The Knicks and Madison Square Garden blasted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch over strict security measures across New York's NBA Finals hosting.
The New York Knicks and the Madison Square Garden (MSG) Sports Group blasted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, labeling them the city's "biggest party poopers" ahead of Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals.
New York Knicks / Schedule
In a scathing public statement, the Knicks and MSG ranted over street lockdowns and security restrictions amid the ongoing Finals hosting.
“The last several victories the Knicks have had have been celebrated by thousands and thousands outside MSG. The joy and happiness were palpable everywhere. Apparently Mayor Mamdani and Police Commissioner Tisch, despite what they say, don’t want to see these celebrations happen,” MSG said.
“We have been told that the NYPD will once again implement the same ‘frozen zone’ restrictions for Game 4, which were supposedly to thwart any threats related to the President’s attendance. We now know these restrictions were never about the President – it was just a convenient excuse to restrict how and when Knicks fans celebrate.”
New York authorities, MSG feuding over security measures and fan restrictions
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has already announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the Game 4 watch party has already been approved outside Madison Square Garden, but the Knicks leadership retaliated against the strict rules, size caps and security lockdowns being imposed on it.
MSG had hoped to host a large open-air watch party, but the city limited attendance to just 1,000 ticketed fans, leaving many supporters unable to attend. The NYPD also kept the same seven-block security zone used for Game 3, closing Seventh Avenue and restricting access around the arena.
Moreover, fans were required to enter through a single checkpoint, go through airport-style security screening and will not allowed to re-enter once they left the secured area.
Last Monday's Game 3 saw wild events across downtown New York, with 21 people being arrested and five police officers sustaining injuries.
Authorities already imposed strict security measures and no watch parties outside MSG were conducted due to United States President Donald Trump's attendance, but riots still existed among fans.
The Spurs won last Monday evening to make the series 2-1, as the Knicks will look to bounce back in Game 4 before the seven-game set shifts back to San Antonio.
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