Knicks owner James Dolan cancels watch party outside MSG, Mayor Mamdani says

Knicks fans who hoped to go to an NBA Finals Game 4 watch party outside of Madison Square Garden on Wednesday had to make alternate plans.

The watch party was canceled, Mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote on social media just before 5 p.m., amid an apparent dispute with Knicks owner and MSG CEO James Dolan over the size of the party. 

"MSG requested a permit for a watch party for 500-999 fans. We approved that permit for 999 fans. Mr. Dolan has now decided to cancel the watch party. I know this is breaking hearts across our city," Mamdani wrote. "But if there's one thing Knicks fans don't need permission for, it's showing up for our team wherever we may be -- no matter the block or the borough. Knicks in five."

In a statement, MSG Sports wrote:  "Madison Square Garden and the New York Knicks declined to use the permit that was granted by Mayor Mamdani's office due to the fact that only 1,000 people would be allowed into the area and they would need to be ticketed, leaving the tens of thousands of people who want to come to The Garden to celebrate the Knicks out in the cold. We did not think it was fair to just allow a small group to celebrate outside The Garden when everybody else was being shut out."

Watch party attendance size, security at center of dispute

The apparent feud between Dolan and the city picked up in intensity throughout the afternoon over the amount of people allowed to attend the watch party.

"We've had tens of thousands, tens and tens of thousands of people celebrating outside Madison Square Garden and it has been relatively peaceful," Dolan said on WFAN, later adding, "[Mamdani] gave us ... he gave us the gift of allowing us the right to screen 999 people and tell, you know, 20,000 no. Thank you very much."  

Dolan blasted Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, saying, "I don't think that they have faith in their own police force. I think that ... we do. We know they know what they're doing. But honestly, the mayor's office, and I'm sorry, the commissioner, too, right, do not have the experience to do this right.

"We love the NYPD. We know the captains. We know the chiefs. They can handle this," Dolan added. "If you ask them and they were able to answer unfettered, they would tell you they can handle this. It's really the mayor's office. I cannot explain their decisions on this, but it makes absolutely no sense at all."  

The NYPD reiterated that MSG applied for a permit for up to 1,000 people, adding that nobody from MSG contacted the department seeking to increase the number of attendees.

Prior to the watch party's cancellation, the Garden had not put out any information on how to get a ticket to the watch party, but police wouldn't let people past the barricades unless they had a ticket to the watch party or the game.

NYC doesn't want people celebrating outside MSG, Dolan says

Dolan also seemed upset about the amount of security around the Garden, which was put in place after a rowdy crowd caused chaos outside a watch party in Bryant Park during Game 3 on Monday night.  

The NYPD said it modeled its security plan for Game 4 on Times Square on New Year's Eve, and was taking extra precautions.

Dolan said he decided to speak on WFAN because of the number of people who he assumed were on their way to the Garden, either to attend the game or the watch party.

"I'm just telling you, as much time as you have allotted, you have not allotted enough time," to get through security, Dolan said, "because the restrictions that are being put on this area, I mean, like I said, you would you would think we were guarding ... like Fort Knox. It's incredible. Even if you come by train or by subway, they're not letting you up. They are going to push you outside of  the the forbidden zone and make you come through magnetometers, and you're gonna have to show that you have a reason to be there.

"This is all really designed around stopping people from celebrating around Madison Square Garden. That's what this is about," Dolan added.

Rowdy fans

Not all Knicks fans were on their best behavior Wednesday night.

Video showed people climbing on cars and trying to tear down a street sign on 35th Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues.

Police said multiple arrests were made outside Madison Square Garden. The exact number of arrests is unknown at this time.

The incident did not appear to be connected to a Knicks watch party.

Security zone around MSG

Starting at 4 p.m., a secure zone was imposed running from West 29th Street to West 35th Street between Sixth and Eighth avenues. Screening sites were set to open at 4:30 p.m. The NYPD encouraged people to arrive early. 

To enter, fans had to show they had a ticket to the game, a train ticket or a reservation to one of the bars and restaurants in that zone.

Officers urged others to avoid the area. 

Seventh Avenue between West 29th and West 35th streets was closed to pedestrians and vehicles. Eighth Avenue remained open to vehicular traffic.

Anyone who needed to enter the secured area had to go through screening at one of the following entry points:

• West side of Sixth Avenue at West 33rd Street
• West side of Sixth Avenue at West 32nd Street
• West side of Eighth Avenue at West 33rd Street
• Northeast corner of Eighth Avenue and West 30th Street

Some fans didn't think the extra security was a big deal.

"I don't think they're ruining the fun; it's like when mom and dad walk in the room and tell you to simmer down. It's as simple as that," one woman said.

"I just want to make sure the excitement slowly amps up as the game comes on, not waste too much energy getting in," another New Yorker said.

Penn Station trains remain unaffected

Train service at Penn Station operated as normal, so Amtrak, LIRR and NJ Transit riders weren't affected.

Officers are asked passengers to enter and exit through Moynihan Train Hall, outside the arena.