During mid August I went to the first National Pro Grid League (commonly referred to as GRID) competition held at Madison Square Garden, NYC, NY.
The event commenced the world’s first season in the National Pro Grid League where the New York Rhinos hosted the Los Angeles Reign. For anyone not familiar with how the competition works it features co-ed teams with elite athletes who compete in eleven races as they work their way across four quadrants of the grid performing a variety of different weightlifting, gymnastics, agility, and endurance based exercises. Points are scored based on performance in each race. Races last anywhere from 4 to 8 minutes on average. Coaches strategically rotate different athletes from their team into various events to best suit their strengths. The team with the most points at the end of the eleven races is the winner. The league currently has 8 teams and are looking t to explained in the future. A full list of the rules, statistics and standings can be found at the league’s website.
Some of my friends were interested in going to the event. It was actually first mentioned to me while I was away in Asia. I didn’t have the head to think about when I got the email so I told them not to buy me a ticket and count me out. Days, weeks passed and I was back home. I forgot about it until someone reminded me about the event that morning at the gym. It was Tuesday night. I was still on vacation. What else was I going to do? I called my friend and told him to grab me a ticket in his section.
The event started at 7 p.m. in midtown Manhattan. Depending on where you are traveling from and what method of transportation you are using you need to plan accordingly. As a native New Yorker I’m more in tune with traffic patterns and times, but there is also no rhyme or reason for transportation problems in the city regardless of what mode of transport you are using. At times, particularly rush hour the train can be an easier and more efficient method compared to a car. It is also much cheaper. Tolls on many bridges and tunnels are quite expensive and if you can’t find parking (most of which is meter parking with time limits) then a parking garage will run you a small fortune. Regardless, we drove into Manhattan. Many of the street signs around Madison Square Garden are no parking until 7 p.m. so arriving a little early and sitting in the car until the sign is no longer in effect is a free option for parking and some of the bridges are free. If you time it right like we were able to then driving to MSG is an easier option. All the same we could have just as easily had to pay upwards of $50 for parking had we not gotten the spot.
The competition started almost right at 7 p.m. We actually missed the first event getting past security, the ticket agents and getting to our seats. When going to MSG remember that if you do not need to travel with a bag then you shouldn’t as you will be able to get through security much faster. The building was filled with Crossfitters, athletes and fitness junkies. The atmosphere did not have the typical feel of a Rangers or Knicks game, but it was a welcome setting to anyone who spends time in their local gyms. Surprisingly, there were even some healthier food options to better serve the crowd. Shortly after entering the Garden we made our way to our seats to watch the match.
The match between the Rhinos and the Reign was actually very entertaining. The competitors were absolutely machine like. The feats of strength that I watched these athletes perform was jaw dropping. The races were fast paced, energetic and some how always nail biting regardless of any lead a team amassed during the earlier portion of the event. The Rhino went out to a strong start and was able to maintain their lead for some time, but as the competition went on the LA Reign began to make a comeback. The crowd progressively cheered louder and louder for their local team race after race to help motivate them as event reached its climax. The match actually came down to the last race, but the visitors were unable to win the event despite only finishing a split second after at the home town NY Rhinos. The building went wild.
It was a very fun night out with some friends. If you enjoy fitness and competition events then you would have had a good time at this inaugural match. I was on the edge of my seat during every race of the NPGL GRID match. At the same time, the ticket was rather expensive. It was partially a birthday present from one of my friends so I cannot complain. I would have rather spent the same amount of money to go to a NY Rangers game and feel the electricity that only the Blueshirts can create in MSG. That is except maybe for Billy Joel concerts at the Garden, but that is something I cannot speak further about. Overall, Madison Square Garden is an incredible building to see any event whether it be sports or music. Any traveler has not seen and experienced NY until they have spent some time inside the Garden.