Behind the Curtain

It's always a treat to get a glimpse behind the curtain at the people who make all the necessary gears turn, and this story is no exception.

Only one team appears at Madison Square Garden 275 nights a year, and they do it without a lick of applause or a single ticketed spectator.

The changeover crew of 65 carpenters, electricians and laborers transforms New York City's busiest arena into whatever shape is needed to host the day's event, be it a sold-out concert, a dog show or home game for Jeremy Lin.

A normal work day starts at 11 p.m. - after the sports fans and prize Pekingese have cleared out - and ends as the sun comes up the next morning. But last Sunday was a bit different: The Knicks game ended at 3:30 p.m., and the gate opened for the Rangers crowd at 7 p.m. That left the crew just 3 ½ hours to go from hardwood to ice, a quick-change that happens about three times each year.

Reading through it will give you a new appreciation for all the hard work that's done by the folks featured in the article. And maybe, just maybe, we can get MSG to start issuing tickets.

The Wall Street Journal's Metropolis Blog: "Madison Square Garden's Hardest Working Team"