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New York officials reversed course Wednesday morning, deciding to grant a permit for Knicks watch parties directly outside of Madison Square Garden for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The original ban came after Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, when multiple arrests were made outside of MSG. The Knicks went on to sweep the Cavaliers just two games later, punching their ticket to the NBA Finals.
“This is not about having enough of the unruly fans — this is about keeping people safe,” a New York Police Department spokesperson said at the time of the ban.
Contacted on Wednesday, an NYPD spokesperson only said “City Hall approved a permit.”
An MSG Sports spokesperson confirmed Wednesday that the organization had applied for and received permits for Plaza 33, the outdoor space directly adjacent to MSG, for Wednesday night’s game. The permit covers Game 1 only, as the status of future parties remains undecided.
“The Mayor is thrilled that the Knicks will be hosting NBA Finals watch parties, including inside and outside Madison Square Garden and another in Central Park, for Game 1,” a spokesperson for New York mayor Zohran Mamdani told Front Office Sports. “Our administration is proud to support these efforts and give New Yorkers opportunities to come together and celebrate this historic Knicks run.”
Demand for a $10 watch party inside of MSG for Game 1 has been equally high, with over 136,000 fans in the queue at one time before it sold out on Tuesday.
With get-in prices for Games 3 and 4 at MSG hovering above $4000 on the secondary market, watch parties both inside and outside have become the most accessible way for Knicks fans to get as close to the game as they possibly can.
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