What. A. Weekend.
Following a nail-biting, 16-point comeback in Game 5 against the San Antonio Spurs, the Knicks won the NBA Finals for the first time in 53 years this past Saturday night. Now, it’s time to celebrate. And we’re not just talking about reliving the highlights of the game on your phone, or screaming “Let’s go Knicks!” and “Go New York, go New York, go!” at everyone who walks past you. We’re talking about a real NYC-style celebration: a ticker-tape parade up the Canyon of Heroes this Thursday morning.
Whether you’ve been a fan since forever or have suddenly become a basketball aficionado given the excitement surrounding the team in this town these past few months (we don’t blame you), we suggest you take the time off to participate in the festivities. Who knows? It might be another 53 years until we get to witness a Knicks championship win again (although, let’s be honest, with Brunson and his squad, we expect to do this exact parade again next year).
Here is everything you need to know about this week’s Knicks parade:
When and Where it Kicks Off
The confetti drops this Thursday, June 18. The parade officially kicks off at 10am in Lower Manhattan, but if you know anything about NYC sports crowds, you know you need to get there way earlier than that to see the action.
The Official Canyon of Heroes Route
The floats will begin their journey at The Battery and travel north straight up Broadway, affectionately known as the Canyon of Heroes. The route proceeds through the Financial District before wrapping up right outside City Hall. It’s the ultimate New York tradition but, believe it or not, this will actually be the first official ticker-tape parade in Knicks history (they didn’t get one after their 1970 or 1973 wins!).
The Best Spots for a Prime View
If you want a front-row view of Finals MVP Jalen Brunson hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy, anywhere along the Broadway barricades is the place to be, but you’ll need to stake out your territory. Crowds will start forming at the crack of dawn. Try to snag a spot near Bowling Green or the intersections around Wall Street, but be prepared to stand your ground shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of your closest blue-and-orange-clad friends.
What to Bring (and What to Leave at Home)
Bring: Comfortable sneakers (you’ll be standing for hours), sunscreen, plenty of water to stay hydrated and every piece of Knicks merch you own. If you snagged one of those rally towels during the playoff run, wave it proudly.
Leave at home: Huge backpacks, coolers, folding chairs and alcohol. NYPD security will be incredibly tight and you don’t want to get turned away at the barricades because you brought a lawn chair to Broadway.
How to Watch the Live Stream from the Office
Boss wouldn’t give you the morning off? No sweat. You can still catch the celebration. Local broadcast networks like MSG Network, ABC7 New York and NBC 4 will have wall-to-wall live coverage on TV and streaming on their websites. You can also expect official live streams on NYC.gov and the Mayor’s Office social media channels. Pop in an earbud, keep that tab open behind your spreadsheets and pretend you’re down in the confetti.
The Post-Parade Ceremony at City Hall
Once the floats reach the end of the route, the team will hit the plaza outside City Hall for a special civic ceremony. Mayor Zohran Mamdani will officially honor the squad, including Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, among others, and present them with the Keys to the City. While access to the City Hall plaza itself will likely require an RSVP or a media pass, the energy will radiate throughout all of lower Manhattan. As Mayor Mamdani said this weekend: bing bong!
