Knicks Watch Party Canceled Amid Dispute Between Mayor and Team Owner

Hours before Game 4 between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs in the NBA finals, a conflict between Knicks’ owner James Dolan and Mayor Zohran Mamdani led to the cancellation of a planned watch party outside Madison Square Garden.

Mayor Mamdani announced on social media platform X that Dolan canceled the watch party, expressing disappointment for the fans. The mayor described it as an action that was ‘breaking hearts across our city.’

In response, during a radio appearance on ‘The Craig Carton Show,’ Dolan pointed the finger at Mayor Mamdani and Jessica S. Tisch, the police commissioner. He blamed them for the increased security measures on Monday around the arena.

Dolan criticized both officials as lacking experience and accused them of attempting to disrupt the Knicks’ playoff run. He emphasized the event’s significance, stating, ‘This is about celebrating the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, at the Mecca of basketball. This is what the mayor’s office and the commissioner’s office is trying to kill. They don’t want the celebration.’

A spokesperson from the Police Department stated earlier that they were ready to handle the watch party, having received a city-approved permit in advance. Fans had been eagerly anticipating the celebration as the Knicks vie for a championship that has remained out of reach for over five decades.

This situation is ongoing, with further updates expected. Santul Nerkar is a reporter for The Times covering federal courts in Brooklyn. Maia Coleman reports on the New York Police Department and criminal justice in the region.