Madison Square Garden was bustling for Game 3 of the NBA Finals, but the atmosphere outside the arena was markedly different. With U.S. President Donald Trump in attendance, the city limited gatherings around the venue and organized an alternative watch party in Bryant Park.
For Game 4, the president will not be in the building or even in the city, yet many of the restrictions on outdoor gatherings near Madison Square Garden will remain in place.
On Wednesday, Knicks owner James Dolan scrapped the planned watch party entirely and directed criticism at Mayor Zohran Mamdani over the continuing limitations.
Below is an overview of why the Knicks’ outdoor watch party was cancelled and how Doland confronted the mayor.
Why the watch party was called off
New York City initially granted a permit for a watch party that would accommodate 500‑999 ticketed fans within a two‑by‑six‑block security perimeter around Madison Square Garden. Under city rules, only those with tickets for the game or the watch party could enter the designated “frozen zone.”
Because the permit capped attendance at fewer than 1,000 fans and prohibited people from moving freely in and out of the zone, Dolan chose not to install screens outside the arena and canceled the event.
Mayor Mamdani confirmed the decision on Twitter, noting that the city had approved a permit for up to 999 fans, but the owner subsequently called the watch party off.
Earlier in the playoffs, outdoor watch parties were open to the public at no cost. A security perimeter was erected before Game 3 when Trump visited, and some of those restrictions were retained for Game 4 after incidents of violence and eight arrests near the arena following the Knicks’ loss.
Dolan attacks city officials over the restrictions
In an interview with WFAN’s Craig Carton, Dolan criticized Mayor Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, suggesting their inexperience led to the stringent rules.
“I don’t think they have faith in their own police force. We do. We know they know what they’re doing,” Dolan said. “Honestly, the mayor’s office and the commissioner do not have the experience to do this. They’ve never managed anything like this before.”
Dolan added that, while only a limited number of fans would be able to view the screens outside MSG, the watch parties represent more than just watching the game.
“This is about celebrating the Knicks at MSG, the mecca of basketball,” he explained. “That’s what the mayor and the commissioner’s office are trying to tell us they don’t want.”
MSG Sports, also owned by Dolan, released a statement echoing his sentiments, noting that the “frozen zone” restrictions were originally justified as a security measure for the president’s attendance but were, in fact, a convenient pretext to limit fan celebrations.
Dolan hinted that his next confrontation with city officials may come during planning for the championship parade, a more festive occasion.