New York City Council has intensified the pressure for redevelopment work at Penn Station by only giving Madison Square Garden – which sits directly above the transport hub – a five year permit to continue operating.

The move, backed by city councillors, stands in stark contrast to the 50-year permit MSG was originally granted in the 1960s after Penn Station’s original Beaux Arts building was demolished. The station’s underground tracks and platforms remain and it is the busiest station in the United States. It is also long overdue for upgrading. 

New York venues with a capacity in excess of 2,500 need a permit to operate. MSG has a capacity of 20,000. In 2013 it was granted a 10-year permit to continue its operations. The latest extension, approved on Thursday last week, is seen as a way to pile pressure on MSG owners, the Dolan family.

…