New Yorkers, get ready for a championship parade that may be bigger than any in the history of the city.
Fresh off their first NBA title since 1973, the New York Knicks are set to be celebrated with a ticker-tape parade starting Thursday morning in lower Manhattan. It will be the first time down the Canyon of Heroes for the Knicks, because there were no parades following their titles in 1970 or three years later.
We have all the information you need to know about the parade and the ceremony at City Hall, including when the festivities begin, the parade route, the best spots to watch, and more.
When is the parade?
The parade is set to kick off at 10 a.m.
When can crowds start getting their spots?
Pens will open at 6 a.m.
Where does the parade take place?
The parade starts at Bowling Green in lower Manhattan and travels up along Broadway, through the Canyon of Heroes, until it reaches City Hall.
Parade route map:
What is the schedule for the festivities?
After the parade reaches City Hall, there is a ceremony scheduled for 12 p.m. at City Hall plaza. There will be speeches, musical performances, special guests and more. Mayor Zohran Mamdani will also present the keys to the city to members of the team.
It is not clear how long the ceremony will last.
What happens if it rains?
The city said the timing of the parade as well as the date of the parade could be switched, “depending on severity.”
Do I need a ticket?
Planning on going to the parade? No ticket is necessary, it is open and free to all who wish to attend — but be sure to get there early to get a good spot, as it is sure to be crowded.
However, the City Hall ceremony is not open to the public, and a ticket is required. The city announced that it would be giving away 600 tickets to attend the event, with 300 lucky winners chosen by a lottery. More information on the lottery is available here.
Best spots to watch:
Bowling Green is where the parade starts and where some of the athletes will be waiting on floats, so a good opportunity to get a photo of Brunson, KAT, OG, or whomever. Also, there will be no confetti in that area, so it may be the best spot for a photo.
It’s going to be crowded (to say the least), but the area by Zuccotti Park is one of the widest spots along the parade route. That means the crowds may have a little elbow room. Emphasis on “a little.”
For those looking to enjoy the confetti, try going near City Hall. That’s because some of the city’s oldest skyscrapers are located there, which means there are windows that open to the action — and where people will be tossing the most confetti.
Here are all the spots with access to the parade route:
- Washington St. & Morris St. / Battery Place
- Trinity Place & Morris St.
- Trinity Place & Exchange Aly
- Trinity Place & Rector St.
- Trinity Place & Thames St.
- Trinity Place & Cedar St.
- Church St. & Liberty St.
- Church St. & Cortlandt St.
- Church St. & Dey St.
- Church St. & Fulton St.
- Church St. & Barclay St.
- Church St. & Park Pl.
- Church St. & Murray St.
- Church St. & Warren St.
- Church St. & Thomas St.
- New St. & Exchange pl.
- New St. & Wall St.
- Nassau St. & Pine St.
- Nassau St. & Cedar St.
- Nassau St. & Liberty St.
- Nassau St. & Maiden Lane
- Nassau St. & John St.
- Nassau St. & Ann St.
Where to watch if you can’t attend:
Can’t make it to the parade in person? The parade will be broadcast on NBC New York starting at 9 a.m. and will be available wherever you stream.
What items are not allowed:
There will be security screening for all those looking to attend. No bags will be allowed, nor will any of the following items at the parade and the City Hall celebration.
- Glass or metal water bottles (NOTE: plastic water bottles will be allowed)
- Bats/batons
- Bicycles or scooters
- Chairs
- Coolers
- Drones
- Backpacks
- Pets
- Strollers
- Umbrellas
- Weapons
Anyone who works in a building along the parade route will be allowed to enter, as long as they have proper identification. Same goes for anyone who lives in the area.
Subway changes:
The Wall Street station on the 4/5 line and the City Hall station on the R/W line will be closed starting at 4:30 a.m. Thursday.
Here’s what stations will remain open and can be used instead:
- Bowling Green (4, 5)
- Fulton (4,5,J,Z,2,3)
- Brooklyn Bridge (4,5,6)
- Chambers St (J,Z)
- Park Place (2,3)
Impacts on traffic:
No parking will be allowed south of Canal Street starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Any cars not moved will be towed, according to the city.
Twelve hours later, at 7 a.m. Thursday, all areas south of Canal will be shut down to vehicular traffic from the Hudson River to the East River, with the exceptions of the FDR and the West Side Highway remaining open. Any traffic coming from the Brooklyn Bridge will only be able to go north, though pedestrians will be able to use the walkway.
