NEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Madison Square Garden Company (Nasdaq:MSG) and Paige Management Group announced today that the companies have partnered to open Ainsworth Prime at Madison Square Garden. The gastropub and event space is in the former Club Bar & Grill location at The Garden. Ainsworth Prime will be open for all New York Knicks and Rangers games, providing an exclusive dining location for club seat ticket holders. It will also be open for select additional sports and entertainment events, and will be available to book for private events. The new restaurant and bar is another addition in the upgraded food offerings The Garden is providing customers as part of the Arena's historic Transformation.
"We are thrilled to partner with Paige Management Group to open Ainsworth Prime at Madison Square Garden, another exciting enhancement for our Knicks and Rangers fans as part of The Garden Transformation," said Scott O'Neil, president, MSG Sports. "Paige Management Group has quickly established itself as a world-class creator of New York experiential dining. We are looking to combine the best aspects of its other top-notch restaurants and venues to create an exciting new space, as we continue to redefine what dining at a sports event means at The World's Most Famous Arena."
"This is a huge accomplishment for Paige Management Group, and we could not be more excited to be a part of The World's Most Famous Arena. In the next few years, the space will evolve into something incredible and we're thrilled to embark on this journey with MSG," said Matt Shendell, president, Paige Management Group.
The new Ainsworth Prime at Madison Square Garden will feature a dining menu with a variety of starters, salads, sliders, sandwiches, pizzas and gastropub entrée offerings. A limited menu is currently available with additional items being added over the next few weeks. During The Garden's 2012 offseason shutdown for the building's Transformation, the space will be completely overhauled to feature an upscale bar lounge look and feel. An emphasis on comfortable dining, quality service and multifunctional atmospheres will position the restaurant and bar as a premier location and event space within The Garden.
Ainsworth Prime adds to Madison Square Garden's new and exciting food offerings for customers that are debuting as part of the building's top-to-bottom Transformation. In November and December, as part of the first phase of the three-year historic Transformation, chefs Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Andrew Carmellini, restaurateur Drew Nieporent and Aquagrill's chef and owner Jeremy Marshall will debut exclusive, world-class culinary options as part of the MSG Signature Collection. Food offerings will also be upgraded throughout the Arena this year, including new items from restaurants Carnegie Deli and Hill Country Barbecue.
The completed first phase of the MSG Transformation includes a new lower bowl seating area, expanded Madison Concourse (6th Floor), new Event Level Suites, Viewing Areas on the 8th Floor and the West Balcony (10th Floor) with new amenities for fans, and the new Delta Sky360 Club and 1879 Club presented by J.P. Morgan. Following the second offseason shutdown a new upper bowl seating area will debut, along with a new Garden Concourse (8th Floor) and new Madison Suites and Madison Club. After the third, and final, offseason shutdown in Fall 2013 fans will see a new Chase Square entrance, two new Chase Bridges, remodeled Garden Suites, restoration of the famed Garden ceiling, and a new GardenVision center-hung scoreboard.
About The Madison Square Garden Company
The Madison Square Garden Company is a fully-integrated sports, media and entertainment business. The company is comprised of three business segments: MSG Sports, MSG Media and MSG Entertainment, which are strategically aligned to work together to drive the company's overall business, which is built on a foundation of iconic venues and compelling content that the company creates, produces, presents and/or distributes through its programming networks and other media assets. MSG Sports consists of owning and operating sports franchises, including the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL), the New York Liberty (WNBA), and the Connecticut Whale (AHL). MSG Sports also features the presentation of a wide variety of live sporting events including professional boxing, college basketball, track and field and tennis, as well as MSG Action Sports, an action sports and lifestyle division. MSG Media is a leader in production and content development for multiple distribution platforms, including content originating from MSG's venues. MSG Media consists of the MSG Networks (MSG, MSG Plus, MSG HD and MSG Plus HD) regional sports networks and the Fuse Networks (Fuse and Fuse HD), a national television network dedicated to music. MSG Entertainment is one of the country's leaders in live entertainment. MSG Entertainment creates, produces and/or presents a variety of live productions including the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Radio City Rockettes. MSG Entertainment also presents or hosts other live entertainment events such as concerts, family shows and special events in MSG's diverse collection of venues. These venues include Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Theater at Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theatre, the Chicago Theatre and the Wang Theatre. More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com.
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About Paige Management Group
Founded by hospitality veteran Matt Shendell, Paige Management Group operates some of New York's most sought after restaurants and venues. Paige's superior service and dedication to the individual's experience has been the successful formula behind their spaces including The Ainsworth, Pub ONE, The Hill, Dune Southampton, The Fulton, opened in October 2011, and Ainsworth Prime at Madison Square Garden. Paige Management is experiencing rapid growth, and each location is synonymous with excellent service and a top-notch dining and drinking experience.