

DSM

Try their website, www.nyrangers.com -

The team's been horrible for the past six going-on seven seasons and tickets, which were formerly scarce as hens' teeth are available. Season ticket holders are trying to get rid of them and believe it or not, the management is actually assiting them to do so, (probably to head off subscribers canceling out of disgust.)

Even the most expensive seats are available (at box office prices - see "Club Seat Exchange" on the website and there's no way you would have to pay %250. each for them.

If you have time, go to the Garden's box office a day or two before the game, (first call them to check availability) or, use the Ticketmaster online option (which adds annoying fees for handling and other such nonsense).

In any case, there's no reason to resort to a scalper.

By the way, my experience has been that the "200" series of seats offers the best views. The price is higher than the "300's" but there are substantially less "*human obstructions" interfering with the sightlines.

*There's a cross-aisle between the 200 and 300 sections. If you're sitting too low in the 300's you'll forever be contending with vendors in that aisle interfering with your view.

Another reason for choosing the 200 series seats is that the Garden's sight lines are notoriously poor for hockey (seats are not pitched at a severe enough angle - I've been in movie theatres with better "stadium seating".

So, although rows E and above in the 300's negate the "vendor problem", there's another one - the inadequate angle causes patrons to miss slivers of the playing surface closest to them.

Again, all-in-all, in the Garden, the 200 series is probably your best bet considering both the cost and spectator experience.