Data Breach Revealed at Madison Square Garden, Radio City, More

The Madison Square Garden Company has announced a credit card security breach at five of its venues, Billboard reports. In a statement, the company wrote that it has notified customers that an investigation found “external unauthorized access to MSG’s payment processing system” at Madison Square Garden, the Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theater, and the Chicago Theater in the past year. 

The company wrote that it began the investigation after it “was notified that payment card issuing banks identified a transaction pattern indicating a potential data security concern.” According to the statement:

Data contained in the magnetic stripe on the back of payment cards swiped in person to purchase merchandise and food and beverage items at Madison Square Garden, the Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theater, and Chicago Theater between November 9, 2015 and October 24, 2016 may have been affected, including credit card numbers, cardholder names, expiration dates and internal verification codes. Not all cards used during this time frame were affected. This incident did not involve cards used on MSG websites, at the venues’ Box Offices, or on Ticketmaster.

The MSG Company has said that it worked with security firms to stop the breach, as well as “implement enhanced security measures.” In another statement to Billboard, a spokesperson said, “The independent forensic investigation shows that no further cards were accessed after the time when signs of unauthorized access were identified. Customers may use their cards with confidence at MSG venues.”

The statement recommends that anyone who believes they have been affected “should immediately report any unauthorized charges to your card issuer.” More information on what to do can be found here.

During the nearly-year-long period in question, these venues hosted countless concerts and sporting events. Madison Square Garden alone held three Kanye West events (two Saint Pablo shows and his Yeezy Season 3 unveiling), six Adele concerts, four Drake and Future Summer Sixteen shows, two Radiohead concerts, Billy Joel’s ongoing residency, and much, much more.

via Matthew Strauss and Amy Phillips