NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) – The Knicks are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years, and New York City is erupting.
In an exclusive interview with PIX11 News on Tuesday morning, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city will have plenty of viewing parties for Knicks games, but he’s not sure where yet.
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“We’re going to have a lot of viewing parties for the finals,” he told PIX11’s Henry Rosoff. “We’re going to figure out where they are.”
During the Knicks’ playoff run, rowdy watch parties outside Madison Square Garden have forced authorities to ban the screenings at the world’s most famous arena. Mamdani wouldn’t say if this particular viewing party will happen again.
After the Knicks clinched a spot in the NBA Finals Monday night, six people were taken into custody for disorderly conduct after allegedly climbing light posts, jumping police barriers, and blocking cars outside Madison Square Garden, according to the NYPD. The fans were given summonses and then released, police said.
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An NYPD spokesperson said Tuesday the organized watch parties outside Madison Square Garden are still banned for the finals.
But Mamdani said he’s not worried about the possible confluence of the World Cup and NBA finals.
“I think this is going to be a summer to remember, and I think it’s also going to be a safe summer,” he said.
With ticket prices soaring well over $3,000 for games at Madison Square Garden, Mamdani said he’s trying to work out accessible ticket options for New Yorkers, as he did for the World Cup.
“Sports should not become a luxury commodity,” Mamdani told PIX11’s Henry Rosoff. “We’re going to look at everything we can do.”
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