Madison Square Garden, which is predominantly owned by New York Knicks owner James Dolan and is the site of Game 4 of the NBA Finals, is not happy with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for a decision he made about the watch party outside MSG.
After the city canceled the watch party around the arena for Game 3 of the NBA Finals due to increased security measures stemming from President Donald Trump’s attendance, the belief was that things would be opened back up for Game 4 now that Trump isn’t going.
There will indeed be a watch party surrounding MSG on Wednesday night when the Knicks take on the San Antonio Spurs, but Mamdani revealed only 1,000 spectators would be allowed to attend and a ticket must be purchased to get in.
Those limitations are not sitting well with MSG and the Knicks, who want things to go back to normal following the Game 3 shutdown.
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“Mayor Mamdani’s ‘granting’ of a watch party permit is disingenuous at best,” MSG said in a statement released just hours before Game 4. “It came with multiple conditions, including not allowing more than 1,000 spectators and demanding that they all must have a ticket. But more important is the Mayor’s plan to freeze out fans from celebrating outside Madison Square Garden, which will turn the streets around MSG into a police state.”
“We wish everyone could see the games live. Watch parties and public celebrations are a way for every Knicks fan to enjoy this special time. These fans want to celebrate together. They want to celebrate at the Mecca of basketball,” the statement added.
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New York Knicks fans certainly didn’t help their case to hold unfettered watch partiess after videos popped up on social media of Knicks fans beating up Spurs fans after Game 3.
However, the Knicks noted that those issues occurred at the Bryant Park watch party, which was run by the city itself.
“Issues that happened at the Mayor’s Bryant Park watch party (a city-run watch party) are not related to blocks around MSG nor any other previously run MSG watch party,” the statement added.
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“If the Mayor won’t allow (an unlimited watch party around MSG), can he at least give Knicks fans an honest answer of why not? He can’t blame it on the President. He is not coming to Game 4 and there is no reason to create a police state around The Garden,” the statement concluded.
Putting aside the 2-1 series lead for now, it has no doubt been a tough series for Knicks fans, who have waited 27 years to see their team play in the NBA Finals.
Not only has the average Knicks fan been priced out of actually attending a game, they are now going to have a much tougher time attending the MSG watch party.
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