UPDATE: The Billy Joel tour date listing referenced below has since been removed, and Joel is scheduled to perform at MSG on 12/20. As of now, the days usually encompassed by Phish’s New Year’s run are still open on the Garden’s schedule.

Many people refer to Madison Square Garden as Phish‘s de facto home court. The band has played the World’s Most Famous Arena in the heart of New York City 39 times to date, and the list of shows at the venue include some of the most memorable performances in the band’s career. This summer, the band is set to play an unprecedented 13-show “Baker’s Dozen” run at the Garden, bringing their total number of MSG shows up to 52 (and not-so-coincidentally one-upping Billy Joel‘s record-setting 12-show-per-year pace at the venue).

Phish’s MSG runs typically come over New Year’s Eve. Since their reunion in 2009, the band has rung in the new year at the Garden every year except 2009 and 2014 (both of which were held at Miami’s American Airlines Arena). However, with 13 MSG shows on the books for this summer, fans have been curious about how that will affect the band’s usual New Year’s plans.

While the answer to those questions has not officially been answered, new information appears to indicate that the band will not return to MSG for New Year’s this year. According to a listing on this Madison Square Garden ticket resale platform [UPDATE: The listing has since been removed], Billy Joel is set to perform at the Garden on December 30th this year, the Saturday of “New Year’s weekend.” Assuming this date is correct (it’s not yet listed on Joel’s website, but it is mentioned in the “Events” section of his Facebook page), that would likely mean that Phish will not play their customary 4-night run there over New Year’s this year. Even if the band started their run on the 31st and played through the 3rd (which they did in Miami in 2014), that would mean the hypothetical run would fall on a Sunday-Wednesday–an unlikely situation in terms of logistics.

Does this mean Phish is heading back to Miami for New Year’s? Are they going to pick a new location to ring in 2018? Will there be a Phish New Year’s run at all (the band has already stated that they will not tour this fall)? Are we reading way too far into all this, and it’s all just Internet smoke and mirrors as usual? We’ll have to wait to find out, but we have a feeling people have some pretty strong opinions and theories on the matter. Let’s hear ’em! What do you think Phish will do for New Year’s 2017-2018?

Live For Live Music Phish Baker’s Dozen Run Late-Night Shows

July 21 – The Werks @ American Beauty (tix)

July 21 – The Motet @ BB King Blues Club (tix)

July 22 – The Werks @ American Beauty (tix)

July 22 – Circles Around The Sun @ Gramercy Theater (tix)

July 28 – Dopapod @ Gramercy Theater (tix)

July 28 – James Brown Dance Party – 2x Shows @ Highline Ballroom (early tix / late tix)

July 29 – Dopapod @ Highline Ballroom (tix)

July 29 – Perpetual Groove @ BB King Blues Club (tix)

Aug 4 – “Kraz & Taz” Eric Krasno Band w/ Brandon “Taz” Niederauer Band @ The Cutting Room (tix)

Aug 5 – Spafford @ BB King Blues Club (tix)