Madison Square Garden holds about 20,000 people for most concerts and large events, and about 19,800 for basketball games.
By event type
- Concerts: roughly 20,000.
- Basketball: about 19,800.
- Hockey: about 18,000.
Why it varies
The exact number changes with the setup, especially for stage placement, court or ice layout, and standing-room options.
Event type| Approximate capacity
---|---
Concerts| 20,000 12
Basketball| 19,800 28
Hockey| 18,000 23
TL;DR: Madison Square Garden fits around 20,000 people, give or take a bit depending on the event.