{"id":114988,"date":"2026-01-28T13:04:21","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T13:04:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/114988\/"},"modified":"2026-01-28T13:04:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T13:04:21","slug":"empire-state-building-lights-up-for-patriots-angering-new-yorkers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/114988\/","title":{"rendered":"Empire State Building lights up for Patriots, angering New Yorkers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following Sunday\u2019s big win for the New England Patriots<\/a> in the AFC Championship, the Empire State Building, New York City\u2019s crown jewel, lit up in red, white, and blue to celebrate the team. Not surprisingly, it sent some New York fans into an uproar.<\/p>\n

\u201cSanta Clara bound! Shining in @Patriots colors in honor of their AFC Championship win,\u201d wrote<\/a> the official Empire State Building X account after New England\u2019s 10-7<\/a> win<\/a> against the Denver Broncos.<\/p>\n

Well known as a rival of both the New York Giants and Jets, it\u2019s not hard to guess why the celebratory lights left some New Yorkers seething, with several fans taking to social media to express their disappointment. <\/p>\n

\u201cYOU\u2019RE A NYC BUILDING!!! HAVE SOME DAMN PRIDE!!!\u201d one X user wrote<\/a>. \u201cChrysler Building always my favorite anyway,\u201d wrote<\/a> another.<\/p>\n

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Some users went so far as to call on New York leadership, like Mayor Zohran Mamdani, to hold the Empire State Building\u2019s team accountable. <\/p>\n

\u201c@NYCMayor make them knock this off,\u201d read<\/a> one X post.<\/p>\n

Even the official New York City Department of Buildings replied<\/a> to the original tweet with a gif of \u201cLaw & Order: SVU\u201d star Mariska Hargitay shaking her head in disapproval.<\/p>\n

New York City native and sports commentator Rich Eisen also chimed in on Monday\u2019s episode of \u201cThe Rich Eisen Show\u201d to express his condemnation of the lighting choice.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnder no circumstances on this planet Earth should the Empire State Building ever light their lights up in Patriot colors. This isn\u2019t Boston, Massachusetts,\u201d he said on his show. \u201cWould they light up the Pru in Jets colors?\u201d<\/p>\n

Representatives for the Empire State Building could not be reached for comment.<\/p>\n

In addition to celebrating the Patriots, the Big Apple attraction also celebrated the Seattle Seahawks victory against the Los Angeles Rams. The building\u2019s colors changed<\/a> to green and blue, commemorating a team that isn\u2019t as loathed by New Yorkers.<\/p>\n

The Patriots and the Seahawks<\/a> will go face-to-face Sunday, Feb. 8, at Levi\u2019s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., for the 2026 Super Bowl.<\/p>\n

Gitana Savage can be reached at gitana.savage@globe.com<\/a>. Follow her on X @gitana_savage<\/a>.<\/p>\n