The New York Knicks will host a watch party for 3,000 fans outside Madison Square Garden on Saturday for Game 5 of the N.B.A. finals. This comes after a previous game where they skipped hosting a party due to disagreements over security measures with the city and the police.
The Knicks lead the championship series against the San Antonio Spurs, having won three out of the four games. A win on Saturday would secure their first championship title in over 50 years.
Celebrations across the city have been fueled by the team’s success, resulting in several arrests and some injuries to police officers during fan clashes. Overall, these celebrations have remained largely non-violent. For prior games, the police created a so-called ‘frozen zone’ around the Garden. This zone required fans and those heading to nearby Penn Station or businesses to pass through security checkpoints.
The announcement of the Game 5 watch party includes plans for another frozen zone. However, specific details about the zone’s timing and extent remain unclear. The game itself will be played in San Antonio and starts at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time.
How to Attend an Official Watch Party for Game 5
- Plaza33: Tickets are required for the watch party outside the Garden. Registration opens at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Attendees need to be present by 8:30 p.m.
- Radio City Music Hall: Tickets are priced at $10, with proceeds going to the Knicks’ Garden of Dreams Foundation. Sales begin at 10 a.m., and doors open at 7 p.m.
- Wollman Rink in Central Park: This party is free but requires registration, starting at 10 a.m. Gates open at 7 p.m.
- LinkNYC: Over 100 LinkNYC kiosks around NYC will stream Game 5. Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated this will transform sidewalks into watch parties and streets into celebrations.
This event is ongoing. Please check back for more updates.