Where to Watch the Rangers

new-york-rangers-playing-at-madison-square-garden — **New York Rangers playing at Madison Square Garden in mid-town Manhattan. Photo Credit: Seth Hoffman.**

National Hockey League:

Best place to watch the Rangers is Madison Square Garden in New York. But what if the Rangers are playing on the road? Or what if you can’t get (or afford) a ticket to the game? Check out the best New York Rangers bars to watch the game with other Rangers fans.

In This Post

Rangers Team History

new-york-rangers-1932-team-photo — **New York Rangers team photo, 1932-33 season.**

The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team in the United States. And the Rangers compete in the East Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Original Six

The Rangers first took to ice in 1926. And they are one of the Original Six professional ice hockey teams in NHL. In fact, the original professional ice hockey teams included …

The NHL first expanded in 1967, when it doubled the number of teams, bringing the total to 12.

Further expansions have brought the total number of hockey teams to 31. In fact, there are now 7 teams in Canada. And there are 24 teams in the United States.

In total, the New York Rangers have won 7 division championships. In addition, they have won 3 Presidents’ Trophies and 2 Conference championships.

Most importantly, the Rangers have won the Stanley Cup 4 times. However, there has been a long Stanley Cup drought. To clarify, the last time the hockey team took the cup was in the 1993-94 season.

The New York Rangers are one of 3 NHL teams in the New York City Area.

The New York Islanders, who used to play home games on Long Island, are now based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. And the New Jersey Devils play home games in Newark, New Jersey.

In fact, there is one more NHL franchise in New York State: the Buffalo Sabers.

Tex’s Rangers

george-lewis-rickard-black-and-white-photo — ***George Lewis “Text” Rickard (1870 – 1929).***

So how did the team get the name Rangers?

When New York was awarded an NHL franchise for the 1926-27 season, George Lewis “Tex” Rickard was president of Madison Square Garden, where the team was going to play home games.

Originally, Rickard wanted to call the team the New York Giants, in honour of NYC’s towering skyscrapers.

However, before the team’s name was made official, the local media started referring to the team “Tex’s Rangers”, a play on the Texas Rangers, an investigative law enforcement body in the state of Texas.

So what did that have to do with Rickard?

Although he was born in Missouri, Rickard spent much of his childhood in Texas. And he become a cowboy at the age of 11.

When he was 23 years old, he became the marshal of a small Texas town. And it was then that he acquired the nickname, “Tex”.

From Tex’s Rangers came the team’s official name, the New York Rangers,

Madison Square Garden

The New York Rangers play home games at Madison Square Garden in midtown Manhattan.

In fact, they share the arena with the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

The multi-use arena also plays host to musical concerts, boxing matches, college basketball games, and many other large-scale events.

Because Madison Square Garden is located on Broadway near Times Square, the New York Rangers are also sometimes called the Broadway Blueshirts.

Best Rangers Sports Bars in New York

Here are 10 of the best sports bars and restaurants in New York where you can root for the Rangers with like-minded fans.

However, you should call ahead to make sure they will show the game and that the sound will be turned on.

PLEASE NOTE: Because of COVID-19, some of the establishments on this list might be temporarily or permanently closed. Therefore, make sure to call first before going!

Hudson Station – 440 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY. Telephone: (212) 244-4406 – “Home of We Bleed Blue!” #
Jack Doyle’s – 240 West 35th Street, New York, NY. Telephone: (212) 268-1255. FACEBOOK #
Brewskies Bar & Grill – 3718 East Tremont Avenue, Bronx, NY. Telephone: (718) 684-2900. FACEBOOK
The Keg Room – 53 West 36th Street, New York, NY. Telephone: (212) 643-1400. FACEBOOK
Pennsylvania 6 NYC – 132 West 31st Street, New York, NY. Telephone: (212) 727-3666. FACEBOOK
John Sullivan’s – 210 West 35th Street, New York, NY. Telephone: (646) 362-2511. FACEBOOK
Slattery’s Midtown Pub – 8 East 36th Street, New York, NY. Telephone: (212) 683-6444 FACEBOOK
The Playwright Irish Pub – 27 West 35th Street, New York, NY. Telephone: (212) 268-8868. FACEBOOK
O’Neill’s – 64-21 – 53rd Street, Maspeth, NY. Telephone: (718) 672-9696. FACEBOOK
Mustang Harry’s – 352 – 7th Avenue, New York, NY. Telephone: (212) 268-8930. FACEBOOK
Molly Wee Pub – 402 – 8th Avenue, New York, NY. Telephone: (212) 967-2627. FACEBOOK
Village Idiot Pub – East Main Street, Patchoque, New York. Telephone: (631) 289-8471. FACEBOOK

# Official Bar Network

Best New York Rangers Bars in Other States

The following sports bars and restaurants are popular with New York Rangers fans. However, you should always call ahead to make sure they will show the game. Also, ask if the sound will be turned on.

PLEASE NOTE: Because of COVID-19, some of the establishments on this list might be temporarily or permanently closed. Therefore, make sure to call first before going!

Ye Olde Rathskellter – 523 Centennial Avenue, Crawford, New Jersey. Telephone: (908) 272-9511. FACEBOOK
Demeter’s Tavern & Sports Bar – 51 Old White Plains Road, Tarrytown, New Jersey. Telephone: (914) 631-9679. FACEBOOK
Bradford’s Grill & Tavern – 83 Bedford Street, Stamford, Connecticut. Telephone: (203) 961-9999. FACEBOOK

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A Word to the Wise

While most of these venues tend to attract New York Rangers fans on game day, there are no guarantees.

Sometimes they won’t turn on the sound. Other times they might show other events. And there is always the chance the venue might be booked for special events.

Also, fans sometimes migrate to other venues. And bars sometimes close.

Therefore, you should always call ahead to make sure that the game you want to watch will be broadcast.

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Your Input on New York Rangers Bars Wanted

If you have patronized any of these New York Rangers sports bars, please leave comments (pro or con) in the COMMENT box below.

You can mention the ambiance for fans New York Rangers, the visibility of TV screens, the quality of the sound, the food, the service – whatever!

Also, please let me know if any of these New York Rangers watch bars have closed – or if New York fans are no longer watching Rangers games at them.

Your own recommendations on where to watch the New York Rangers play will also be greatly appreciated! Especially welcome would be Rangers-friendly sports bars in other cities!

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Traveling to a New York Rangers Game?

Should you fly, drive, or take the train? If you live nearby, driving or taking the train, subway, or bus is probably the best option. However, if you are traveling from a distance, flying would be the fastest and most convenient way to go.

The New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association and the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League play homes games at Madison Square Garden in the heart of Manhattan. And New York has three airports. So which airport should you fly into?

LaGuardia Airport (LGA) – 7 miles from Madison Square Garden.
New York JFK Airport (JFK) – 13 miles Madison Square Garden.
Newark Airport (EWR) – 28 miles from Madison Square Garden.

Check out cheapOair for the best New York travel deals. When searching flights, use NYC if you don’t care which airport you want to fly into. Otherwise, use the specific airport code: LGA, JFK, or EWR.

Why not stay a few days and save money with these sightseeing tours!