City Hall has given the green light for a massive watch party outside Madison Square Garden to cheer on the Knicks in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday. The NYPD is expecting to flood the area with 1,000 cops to ensure rabid fans don’t break the law.
Two other watch parties will also be held in Manhattan on Friday, one inside Madison Square Garden and one in Central Park, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during an unrelated press conference.
“Let me be very clear. We will have no tolerance for violence,” Tisch said, “particularly violence against police officers, destruction of property, climbing on light poles or structures, blocking emergency vehicles, or any other chaotic behavior that puts people at risk.”
Pens will be put up for fans on W. 33rd St. between Seventh and Eighth Aves., officials said.
“We want people to have fun,” Tisch said. “We want people to celebrate the Knicks, but do not be the one who ruins it for everyone else. Remember, cops are Knicks fans, too. They understand the energy. They understand the pride. They understand the excitement. And their goal is to help people watch and celebrate safely.”
Damaging property “or acting like the rules do not apply to them” is a “fast way to end the night badly,” Tisch warned.
“I’ll tell you now what I tell my teenage son,” the top cop added. “If you see a Spurs fan, do not engage. Back away. Believe me, after Game 1 they have been through enough pain and suffering.”
During an interview on 1010 WINS, Mamdani said City Hall authorized the watch party so that everyone can take part in the basketball excitement.
“This is part of the city wanting to be ready to ensure every New Yorker can enjoy themselves,” Mamdani said while warning rabid Knick fans to behave out there.
“As we want New Yorkers to be able to enjoy themselves, I would like to remind New Yorkers to not jump on any emergency vehicles or ambulances, or to block their passage,” Mamdani said. He referred to videos that surfaced showing fans climbing atop a Northwell Greenwich Village Hospital ambulance driving past the Garden during Wednesday’s game, with two people jumping onto the ambulance’s roof and waving a Knicks flag.
Cops arrested three people involved in the ambulance stunt. One of the suspects punched an NYPD chief in the face while being taken into custody.
Five other fans received criminal court summonses on Wednesday night as the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs, 105-95, but cops and city officials said the crowd was a lot less rowdy than the ones outside Madison Square Garden during the Eastern Conference Finals.
“We want to make sure that (the city) can still function, even in the incredible feeling this moment, where we’ve taken a 1-0 lead in the series,” Mamdani said.
More than 10,000 people attended the watch party outside MSG Wednesday. An additional 18,000 attended a ticketed watch party inside the arena.
It’s the first time the Knicks have been in the finals in 27 years. More than a week ago, the NYPD recommended against the watch parties, after recent ones drew huge crowds and were marred by multiple arrests.
Champ Albano, 46, who lives in New Jersey, was outside the Garden with his family Friday afternoon, “just to feel the vibes in the city.” Proudly sporting a Knicks jersey, he said he would watch the game later back at home.
“It’s our time,” the longtime fan said. “Everything’s lined up for us. I went through the dark ages, you know — and finally, hopefully, we can come out of it.”
The Yankees have won multiple championships, and their fans always expect them to contend for the World Series, but for the Knicks to win this one time would be epic, he said.
“We’ve always been saying, like, for the diehard, long-suffering Knicks fans, we’re not looking for a dynasty,” he said. “We just want one championship in our lifetime.”
