New York City will celebrate the Knicks’ first NBA championship in 53 years with a ticker-tape parade and City Hall ceremony on Thursday.
The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 on Saturday night to win the NBA Finals in five games.
Here’s what you need to know about the parade for the team.
How can New Yorkers watch the parade?
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. near Bowling Green in Lower Manhattan before traveling north along Broadway to City Hall.
The parade route will be open to the public, and will not require tickets.
Officials are encouraging attendees to arrive at least two hours early, because crowds are expected to form quickly.
Spectrum News NY1 will open its website and app for viewers to watch the parade for free. For Spectrum nonsubscribers, download the Spectrum News app, available to Android and iPhone users, then tap “Live” on the menu bar at the bottom of the screen to view coverage.
Viewers can also tune in on the Spectrum News website by clicking here. Click on the “Open Access” link, which will appear prior to the parade’s start.
Our live coverage will also be streamed on Spectrum News’ YouTube channel.
What is the weather forecast?
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected Thursday, with the greatest chance for rain between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The time and date of the parade could shift depending on the severity of the weather, according to City Hall. The city will provide updates as needed.
Which streets will be closed? Will there be traffic restrictions?
Parking will be prohibited south of Canal Street beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, the city says. Vehicles left in restricted areas will be towed.
Beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday, all streets south of Canal Street from the Hudson River to the East River will be closed to vehicular traffic. The FDR Drive and West Side Highway will remain open.
Drivers exiting the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan will only be able to travel northbound on the FDR Drive.
Pedestrians will have access to the Brooklyn Bridge walkway.
How will public transit be affected?
The Staten Island Ferry will run every 15 minutes from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and again from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Beginning at 4:30 a.m. Thursday, two subway stations will be closed:
Wall Street (4, 5)
City Hall (R, W)
The stations will reopen after the parade and City Hall ceremony conclude.
The Bowling Green, Fulton, Brooklyn Bridge, Chambers Street and Park Place stations will all remain open.
Where can spectators enter the parade route?
Officials have designated access points throughout Lower Manhattan, including:
Washington Street and Morris Street/Battery Place
Trinity Place and Morris Street
Trinity Place and Exchange Alley
Trinity Place and Rector Street
Trinity Place and Thames Street
Trinity Place and Cedar Street
Church Street and Liberty Street
Church Street and Cortlandt Street
Church Street and Dey Street
Church Street and Fulton Street
Church Street and Barclay Street
Church Street and Park Place
Church Street and Murray Street
Church Street and Warren Street
Church Street and Thomas Street
New Street and Exchange Place
New Street and Wall Street
Nassau Street and Pine Street
Nassau Street and Cedar Street
Nassau Street and Liberty Street
Nassau Street and Maiden Lane
Nassau Street and John Street
Nassau Street and Ann Street
What security measures will be in place?
All parade attendees will be subject to security screening.
Viewing pens along the parade route will open at 6 a.m.
The following items will not be allowed:
All bags and backpacks
Glass or metal water bottles (plastic water bottles will be permitted)
Bats or batons
Bicycles and scooters
Chairs
Coolers
Drones
Pets
Strollers
Umbrellas
Weapons
The NYPD said Thursday’s celebration will have the largest number of officers assigned to any planned event.
New Yorkers should expect to see a heavy police presence throughout Lower Manhattan, with deployment including the department’s heavy weapons teams, K-9 units, explosive detection teams, transportation and transit officers and highway patrol officers.
Is the City Hall ceremony open to the public?
No, the ceremony at City Hall is limited to ticket holders.
All attendees will be screened, and the same list of prohibited items that applies to the parade route will also apply to the ceremony.
The city previously announced it would be offering 600 free tickets through a public lottery, which closed at 11 a.m. Wednesday.