Madison Square Garden officials tore into Mayor Zohran Mamdani for taking credit for an outdoor Knicks watch party at the arena on Wednesday, blasting City Hall’s street lockdown as a “police state” that’ll freeze out fans.
The Garden argued Hizzoner’s approval of the MSG outdoor watch party “is disingenuous at best” because it came with numerous conditions, including making it a ticketed event that limits spillover crowds like past celebrations.
“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,” MSG said in a statement. “The Knicks’ victories are for all New Yorkers.
“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.”
“This is not about watch parties it’s about celebrating wins.”
MSG has also argued that Wednesday’s Knicks celebration will be severely downsized – with only 1,000 tickets available.
But a NYPD spokesperson previously said MSG requested permit for only 500-1,000 spectators for Game 4’s outdoor watch party.
The permit paperwork filed by MSG and obtained by The Post indicates the request was was received by the city on June 5.
Past watch parties outside the Garden drew crowds in the thousands. It’s unclear if MSG had requested a higher headcount in the approved permits for those events.
The NYPD set up a secure zone around stretches of MSG ahead of Monday night’s Game 3 match-up between the Knicks and the Spurs, citing President Trump’s attendance at the game.
But the same zone will be blocked off ahead of Wednesday’s game, NYPD officials have said.
A watch party outside MSG was also called off for Game 3, and instead took place at Bryant Park, where more than 20 people were arrested.
MSG officials argued issues involving unruly fans during at Bryant Park on Monday shouldn’t be tied to the watch parties outside the World’s Most Famous Arena.
“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,” MSG said.
Celebrations outside the Garden during the Knicks playoff run have also at times led to chaos and violence.
Garden officials argued that watch parties in past years outside other NBA arenas during the Finals have led to “minimal problems,” including last year’s showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers last year.
Celebrations outside the Garden during the Knicks playoff run have also at times led to chaos and violence.
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“If the Mayor won’t allow that, can he at least give Knicks fans an honest answer of why not? He can’t blame it on the President,” MSG stated. “He is not coming to Game 4 and there is no reason to create a police state around The Garden.”
A City Hall rep didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.
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Mamdani cheered in an X post on Tuesday, “We’re back outside the Garden.”
“We have approved a ticketed MSG watch party for Game 4. More details soon,” he said.
“As we prepare to watch together, let me be clear: this is a historic, joyful moment for our city. We will not allow it to be disrupted by violence.”
MSG sounded the alarm about the severe restrictions Tuesday night, labeling both Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch as “party poopers” and warning the lack of foot traffic will hurt small businesses.
The NYPD announced Tuesday the area around the Garden will be closed off from West 29th Street and 35th Street between Sixth and Eighth Avenues.
