Difference Between GA and Seated - MSG

Whenever I have a concert, the first question I usually ask myself is Where am I going to sit? I’ve been on the floor and in seats, and I’ve never had a bad experience, but when it comes to venues that I’m familiar with, such as Madison Square Garden, it’s always interesting when I have a show in a different section than I did the last time I was there.

General Admission (GA) tickets are usually the first tickets to sell out. Fans want to be as close as possible to the artist their seeing, and I’m a part of that group of people the majority of the time, but GA tickets aren’t the most price-friendly. This is when I usually switch my attention to the next available seats that are close, which is usually the Lower Bowl at MSG The Lower Bowl consists of the 100s, and then Upper is the 200s, and then you have the 300s, which are the West Balcony, Chase Bridge, and the Lounge

sections. While I have yet to have a concert in the 300s, I have experienced shows in the 100/200s, and I strongly believe there is no bad view. At my first ever concert, I was in Section 221, and the stage layout was a center one, so I had a nice view of the performer, Harry Styles. Shortly after, I saw Tyler, the Creator still in the 200s but more on the left side since he was an end-stage.

I’ve done three shows where I had General Admission tickets, and they were all varying in my experience. My first one was James Arthur at The Fillmore in Philadelphia, and even though I had to wait outside in the cold for four hours before we even started moving inside, it was still an enjoyable experience. I didn’t get barricade for James, but I was a couple of rows back, and since The Fillmore isn’t a huge venue, I still had a nice view. My next GA show was Billie Eilish. Now, I did manage to get a spot on barricade  

for this one, and even though it was a feat that required waking up at 4 am and standing in 30-degree weather on the streets of Manhattan, the moment I got my spot, everything was worth it. Madison Square Garden is a decent-sized venue, but when I was watching videos of other people's views that weren’t on the floor, I could tell that there wasn’t a bad seat in the house, regardless of where you were seeing her.

As long as I’m in the building, I truly don’t matter where I’m sitting, but I’ve realized that, depending on the artist, sometimes I’d rather be sitting. If the artist I’m going to have more slow songs, then I’m more likely to get a seat in the Lower Bowl, so I have the option to sit down. Standing for too long without moving honestly makes me a little

dizzy, so even if I have a little wiggle room, I appreciate it. General Admission is nice even if you don’t get right on the barricade, but sometimes you’ll find yourself in the awkward one row away or even a couple rows away, and while it doesn’t take away from the experience, it can affect it. GA also comes with the entire camping situation. While I don’t necessarily agree with camping for more than a day, I understand why certain people do it. In my experience, camping for GA tickets is usually a full-day affair or, at the very least, involves a total of 10 hours of waiting (crazy, I know).

Another big reason why Floor tickets aren’t always the best option for me is that I’m not the tallest person in the world. If I’m not wearing platform boots, there’s a likely chance I’m not even going to see the stage. If I’m planning on going to a concert where I’m on the floor, I have to prepare for wearing shoes that add a minimum of four inches to my height to be able to see the artist, and if I’m lucky enough to get a barricade spot, then just sneakers usually work (still with some height on them though).

When I get seated, though, I never have to worry about footwear because I have a seat to fall back on. Now, when I do get seats, I still find myself standing the majority of the time, especially after the artist comes out, but I like the

option of being able to sit down if I get tired or if it’s a slower song, and I just need a little break.

Regardless of where you sit at a show, you’re guaranteed to have a good time. If you’re someone who has difficulties with standing for long periods of time, then seated might be a better option, and if you’re someone who wants to have the experience of being as close as possible to the artist, then you should try out General Admission. I always appreciate every concert I’ve been to, and I haven’t had a bad experience, no matter what my view is.