MSG & Barclays Concert Transport

Here's a scene that plays out thousands of times a week: a concert ends at Madison Square Garden. Twenty thousand people spill onto 7th Avenue. Every single one opens Uber. Surge pricing hits 3x. Lyft isn't better. The subway is a packed sardine can. Taxis are nowhere.

You stand on the street for 45 minutes, watching the price go up, then reluctantly pay $80 for a ride that should cost $25.

There's a better way. I've been coordinating concert transportation in NYC for years—here's how to actually enjoy the show without dreading the exit.

The Post-Concert Problem

MSG and Barclays create a transportation nightmare after major events:

• 20,000+ people exiting at once
• Limited taxi availability (they avoid the chaos)
• Rideshare surge pricing (often 2x-4x normal rates)
• Overwhelmed subway stations
• Street closures around the venues

The solution isn't hoping the Uber gods are merciful. It's planning before you go.

Option 1: Pre-Booked Car Service

This is the move for anyone who values their time and sanity.

How it works:

1. Book your car before the concert (day of or earlier)
2. Get dropped off at the venue before the show
3. Schedule a pickup time for after (usually 15-20 minutes after the show ends)
4. Driver texts you when they're staged; you walk to the designated pickup spot

Pricing (sedan, Manhattan pickup/dropoff):

• To MSG: $65-85 each way
• To Barclays: $70-90 each way
• Round trip: $130-170

Why it works:

• Fixed price—no surge
• Driver knows the pickup zone logistics
• No waiting on the street hoping for a car
• You look like you have your life together

Pro tip: Book the return pickup for 15-20 minutes after the published end time. This gives you time to exit, but the driver isn't circling forever. If the show runs long, text the driver to adjust.

Option 2: The Subway (Budget but Brutal)

It's $2.90 each way. That's the pro. The cons:

After MSG: Penn Station is directly below. The 1/2/3, A/C/E, and other lines are accessible. After a concert, these platforms are hell—hot, crowded, and the wait can be 20+ minutes for a train that isn't packed.

After Barclays: Atlantic Terminal is adjacent. The 2/3/4/5/B/D/N/Q/R and LIRR all converge here. Also a madhouse post-event.

When the subway makes sense:

• You live within a few stops and can handle the crowd
• You're young, patient, and don't mind standing for 30 minutes
• The show ends before 10pm (service is more frequent)
• You're genuinely on a tight budget

When it doesn't:

• It's a huge show (Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, etc.)
• You're with a group that includes older relatives or kids
• You've been on your feet all day and just want to sit
• It's a late show ending after midnight (trains run less frequently)

Option 3: Driving + Parking (For the Brave)

You can drive. You shouldn't, but you can.

Parking costs:

• Garages near MSG: $45-80 for an event
• Garages near Barclays: $35-60 for an event
• Street parking: Good luck. Seriously, good luck.

Problems with driving:

• You're stuck in the exit traffic (30-60 minutes of crawling)
• You can't drink
• You're driving home at midnight after a 3-hour show, tired
• Street closures and traffic control make getting out painful

When driving works:

• You're coming from somewhere with no good transit option (deep LI, NJ, CT)
• You have passengers who need the convenience of a car door-to-door
• You plan to leave the show 15-20 minutes early to beat the rush

If you drive, use SpotHero or ParkWhiz to pre-book a garage. Arriving without a reservation is expensive and stressful.

Option 4: Uber/Lyft (The Gamble)

Sometimes it works out. Usually it doesn't.

The reality:

• Before the show: Normal pricing, should be fine
• During the show: Normal pricing, irrelevant
• Right after the show: 2x-4x surge is standard. Sometimes worse.
• 30-45 minutes after the show: Surge subsides... if you're willing to wait

Rideshare pickup zones:

Both MSG and Barclays have designated rideshare pickup spots. They're not at the door—you'll walk 2-5 minutes to reach them. Good luck finding them in the chaos if you haven't looked them up beforehand.

Strategy if you're committed to rideshare:

1. Leave the venue area—walk 5-10 blocks before ordering
2. Wait 30 minutes in a nearby bar before opening the app
3. Check both Uber and Lyft; prices diverge during surge
4. Accept that you might pay $60+ for a ride that's normally $25

Venue-Specific Logistics

Madison Square Garden

• Location: 4 Penn Plaza (7th Ave between 31st and 33rd)
• Best dropoff: 7th Ave side for most entrances
• Pickup zones: Side streets (32nd or 33rd) less chaotic than 7th Ave
• Nearby garages: Icon Parking (W 33rd), MPG Parking (W 31st)
• Subway: Penn Station directly below

Barclays Center

• Location: 620 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn
• Best dropoff: Flatbush Ave side or Atlantic Ave
• Pickup zones: Side streets off Flatbush less chaotic
• Nearby garages: Atlantic Terminal parking, various nearby lots
• Subway: Atlantic Terminal (multiple lines) directly adjacent

Group Transportation

If you're going with 4+ people, group transportation changes the math:

SUV car service (5-6 passengers): $100-130 each way. Split 5 ways = $20-26/person. Comparable to surge Uber, but guaranteed pricing and no waiting.

Sprinter Van (10-14 passengers): $175-225 each way. Split 10 ways = $17-23/person. Cheaper per person than almost any alternative, and you all arrive/leave together.

For birthday groups, office outings, or friend crews: Book a van, split the cost, eliminate the post-show scramble. Someone texts "car is here," and everyone walks out together.

The Exit Strategy

Plan your exit before you enter:

1. Know where you're being picked up: Save the address, know the cross streets.
2. Know the timing: Show ends at 11pm → book pickup for 11:20pm.
3. Have driver contact: Cell number, not just the app.
4. Have a backup plan: If the car is delayed, where do you wait? Is there a bar nearby?
5. Charge your phone: You need it to coordinate. Bring a portable charger.

The worst concert transportation experiences happen when people wing it. "We'll figure it out after" means standing on the street for an hour.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know when the show ends?

Check the venue website or the artist's tour info. Most concerts at MSG/Barclays end around 10:30-11pm for 8pm starts. Headliners with long setlists (Springsteen, Phish) can run later.

What if the show runs long?

Text your car service driver. Most will adjust pickup time without issue. If you're on hourly service, no problem—they wait. If you booked a specific pickup time, communicate the delay.

Is it worth booking a car just for the ride home?

Often, yes. If you can get to the venue easily (subway, walked from nearby), book just the return trip. That's when the pain happens.

Can I walk to avoid the chaos?

Depends on where you live. From MSG to Midtown—totally walkable, 10-20 minutes. From MSG to the Upper West Side—longer but doable. From Barclays to Manhattan—not walking, unless you enjoy hour-long strolls at midnight.

What about cabs?

Good luck finding one right after a major show. They exist, but demand far exceeds supply. If you spot an available yellow cab, grab it—but don't count on this as your plan.

The Bottom Line

Concert transportation in NYC requires planning. The show is the fun part—the exit shouldn't ruin the night.

For most people, a pre-booked car service offers the best combination of convenience, predictable pricing, and sanity. Yes, it costs more than the subway. No, it's not as spontaneous as hoping Uber works out. But when you walk out of MSG at 11pm and your driver texts "I'm on 32nd Street, black Lincoln," you'll appreciate the planning.

Going to a show at MSG or Barclays? Book your concert transportation and skip the post-show scramble.