Why was the Knicks watch party cancelled? James Dolan, NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani trade barbs over MSG 'frozen zone'

Madison Square Garden was abuzz for Game 3 of the NBA Finals, but the scene outside was different. Gatherings outside the arena were restricted with U.S. president Donald Trump in the building, and New York City announced an alternative watch party in Bryant Park.

Come Game 4, Trump won't be in the building or even in the city -- but many of the restrictions on gatherings outside Madison Square Garden remain.

On Wednesday, Knicks owner James Dolan scrapped the watch party altogether and took aim at mayor Zohran Mamdani over the restrictions.

Here's a look at why the Knicks won't have a watch party outside Madison Square Garden and how Dolan ripped into Mamdani.

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Why was the Knicks watch party cancelled?

New York City initially approved a permit for a watch party of 500-999 ticketed fans inside a two-by-six block security perimeter around Madison Square Garden. Per the city's restrictions, only fans ticketed for the game or the watch party would be allowed within the perimeter surrounding the arena.

With less than 1,000 fans allowed and spectators not allowed to come and go from the city's "frozen zone" around the arena, Dolan decided not to put up screens to watch the game outside Madison Square Garden and cancelled the watch party.

"MSG requested a permit for a watch party for 500-999 fans. We approved that permit for 999 fans. Mr. Dolan has now decided to cancel the watch party," Mamdani tweeted Wednesday.

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) June 10, 2026

Earlier in the playoffs, watch parties outside Madison Square Garden were free and open to the public. A security perimeter was set up before Game 3 to section off the area around MSG as Trump came to town, but some of those restrictions were set to remain in place for Game 4 after pockets of violence erupted and eight arrests were made near the venue following the Knicks' loss.

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James Dolan rips Zohran Mamdani for NBA Finals watch party restrictions

Speaking to WFAN's Craig Carton, Dolan blamed the inexperience of Mamdani and NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch for the restrictions on gatherings outside MSG.

"I don't think they have faith in their own police force. We do. We know they know what they're doing," Dolan said. "Honestly, the mayor's office and the commissioner do not have the experience to do this. They've never managed anything like this before.

Dolan added that, while only a certain number of fans would be able to actually see the screens set up outside MSG during a watch party, he believes the watch parties are about more than just watching the games.

"This is about celebrating the Knicks at MSG at the mecca of basketball," Dolan said. This is what the mayor and commissioner's office are trying to tell. They don't want the celebration."

— Ryan Glasspiegel (@sportsrapport) June 10, 2026

Earlier Wednesday, MSG Sports — which Dolan owns — released a statement expressing similar sentiments.

"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," the statement read. "We now know these restrictions were never about the President - it was just a convenient excuse to restrict how and when Knicks fans celebrate."

Dolan is hoping his next run-in with Mamdani and the NYPD comes during championship parade planning, which would be a happier occasion.