Highlighting Transit as Best Way to Travel to Games
Take the MTA to Watch the Top-Seeded St. John’s Red Storm Compete for First Big East Tournament Championship in 25 Years
St. John’s University Pep Band, Cheerleaders, and Red Storm Mascot ‘Johnny the Thunderbird’ Ride LIRR Train from Jamaica to Penn Station
View Photos of Train Ride
View Video of Train Ride
View Photos of Press Conference
View Video of Press Conference
View Video of DePaul and Georgetown Bands Performing at Penn Station
View Video of UCONN, Marquette and Xavier Bands Performing at Penn Station
As New York City hosts the annual return of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden (MSG), the “World's Most Famous Arena," the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and St. John’s University remind fans that mass transit is the most efficient and convenient way to watch the St. John’s Red Storm play to win their first Big East Championship title in 25 years – after recently winning the Big East regular-season title in 40 years. The Red Storm are the sixth ranked team in the country, sporting a perfect 18-0 home record this season.
MTA leadership, St. John’s Red Storm’s mascot Johnny the Thunderbird, St. John’s University’s Pep Band and cheerleaders all rode in on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) from Jamaica to Penn Station, where a news conference kicked off at Penn Station’s renovated LIRR concourse near the new escalators leading up to 33rd Street and 7th Avenue. The college’s pep band wrapped up the news conference with a performance while the concourse’s ceiling lights transition between red and white, St John’s University’s team colors.
"With 75,000 employees, the MTA has alumni of every Big East school," said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. "But at my office, we’re all rooting for the top-seeded Red Storm as they look to win their first Big East championship title in 25 years, hot off a historic season with 27 wins. A perfect 18-and-0 record at home. Now the Johnnies are taking on the best of the conference upstairs at MSG, and there’s no better way to get to the games than taking transit."
“It doesn’t get easier than taking the LIRR to Penn Station to root for New York’s red-hot Johnnies or any of the Big East teams,” said Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free. “Leave the driving and parking hassle behind. With record on-time performance, take a ride on the LIRR with fellow fans and enjoy a seamless trip to the game.”
"St. John's University is New York City's Team and real New Yorkers know the best way to get to Madison Square Garden (MSG) is using the services of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA),” said St. John’s University Vice President and Athletic Director Ed Kull. “We encourage all our fans and ‘Subway Alumni’ to put on their red and cheer on the #1 Seed, Red Storm at MSG, the World's Most Famous Arena throughout the BIG EAST Tournament."
The St. John’s Red Storm played in front of their third straight sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, March 1, and sellout crowds are expected to cheer on the Johnnies at Game 4 on Thursday, March 13 at 12:00 p.m. The 2025 Big East Tournament begins on Wednesday, March 12 and ends with the championship game on Saturday, March 15.
Steps outside Penn Station, traveling to MSG is a breeze. As the busiest transportation terminal in the country, Penn Station has unparallel access to transit.
- Subway: Access to the andsubway lines.
- Buses: Several MTA bus routes connect to Penn Station, including those operated by other non-MTA agencies.
- Long Island Rail Road (LIRR): All LIRR branches service Penn Station, whether a direct train or easy transfer at Jamaica Station, or Woodside for Port Washington Branch customers.
- Metro-North Railroad: While a direct connection to Penn Station via the New Haven Line is about two years away, Penn Station is a 10-minute subway ride from Grand Central Terminal – Metro-North’s Manhattan terminal. If riders would like to shorten their walk, they can take the shuttle from Grand Central-42 St to Times Sq-42 St for a quick transfer to the which takes them to 34 St-Penn Station.
In addition to MTA service, Penn Station is a home terminal for NJ Transit and Amtrak.
LIRR’s Concourse Project and Record On-Time Performance
The LIRR Concourse Project raised the ceiling to 18 feet, doubled the width of the corridor, enhanced accessibility, constructed an iconic new Penn Station entrance on Seventh Avenue with improved lighting, air flow, and wayfinding. Upgrades improved the customer experience and increased circulation with minimal disruption to MSG or the station's operations.
And recently, the LIRR has reached several on-time performance records:
- LIRR recorded its highest February on-time performance of 96.40% in recorded history.
- Overall, on-time performance for 2024 was 95.65%, the highest outside of pandemic years, and marking the first time the LIRR achieved an on-time performance above the 94 percent goal for every month of the year.
- For 2025, on-time performance is at almost 97%, three percent above the established monthly goal and almost two percent over 2024’s all-time record of 95.65%.
Big East Spirit
In spirit of New York being home of the Big East Tournament, the MTA has coordinated with several of the Big East participating schools to have their marching bands play inside Penn Station by the East End Gateway escalators before games – ramping up the energy and welcoming fans that make their way to Madison Square Garden.
Performances are open to the media and the public. The tentative schedule is below.
12:45 p.m. — 1:00 p.m.
Marquette University
1:00 p.m. — 1:15 p.m.
Xavier University