New York Rangers

The New York Americans were the first National Hockey League team in New York City. The Americans began play in 1925-26. The team continued on until 1942 before suspending operations due to WWII.

Tex Rickard decided NHL hockey was such a good idea that he started his own team in Manhattan a year after the Americans were born. The new NHL franchise was originally to be called the Giants - like every other pro sports franchise in the city at that time. With a play on Tex's name (Tex's Rangers), the name Rangers stuck.

The New York Rangers arena, Madison Square Garden (in its third incarnation), was also home to the Americans and the Rangers Eastern Hockey League farm team, the Rovers. After the Americans died, the Rangers were the sole hockey team at MSG until 1968 when the fourth version of MSG was born. The team has been in IV ever since.

MSG is to undergo renovations over the summer of 2011 and again over the summer of 2012. The renos won't affect the NHL's Rangers or the NBA's Knicks.