There have been outdoor watch parties at Madison Square Garden throughout the Knicks' playoff run. The police say behavior at the parties has become progressively unruly. Derek French / Sipa via AP ImagesBy The Athletic StaffMay 23, 2026 Updated 9:46 pm EDTA viewing party outside Madison Square Garden in New York planned for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night got shut down before it started.Unruly, rowdy behavior at watch parties outside MSG prompted New York’s Street Activity Permit Office to deny a permit request for Game 4, league sources confirmed to The Athletic.The sources confirmed the New York Post’s report that the permit was denied because the police department “has had enough of unruly Knicks fans mobbing the city sidewalks and causing trouble.”
“Games 1 and 2 have seen progressively more problematic issues at the watch parties outside MSG — six arrests (Thursday) night alone — so the NYPD will not support more watch parties outside the stadium,” the Post quoted a police department spokesperson as saying.Knicks playoff games have been broadcast on outdoor screens at the Garden, drawing crowds of as many as 6,000, the Post said.Permit requests for watch parties at other sites around New York will continue to be reviewed, the police spokesman said.The city has announced plans to have watch parties during the FIFA World Cup. Eight games are scheduled at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
