Madison Square Garden on the Move? NYC Council Votes to Remove Knicks' Arena Location From Penn Station

After more than three decades in Manhattan's Penn Station, New York's Madison Square Garden may be heading elsewhere after a city council voted to limit the iconic arena's permit to 10 years.

In a 47 to 1 vote, New York City Council members passed a bill Wednesday to limit the arena's permit for its location above Penn Station to just a decade longer. Council members say that they would rather see the Garden move in order to renovate Penn Station.

The Council's decision arrived amidst protests from the Garden's owners and celebrities like Knicks fan Spike Lee and legendary Knicks players Earl Monroe and Walt Frazier, who lobbied the Council to extend the MSG permit indefinitely, reports the New York Daily News.

However, civic groups in support of the move say that relocating the Garden is imperative to improving Penn Station, which would in turn lead to economic growth and improved transit throughout the region.

"Madison Square Garden will have to move, and I think this permit sends the message that that work needs to begin now," said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. "We need to make sure Penn Station becomes what we need it to be, a really 21st century grand entrance into the greatest city in the world, not ... what Sen. [Daniel] Moynihan or others historically described as a bunch of rat tunnels that lead people in and out of the city every day."

On the other hand, defenders of the stadium, which has been at its current location since 1968, note that it is currently in the midst of a three-year $1 billion renovation.

"Madison Square Garden has operated at its current site for generations and has been proud to bring New Yorkers some of the greatest and most iconic moments in sports and entertainment," a spokeswoman for the arena told the Associated Press.

The Garden also hosts a number of concerts and events and serves as the home ground for the New York Rangers.

Since the City Planning Department already approved the permit, the Council vote makes it final. However, the permit can be extended in the future.