It’s a celebration 53 years in the making, and millions of New York Knicks fans are expected to turn out for the ticker-tape parade to honor the team in lower Manhattan on Thursday, June 18.
The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs on June 13 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, clinching their first championship since 1973. Knicks captain Jalen Brunson set a franchise record in an NBA finals game with 45 points, scoring 15 of the team’s 29 fourth-quarter points.
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The win followed a historic franchise postseason run of 16-3, including a 12-game winning streak.
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The team also made NBA history, pulling off the biggest playoff comeback against the Spurs in Game 4 of the finals, overcoming a 29-point deficit.
Now, the Knickerbockers will celebrate with their loyal fans in New York City in what will be one of the most anticipated championship parades in recent sports history.
The Knicks are the first New York team in the four North American professional sports (NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL) since the New York Giants in the 2011-12 season to win a championship. The WNBA’s New York Liberty also captured a title in 2024.
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Despite their two previous championships, this will also be the first ticker-tape parade in Knicks franchise history.
The parade is expected to begin at 10 a.m. near Battery Park and go through Lower Manhattan to City Hall.
It will travel north along Broadway through the “Canyon of Heroes” before ending at City Hall for a ceremony where the team will be awarded Keys to the City.
For watching along the route, the parade is free to all attendees, with tickets required for the City Hall portion of the event.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said during a press conference that millions of people are expected to attend the parade.
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“Tomorrow will mark the largest deployment for a planned event in NYPD history with more than 10,000 officers assigned to lower Manhattan,” Tisch said on Wednesday, June 17.
Everyone entering the parade area will be screened by security beginning at 6 a.m. at 23 locations along the parade route.
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Tisch warned that attendance is expected to exceed capacity, and people will be turned away.
Those attending are not permitted to bring bags, backpacks, bottles or umbrellas.
“We want people to enjoy this moment,” Tisch said. “We want this to be safe and memorable for Knicks fans and New York City, but public safety comes first and we are planning accordingly.”
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Tisch also said the best way to get to the parade will be public transportation.
There are multiple ways to attend Thursday’s ticker-tape parade in lower Manhattan.
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Ferry: NY Waterway offers ferries from eight locations in New Jersey that will take parade-goers to Pier 11/Wall Street and ferries from six New Jersey locations to Brookfield Place/Battery Park City. Both options are about a 10-15 minute walk to Broadway.
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PATH: The Hoboken and Newark PATH lines take riders into the Oculus at World Trade Center, which is about two blocks away from Broadway at the southern tip of City Hall Park. If that’s too crowded, riders can walk through the Oculus and follow signs for the Fulton Street subway station and walk underground to the other side of Broadway.
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Subway: There are a lot of subway connections in the Financial District that will get you close to the parade route. For those who take NJ Transit trains to New York Penn Station or NJ Transit buses to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, you can take the A-C to Fulton Street or the E to World Trade Center, or the 2-3 to Park Place or the 1 to WTC Cortlandt. From the GW Bridge Bus Terminal, you can walk north two blocks to the 181 Street station and take the A downtown to Fulton Street.
Keep in mind that City Hall (R, W) and Wall Street (4, 5) subway stations are closed starting at 4:30 a.m. on Thursday and will reopen after the parade and City Hall ceremony.
This story will be updated during the parade. Check back often for the latest news.
Additional reporting by Colleen Wilson
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Knicks parade in NYC is here after a 53-year wait
