Looking to get a seat to one of the most highly anticipated City Hall ceremonies NYC has ever seen? Now’s your chance.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a lottery for 600 tickets to the ceremony celebrating the Knicks’ NBA championship, the team’s first title since 1973.
“From packed watch parties in our parks to joyous celebrations that spilled out onto our streets, this championship belongs to New York City,” Mamdani said in a press release. “The Knicks brought together New Yorkers from every borough and every walk of life. That’s why we’re making these tickets free and accessible – so working-class people have a chance to be part of this historic moment and celebrate the team that brought a championship home.”
The lottery opened Tuesday night and will stay open until 11 a.m. Wednesday. There will be 300 winners selected, with each lucky fan getting two tickets, according to the city.
The sweepstakes can be entered at this link through the NBA. Winners will be notified after the lottery closes.
The ceremony begins at noon on Thursday at City Hall Plaza in lower Manhattan. In addition to speeches and musical performances, there will also be a special presentation to honor the championship season. Mamdani will be giving the Knicks with keys to the city.
If you don’t get a ticket, you can still be one of the thousands of fans expected to line the streets of lower Manhattan to celebrate the Knicks in the ticker-tape parade through the Canyon of Heroes. The parade will kick off near Battery Park at 10 a.m., then will travel north along Broadway before ending at City Hall.
Players and coaches will be joined by elected officials and other special guests along the parade route, which is free and open to all. But anyone looking for a good spot should get there early, with crowds expected to begin forming at least two hours before the start of the parade. And it may be a good idea to bring a poncho or a raincoat (umbrellas won’t be allowed).
Tom Shea
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