NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — Lower Manhattan was buzzing Wednesday as preparations ramped up for a championship parade honoring the New York Knicks, with officials expecting millions of spectators along the traditional “Canyon of Heroes.”
Workers were seen attaching new street signs, renaming Lower Broadway “Champions Way” for the celebration. Nearby, shopkeepers draped banners and street vendors sold Knicks T-shirts outside the New York Stock Exchange, signaling the scale of an event many expect to be one of the largest in modern city history.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who appeared onstage during the ceremony earlier Wednesday, said the excitement reflects more than just the team’s victory.
“It feels as if the entire city has rallied around this team,” Mamdani said during an interview on CNN. “And some of it is the wait. Some of it also, though, is that people are so excited to be outside with one another, they are so excited to be a part of something bigger than themselves.”
The celebration will also mark an unprecedented operation for law enforcement. The New York City Police Department plans what officials describe as its largest deployment ever for a scheduled event, assigning 10,000 uniformed officers – nearly one-third of the entire department – to police the parade.
Coverage starts at 9 a.m. on Channel 7, under the live tab on Disney+ and everywhere you watch the ABC 7 New York stream.
“We want this to be a safe and memorable celebration for Knicks fans and for New York City, but public safety comes first, and we are planning accordingly,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
Security measures will mirror those used at other major parades, with spectators required to pass through screening checkpoints and enter viewing areas from designated blocks away from the route. Bags and most other items will be prohibited.
Officials also announced extensive traffic restrictions. There will be no parking anywhere south of Canal Street, with vehicles set to be towed beginning Wednesday night. By Thursday morning, all streets south of Canal Street will be closed to traffic, though highways will remain open.
Despite the restrictions, fans said they are eager to attend what many view as a once-in-a-generation moment.
“I don’t see what other parades would match this one. 53 years in the making,” one fan said.
Another added: “We’ve been waiting 50 plus years, and so it feels like, worth getting up early for.”
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Mayor Mamdani announced Tuesday that the city will give away 600 tickets for the City Hall ceremony honoring the team after the parade.
A city official said more than 347,000 New Yorkers applied for the public lottery. A total of 300 people will get two tickets each.
During the ceremony, the Knicks will receive the ceremonial Key to the City.
It’s the first key designed without the city seal and features an apple instead. Up until this point, the keys have been replicas of the 1812 key made for a door to City Hall.
Knicks and Rangers owner James Dolan says singer Alicia Keys will be performing live during the ceremony.
Street Closures to know
In preparation for the parade, the city also rolled out a comprehensive street closure plan to clear the way for the NBA Champions.
Starting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, parking will not be allowed south of Canal. Cars will be towed if they are not removed.
Starting at 7 a.m. on Thursday, south of Canal Street will be shut down to vehicular traffic from the Hudson River to the East River.
The FDR and West Side Highway will remain open.
Traffic coming off the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan will only be able to go northbound on the FDR.
Pedestrians will be able to use the walkway.
Staten Island Ferry service will be increased and will run every 15 minutes.
Also note that the Wall Street and City Hall subway stations will be closed starting at 4:30 a.m. until the celebrations end.
Other subway stations in Lower Manhattan will have some entrances and exits closed, but trains will continue to stop.
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