Sports, Concert, Event and Broadway Tickets - SkitchTix.com

If you’ve been dying to see a Broadway show, you’re not alone. For the past decade, 12 million tickets* on average are sold each year to avid theater enthusiasts. While many shows go off-Broadway once the New York season is over, there’s no substitute for the real thing! If you haven’t had a chance to experience all that the stage has to offer, consider purchasing a ticket for one of these great shows.

Elf, the Musical
Based on a favorite Christmas movie, this Broadway show is perfect for children of all ages this holiday season. This musical is bound to get you in the Christmas spirit as you laugh at the antics of Buddy, the human orphan who grew up thinking he was one of Santa’s elf. Now that he knows his real dad is on the naughty-list and his step-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, it’s up to Buddy to bring Christmas cheer back to NYC. One thing is for sure, New York will never be the same after Buddy is through with it! Check out Elf, for sure.

Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark
Backed by Bono of U2 fame, the new Spiderman show is expected to be a thrilling spectacular that is as true to the original comic book story as a Broadway stage can come. After financial problems and questions about safety, the most expensive Broadway show of all time promises to satisfy Broadway theater goers, comic book collectors, and U2 fans alike. Both old and young Spiderman fans can’t afford to miss this musical version of their favorite webbed Superhero!

In the Heights
As the winner of four Tony awards, In the Heights is destined for Broadway history. Set in the Washington Heights community of Manhattan, this show has put the classic American story on the stage. In the Heights follows the struggles, hopes, dreams, and pressures of the Hispanic community as each person decides which traditions to keep and which ones they should leave behind. Enjoy the music as you laugh and cry with the cast as they make the most important choices of their lives. Before you’re done, you’ll feel like you know everyone in the Heights.

*statistics are from BroadwayLeague.com

The Prudential Center in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is one of the premier entertainment venues in the United States. It is a multi-purpose, indoor sports arena, which opened in 2007. This facility was built over a two-year period, with a construction cost of $375 million. When it opened, the Prudential Center was the first major sports venue to be built in the New York Metropolitan area since 1981.

The Prucenter, as it is sometimes called, will accommodate large crowds. The number varies, depending on the type of event. For ice hockey it accommodates 17,625; basketball and lacrosse, 18,500; soccer, 16,250; and concerts, 19,500. It is the home of the New Jersey Devils (NHL). Other tenants include: New Jersey Nets (NBA), New York Liberty (WNBA), Seton Hall Pirates (NCAA), and NJIT Highlanders basketball (NCAA).

Noteworthy design features help make this facility a unique destination. Those who approach the building from the front see the arena’s 4800 square-foot, externally mounted, LED display. It is one of the largest in the world. The east-side entrances along Mulberry Street have two enormous “entrance cylinders” named the PNC Tower and the Verizon Tower. These towers, the arena’s most prominent features, provide access for fans by escalator and staircase up to the grand concourse.

More than 200 events take place each year in this venue. Several sports teams and numerous concerts keep its calendar full. Fans go to the Prudential Center to see:

• New Jersey Devils: This team, which is in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, Atlantic division, has made the playoffs in 20 of the last 22 seasons.
• New Jersey Nets: This NBA Eastern Conference team will play at the Prudential Center through the 2012 season.
• New York Liberty: The WNBA team will play at this venue from 2011 until the 2013 season ends. The team is a charter member of the WNBA.
• Seaton Hall Pirates: This NCAA, Division I team participates in the Big East Conference.

From a music lover’s point of view, the top five concert venues in New York City may not be the most famous venues. They might not be the five largest venues either. A top concert venue in this city needs to be unique, offering its own bite of the Big Apple. Some clubs cater to the local music scene and others book national and international acts. These five music hot-spots present a diverse panorama of what New York City has to offer.

Radio City Music Hall (1260 6th Avenue, 212-307-7171)
With a history featuring legendary entertainers like Frank Sinatra and legendary shows like the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, Radio City Music Hall is a world-renowned, legendary midtown landmark in it own right. This hall is as likely to have AC/DC as Eminem on any given night. It also plays host to special events and film premieres.

Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street, 212-279-7740)
The Hammerstein Ballroom’s 75-foot high ceiling and 12,000 square feet of space have made it a popular Midtown venue for musical performances that demand a large stage area, like Britney Spears or other big productions. Three balconies overlook the main floor, offering great sight lines for the wide variety of events housed there, from elite fashion shows to professional wrestling.

Madison Square Garden (4 Pennsylvania Plaza, 212-465-6741)
Midtown’s famous Madison Square Garden is among the most famous arenas worldwide. The 20,000 seat capacity makes it a terrific venue for major musical acts as well as the NBA’s New York Knicks and the NHL’s New York Rangers. Big enough for a circus and intimate enough for a dog show, the Garden is among the last of a dying breed of mega-arenas.

The Knitting Factory (74 Leonard Street, 212-219-3006)
For those who prefer heading downtown, The Knitting Factory showcases rock and jazz bands in one of three intimate settings. Other events like poetry readings and dance performances are held there too.

Joe’s Pub (425 Lafayette Street, 212-539-8777)
For an unpredictable mash-up of all musical genres in a hip setting, try Joe’s Pub in the East Village. Velvet couches and easy lighting make this a pleasant place to catch new acts of all types.

Madison Square Garden (MSG) is located in the Manhattan borough of New York City at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, and is situated on top of Penn Station. It first opened in 1968, and has been a favorite venue for those playing or entertaining in New York ever since. Billed as “the most famous venue in the world,” by its operators, it seats up to 20,000 spectators and is the third-busiest in terms of ticket sales.

Currently, The Garden, as it is known locally, hosts about 320 events every year. These range from sports games to concerts. It is the home of the NHL’s New York Rangers, the NBA’s New York Knicks, and the WBNA’s New York Liberty teams. It is also known for the boxing matches held there, and for its concerts.

Events at Madison Square Garden are often scheduled months in advance. Some events for 2011 are already in place. These include games by the Knicks and Rangers, as well as shows by the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and the Westminster Kennel Club. The Harlem Globetrotters have a few of their entertaining basketball exhibitions on the roster as well. Musically, many big names have already scheduled performances for 2011 as well. Among them are Lady Gaga and Bon Jovi. For entertainment suitable for all ages, there is a series of performances by Disney On Ice and one by Cirque du Soleil on the schedule.

Whatever type of entertainment you like, you will find a huge selection at Madison Square Garden. Its fame and size ensure that only the best performers will be booked here. Due to the popularity of the Garden’s games and shows, it’s good to buy tickets in advance. This will ensure that you get your preferred seats when you come to New York to enjoy a game or show at this famous venue.

Check out this map of the MSG floor

Nielsen ratings report the 2009 Super Bowl was watched by 98,732,000 people, making the Super Bowl America’s favorite sports event. Super Bowl Sunday has become an unofficial holiday, as millions watch the action, not only in homes, but also in bars, restaurants, churches and many other locations.

This year, Super Bowl 45 will be played on Sunday, February 6, 2011, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This home of the Dallas Cowboys seats 80,000, making it the fourth largest stadium in the NFL. It is also the largest domed football facility in the world and has the largest high definition video screen in existence. The construction cost alone was $1.15 billion. So, while the game is certainly the centerpiece of the week, there will be numerous other special events that will be unique opportunities for those who attend. Some of these events are:

• The Cowboy Gathering and Charity Casino Night on Thursday, February 3rd.
• Leather and Laces Super Bowl Party, hosted by Kim Kardashian on Friday, February 4th.
• The ESPN Party, featuring celebrity headliners, will also take place on Friday evening.
• Maxim Magazine plans an extravagant, exclusive Super Bowl party, with stars from the world of sports and entertainment, on Saturday, February 5th.
• Taste of the NFL will feature food, wine, and a top chef from each of the 32 NFL cities, along with live music and an incredible silent auction on Saturday evening.

On Super Bowl Sunday, there will be three major events before the game:

• In Stadium Hospitality Event, with player appearances, food and an open bar.
• NFL Tailgate Party, which promises to be a spectacular event.
• Touchdown Club Hospitality Event, also featuring player appearances, food and an open bar.

Super Bowl 45 promises to be a major event that will long be remembered by those who are fortunate to attend it. I don’t know if I’ll make it this year…