New York officials reversed course Wednesday morning, deciding to grant a permit for Knicks watch parties directly outside of Madison Square Garden for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The original ban came after Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, when multiple arrests were made outside of MSG. The Knicks went on to sweep the Cavaliers just two games later, punching their ticket to the NBA Finals.
“This is not about having enough of the unruly fans — this is about keeping people safe,” a New York Police Department spokesperson said at the time of the ban.
Contacted on Wednesday, an NYPD spokesperson only said “City Hall approved a permit.”
An MSG Sports spokesperson confirmed Wednesday that the organization had applied for and received permits for Plaza 33, the outdoor space directly adjacent to MSG, for Wednesday night’s game. The permit covers Game 1 only, as the status of future parties remains undecided.
