NEW YORK (WABC) -- It's estimated that over two million people celebrated the Knicks on Thursday as the Parade of Champions honored the team's first NBA championship since 1973.
Following the parade, Mayor Zohran Mamdani hosted a championship celebration and Key to the City ceremony on City Hall Plaza.
After the ceremony, Alicia Keys sang her iconic hit "Empire State of Mind."
The ticker-tape parade was a first for the Knicks, who did not celebrate with the famed tradition during their last wins in 1970 or 1973.
The celebration comes after an awe-inspiring playoff run which saw the Knicks secure the team's first NBA title in more than 50 years with a 4-1 series win over the San Antonio Spurs.
The players will travel north along Broadway through the Canyon of Heroes before ending at City Hall.
After the parade, Mayor Mamdani will host a championship celebration and Key to the City ceremony on the City Hall Plaza.
Gov. Kathy Hochul is attending Knicks ticker-tape parade.
She said she is saving her orange and blue for Thursday, "this is going to be one for the ages."
"It is knicks season, it's the summer, the fall, the winter of the Knicks, it's extraordinary everyone is so excited," the governor said.
Thursday's celebration is the first ticker-tape parade in Knicks history.
A stage is being built at City Hall and parade preparations are in full swing, including 2,500 pounds of shredded paper confetti that will be delivered to 22 buildings along the parade route.
New orange and blue street signs are also being made for the Canyon of Heroes parade route.
Back in 1973 the Knicks got a ceremony at City Hall Plaza that was attended by 2,000 people, so that makes this parade is extra special.
The mayor said the event may be the largest parade in New York City history and he's encouraging fans to show up early to find a spot.
