Women’s College Basketball at Madison Square Garden

Not many times would I attend a women’s college basketball doubleheader over a New York Jets game. But this is exactly what happened today. Let me explain.

I was visiting my friend, Mike Nadel, the un-fan, in New York City. He did not want to attend a sporting event Sunday afternoon, especially after attending the Devils game Saturday night. However, he was going to the gym Sunday morning at 10 am and would be in Manhattan between 2 and 3 pm. Since the women’s doubleheader would end around 3:30 pm, I figured I could at least watch the first half of Game 2 between Connecticut and Penn St. before he arrived at MSG. A few other reasons played a factor in my decision:

1) The women’s doubleheader was at Madison Square Garden rather than Giants Stadium aka the Meadowlands. This was a much easier venue to get to. In order to get to the Giants Stadium, you need to take a bus to New Jersey rather than stay in Manhattan.
2) I had not attended a game at Madison Square Garden for eight years. My last game at Giants Stadium was six years ago.
3) I knew ticket prices would be cheaper for the women’s doubleheader than the Jets game.

Those four reasons made my decision, but details aside, when going with a un-fan, you need to make accommodations or you may not be attending a sporting event. This main reason made the women’s college basketball doubleheader the obvious choice.

Obtaining Tickets
I arrived at Madison Square Garden with the plan to spend no more than $5 for a ticket.

Ticket Buying Tip at MSG: I was trying to buy tickets outside of the secured area at MSG. However, you have to pass through security in order to reach the box office. I did not realize that most fans with extra tickets (at least for this low demand event), would pass through security before “giving away” their extra tickets.

I realized this trick since I asked a few Rutgers fans if they had extra tickets – before entering security. They said they did but that the tickets were at Will Call. I followed them through security. From there, they decided that I was not a Rutgers fan (since I was wearing a blue jacket – Connecticut blue in their minds) and gave away their three extra tickets to people wearing Rutgers gear.

However, once at the box office, I noticed that many fans had coupons, which you could exchange for one free ticket to the doubleheader. I asked one man if I could have his extras. My friend had mentioned he would like to see the inside of MSG (a tourist attraction for him; more time at the event for me). The man gave me two extra coupons, which I exchanged at the box office

Maggie Dixon Classic:
The Maggie Dixon Classic began in honor of the former Army Women’s Basketball Coach, Maggie Dixon, who died on April 6, 2006, of arrhythmia, most likely caused by an enlarged heart.

Rutgers defeated Army convincingly in the first game 59-38. Connecticut won the second game against Penn St. 77-63. This was the second time this year I watched Connecticut as the #1 team in the country. The first time was March 1, 2008 when Connecticut played at DePaul.

A portion of the proceeds from the games go to C.A.R.E (Cardiac Arrhythmias Research and Education Foundation). C.A.R.E. provided a free EKG at the event and I am still awaiting the results.