Knicks fans eager to celebrate their team’s first championship in 53 years could start lining up as early as 6 a.m. to grab a viewing spot for Thursday’s ticker-tape parade.
Access points for what Mayor Zohran Mamdani said could be the city’s largest parade ever will open at least four hours before the festivities kick off in downtown Manhattan at 10 a.m., officials said Wednesday.
Revelers will be screened, and there are restrictions on what fans can bring to the parade, including bags, glass or metal water bottles, “weapons,” pets, umbrellas, coolers, strollers, and bikes or scooters. Plastic water bottles will be allowed.
Viewing pens will open at 6 a.m., though the city suggested parade-goers show up just at least two hours early, stressing that streets along the route will be closed to crossing when it begins.
The parade will step off near Bowling Green and head north along Broadway before reaching City Hall for a ceremony.
Viewing for the parade is free and no ticket is required, but the ceremony at City Hall will only be for ticket holders.
A lucky 600 fans will be granted tickets through a lottery to the championship ceremony, where the team will receive keys to the city from Mamdani.
“From a playoff run that left New Yorkers breathless to a tip-in that will be talked about for decades, the Knicks have earned a hero’s welcome,” Hizzoner, 34, said in a statement Wednesday.
“We have dreamed of this moment for generations. This Thursday, our city will rise to the occasion.”
The NYPD revealed more than 10,000 officers will work the celebration, which the department said is the largest deployment ever for a single event in the city.
“Heavy weapons teams, explosive detection k9s, transportation, transit, highway, aviation, drones, and more will be on hand to keep things secure,” the NYPD said.
Authorities will start prohibiting street parking south of Canal Street by 7 p.m. Wednesday, and cars still there by that time will be towed, officials advised.
By 7 a.m. on Thursday, south of Canal Street will be shut down to vehicular traffic between the Hudson River and East River, though the city made clear the FDR and West Side highway will remain open.
Traffic zipping off the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan will only be allowed to travel north on the FDR.
More street closures are expected to be announced in the hours leading up to the parade, officials said.
Public transit is also expected to be disrupted with the Wall Street (4, 5) and City Hall (R, W) stations closed by 4:30 a.m. on Thursday. The travel hubs will only reopen after the parade and ceremony wrap up.
The city warned that the parade time and date might “shift” depending on the severity of any rainstorms with updates on any changes coming from the city’s social media account and the parade’s information page.
A morning shower could be on the table followed by possible thunderstorms in spots, according to an Accuweather forecast.
The weather center advised attendees to “keep rain gear handy for the parade.”
People who live or work in the area will need to provide proper identification to reach their job or home.
The city listed nearly two dozen access points for the parade:
- Washington St. & Morris St. / Battery Place
- Trinity Place & Morris St.
- Trinity Place & Exchange Aly
- Trinity Place & Rector St.
- Trinity Place & Thames St.
- Trinity Place & Cedar St.
- Church St. & Liberty St.
- Church St. & Cortlandt St.
- Church St. & Dey St.
- Church St. & Fulton St.
- Church St. & Barclay St.
- Church St. & Park Pl.
- Church St. & Murray St.
- Church St. & Warren St.
- Church St. & Thomas St.
- New St. & Exchange Pl.
- New St. & Wall St.
- Nassau St. & Pine St.
- Nassau St. & Cedar St.
- Nassau St. & Liberty St.
- Nassau St. & Maiden Lane
- Nassau St. & John St.
- Nassau St. & Ann St.
The parade has been in the works for days after the Knicks topped the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday to clinch their first title since 1973.
The team has never been treated to a ticker-tape parade following their two other championships.
