Knicks fan excitement builds ahead of Game 1
Hours before Game 1 of the NBA Finals, fans across the five boroughs were scrambling to secure last-minute tickets, stock up on team merchandise, and find a place to watch what many hope will be the start of a championship run.
The excitement comes with a hefty price tag.
A quick look at ticket sites showed seats for Game 1 in San Antonio starting around $700. For Games 3 and 4 at Madison Square Garden, however, prices have skyrocketed into the thousands. Some tickets were listed between $3,000 and $5,000, while premium seats topped $50,000.
Across the city, signs of Knicks pride are impossible to miss. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has transformed several subway station entrances with orange-and-blue railings. The agency even replaced traditional globe lights with basketball-themed designs as part of the city's celebration.
Fans also rushed to grab spots at official watch parties.
Tickets for a watch party inside Madison Square Garden sold out within minutes after becoming available. Some fans said the online waiting queues had more than 100,000 people.
Tickets were also available for a free watch party in Central Park, but those are now sold out.
After a decades-long drought, the Knicks are seeking redemption. Their last NBA Finals appearance came in 1999, when they lost to the San Antonio Spurs in five games.
Fans across the city are gearing up for the series, grabbing last-minute hats and jerseys as they get ready to cheer on the team.
Game 1 tips off on ABC 7 at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
Earlier this week, Mayor Mamdani was joined by a group of preschoolers at City Hall, where he signed an executive order pushing bedtime later so New Yorkers of all ages could stay up and watch the game.
