MSG Blasts Mayor Zohran Mamdani for Knicks Outdoor Watch Party Drama: ‘Party Poopers’

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has put a damper on some diehard Knicks fans’ plans now that the Madison Square Garden watch party for Game 4 is a ticketed event.

After the New York Police Department issued an update ahead of Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs — advising fans that there will be increased security and that an MSG watch party will be ticketed — the Garden released a statement calling Mamdani and New York City police commissioner Jessica Tisch the “biggest party poopers.”

In a statement obtained by Globe on Tuesday, June 9, Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. said that the “joy and happiness were palpable” outside MSG following recent games.

However, heightened security for Game 3 — which was attended by President Donald Trump — made things less enjoyable for some fans.

“Apparently Mayor Mamdani and Police Commissioner Tisch, despite what they say, don’t want to see these celebrations happen,” the statement added. “We have been told that 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 statement said. “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 the 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 love of the team.”

Mamdani, 34, a Knicks fan himself, announced via X, “We have approved a ticketed MSG watch party for Game 4.”

According to NBC New York, the NYPD said that only those with tickets will be allowed to attend the MSG watch party, and everyone will have to go through security screening.

The heightened security follows reports of harassment between the opposing fanbases.

“Being a Knick fan doesn’t mean being disrespectful to Spurs fans in any way,” actor Ben Stiller wrote on X, addressing the drama. “We get caught up during the games but we gotta show respect to our fellow humans…”

In a follow-up statement from the Garden issued Wednesday, June 10, they said “the Mayor’s plan to freeze out fans from celebrating outside Madison Square Garden” will “turn the streets around MSG into a police state.”

“Issues that happened at the Mayor’s Bryant Park watch party (a city-run watch party) are not related to blocks around MSG nor any other previously run MSG watch party,” the statement said, in part.

MSG demanded an answer as to why security is once again being heightened — this time without the 79-year-old president in attendance.

“[Mamdani] can’t blame it on the President,” the statement said. “He is not coming to Game 4 and there is no reason to create a police state around The Garden.”