New Year's Run Open Letter to MSG

Dear Ms. Sarah Hunter & MSG Staff,

Sitting at home, at my desk, I can finally reflect on the events of the past week. I traveled once again to share in adventures with Phish at Madison Square Garden from December 28th – 31st my friend’s and I endured frigid temperatures outside prior to show times, only to be greeted warmly by fine folks working the doors.

On a nightly basis, Tommy made sure to get us in quickly and efficiently. Due to his methods, my friend, Brian was able get in quickly enough to purchase a coveted night one official poster.

Our most crucial stop before getting to our seats, each night, included a visit to see Tanice in Guest Services. She was responsible for relocating us into suitable ADA locations around the arena. Each night she did so with a smile.

On the evening of the 28th, we were greeted by Beverly. She was our section’s (WC 106) usher was someone who we had the pleasure of meeting for the first time during night 11 of The Baker’s Dozen. She treated us like old friends from the neighborhood. Even though we were far from Massachusetts, she made us feel at home.

On the 29th we were located in 224 WC Unfortunately, I cannot remember the names of the two gentlemen who worked in this section. They went above and beyond. I reported to my friend that my wheelchair required some extra repairs and attention after sustaining some damage while traversing the sidewalks of NYC.

My new pal, Chris devised a solution to the problem using trash bags that he was able to acquire from the ushers. He tied them in a manner that reinforced the front of the frame. As a result, I was able to continue attending the remaining shows. It was nothing short of miraculous that these bags held the chair together.

For the 30th, we sat in 211 WC. We had the pleasure of being assisted by, Raymond. His kindness and understanding of how Phish fans operate, made us all feel safe while ensuring we all still had fun.

Since the majority of my experiences inside MSG have been positive, I make it a point to interact with employees in the arena. It appears the feeling is mutual. Those who work here seem to like the band and its fans. Christina, who sold me a soda, told me, “I would even pay to see this band.”

I took some extra time for us to find our way back to the Guest Services window to recover our collectable tickets. With some extra guidance for Alexis, she made sure we arrived at the window before Tanice went home for the night.

On the way out, back into the cold, I was singing a line from the song, “Tweezer.” The elevator operator finished the lyric: “Step into the, step into the, step into the freeeeeezzzzzzzerrrr…” Phish truly appears to be a shared experience. Everyone was feeling it.

For New Year’s Eve, I was greeted at the front door by Tommy once again. He remembered a request I had on the first night of the run. I wanted to shake the hand of the man who made my Baker’s Dozen Run go so smoothly. I was reunited with Dennis. He took the time to ensure I had all the information I needed in August. I wanted to thank him again and shake his hand. I was greeted with a smile.

As a boy from Massachusetts, I enjoy the sporting rivalry that exists between our cities Boston and New York battling for competitive supremacy. My whole life has been spent cheering for my home team. However, I can say without hesitation, that Madison Square Garden beats Boston’s TD Garden hands down.