Knicks Game 4: Watch party planned at MSG, security plans detailed

NEW YORK (WABC) -- A ticketed Madison Square Garden watch party will take place for Game 4, Mayor Mamdani announced.

In a tweet, Mamdani said more details would be coming soon, but he urged New Yorkers to celebrate responsibly.

"As we prepare to watch together, let me be clear: this is a historic, joyful moment for our city. We will not allow it to be disrupted by violence," he wrote, and added, "Knicks in 5."

After the team's loss on Monday night, Knicks fans spilled out of Bryant Park onto neighboring streets, sparking fights resulting in 21 arrests.

The NYPD also released a security plan for Game 4. Those details are listed below:

Watch Party:

New York City approved a permit for a ticketed watch party outside of Madison Square Garden at Plaza33.
This will be a ticketed watch party and Madison Square Garden will provide more information on registering for that event.
You must have a ticket to attend the watch party and everyone attending will be screened.
Watch party attendees may only enter through the access point on the west side of Sixth Avenue at West 33rd Street.
If you attempt to go to one of the other screening locations, you will be turned away and directed to the screening location on the west side of Sixth Avenue at West 33rd Street.
If you leave the designated area of the watch party, there will be no reentry.
There will also be watch parties at Wollman Rink in Central Park and Brooklyn Bowl.

Security Perimeter and Access Points:

There will be a security perimeter established around Madison Square Garden as there was on Monday night (as the Police Commissioner said there would be for Game 4 at the press conference on Monday).
That perimeter will run from West 29th Street to West 35th Street, between Sixth Avenue and Eighth Avenue.
Within that perimeter, beginning at 4pm, Seventh Avenue between West 29th Street and West 35th Street will be closed to vehicular and general pedestrian traffic.
Eighth Avenue will be open to vehicular traffic, but is subject to traffic closure if conditions necessitate a closure.
Unless you are going to the game or have business specific to that area, pedestrians should avoid this area.
Starting at 4pm, no one will be allowed inside the secure area unless they have a ticket to the game, a train ticket, are going to a business (restaurant or bar) inside the area, live in the area, have credentials, or have some other authorized reason to be there.
Everyone entering the secure area will be screened.
Screening locations will be open starting at 4:30pm. Please make sure you arrive early to allow enough time to get through the security points.
If you have reason to be in the secure area (as listed above), you can enter at one of four designated entry points where screening will occur.
Those entry points will be located on:
West side of Sixth Avenue at West 33rd Street
West side of Sixth Avenue at West 32nd Street
West side of Eighth Avenue at West 33rd Street
Northeast corner of Eighth Avenue and West 30th Street
Businesses inside the perimeter, including bars and restaurants between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, and those between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, will be allowed to operate with strict capacity limits.
If you plan to frequent one of those locations, you will need to be screened at a security checkpoint. The NYPD will help facilitate access to those businesses.
Please remember that certain items will not be permitted inside the secure area, including backpacks, bags, alcohol, or umbrellas.
The only exception is for travelers entering Penn Station, who will be allowed to carry bags needed for travel, but are subject to security screening.

Exiting Madison Square Garden:

Fans leaving Madison Square Garden after the game will be able to access public transit at Penn Station.
If you are leaving the area by foot or car, you will exit the arena onto Seventh Avenue or Eighth Avenue.
If you exit onto Eighth Avenue, you will only be able to walk southbound on the east side of Eighth Avenue until you reach 28th Street. East and west egress from Eighth Avenue will only be possible starting at 28th Street.
If you exit onto Seventh Avenue, you can either walk southbound on the west side of Seventh Avenue until you reach 28th Street or you can walk eastbound on 32nd Street until you reach Sixth Avenue.
If you are planning to take a taxi or another ride after the game, you will only be able to access vehicles starting at West 28th Street and Eighth Avenue, West 28th Street and Seventh Avenue, or West 32nd Street and Sixth Avenue.

Moynihan Train Hall/Penn Station:

For access to transportation at Moynihan Train Hall and Penn Station, including Amtrak, LIRR, and the subway, please use the entrances to Moynihan Station on the west side of Eighth Avenue at 31st and 33rd Streets, which will be outside of the secure area.
We do not anticipate any service changes or disruptions as a result of the security plan.

Game 4 between the Knicks and Spurs tips off at 8:30 p.m. You can watch the game on ABC 7. Pre-game coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. The Knicks lead the series 2-1.

Madison Square Garden responded to the security plan announcement with a statement saying," Mayor Mamdani and Police Commissioner Tisch are New York City's Biggest Party Poopers. The last several victories the Knicks have had have been celebrated by thousands and thousands outside MSG. The joy and happiness were palpable everywhere. Apparently Mayor Mamdani and Police Commissioner Tisch, despite what they say, don't want to see these celebrations happen. We have been told the NYPD will once again implement the same 'frozen zone' restrictions for Game 4, which were supposedly to thwart any threats related to the President's attendance. We now know these restrictions were never about the President- it was just a convenient excuse to restrict how and when Knicks fans celebrate. The complete closing of areas around MSG is going to affect not only the celebration but also all the small businesses that rely on Garden fans for their livelihood. These celebrations are part of the heart and soul of New Yorkers. The actions of Mayor and Police Commissioner, supposedly in support of the Knicks and their fans, are difficult to understand. We urge them to lift these restrictions and embrace the life of the team."

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