The New York Knicks are getting a ticker-tape parade through the Canyon of Heroes, the first in franchise history, 53 years after the last time this city could call itself an NBA champion.
The Knicks closed out the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 on Saturday night, ending the longest active championship drought in professional basketball.
As this site’s Finals mania coverage documents, New York has been building toward this moment for months with an intensity that turned every game into a citywide event.
Mayor Zohran Momdani announced the parade immediately after the win and here is everything you need to know before you leave the house Thursday.
Everything You Need to Know About Knicks NBA Championship Parade
Thursday, June 18 – mark it, clear your calendar, and make whatever arrangements you need to make right now.
The parade will follow the traditional Broadway ticker-tape route, moving north from The Battery at Bowling Green all the way up to City Hall, the same corridor that welcomed the Yankees in 2009 and the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team in 2019.
The Knicks have never been on this route – not in 1970, not in 1973, not ever.
The celebration ends with a formal ceremony at City Hall, where players and staff will receive keys to the city. Mitchell Robinson told reporters he’s personally contributing to the procession – his truck will be in the parade lineup, which is exactly the kind of detail that makes this team feel like New York’s own.
Start time is still TBA as of early Sunday, with the city promising a full logistics update – including security and transit plans – later Sunday. The David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building and Brooklyn Borough Hall will be lit in Knicks blue and orange Thursday night. Check official city channels Sunday for confirmed timing before you plan your commute.
Street Closures Expected For Knicks Parade
Expect major closures along the full Broadway corridor from Bowling Green through the Financial District and into the Civic Center area around City Hall Park.
The perimeter will be considerably larger than the frozen zones established around Madison Square Garden on game nights – as this site’s Game 5 street closure coverage documented, those zones were already extensive.
Specific activation times for closures have not been officially released as of Sunday morning. NYPD and city officials have promised a detailed security and logistics briefing Sunday – check NYPD social channels and NYC.gov for the confirmed perimeter map before Thursday.
Plan for cross-streets along Broadway between Bowling Green and Chambers Street to be inaccessible by vehicle for much of the morning.
Rideshare drop-offs in Lower Manhattan will be severely restricted – do not count on getting anywhere near the route by car.
Getting to the Parade: Use the Subway and Leave Extra Time
The Canyon of Heroes is well-served by multiple subway lines running into Lower Manhattan. Build in at least 90 to 120 minutes of buffer – crowds will be unlike anything this city has seen for a sports parade since 2009.
- 4/5 train – Bowling Green station drops you at the southern start of the route
- 1 train – Rector Street or Cortlandt Street for mid-route access along Broadway
- 2/3 train – Park Place station puts you near the City Hall ceremony end
- R/W train – Whitehall Street or Cortlandt Street as alternate entry points
- A/C/E train – Fulton Street for central access to the route
The MTA will issue specific advisories before Thursday – watch for service change notices that may affect express stops. Do not attempt to drive into Lower Manhattan on parade morning.
What to Bring to Knicks Parade
Full NYPD prohibited items guidance for the parade is expected in Sunday’s official announcement.
Based on the security model used throughout the Finals, expect restrictions consistent with prior Canyon of Heroes events.
- Large bags and backpacks – leave them home; bag checks slow entry and security may prohibit them entirely
- Outside alcohol – not permitted in the secured parade corridor
- Umbrellas – historically restricted at large NYPD-managed outdoor events; check current guidance
- Folding chairs and large items – will impede crowd movement; check current NYPD guidance
Bring water, wear comfortable shoes, and charge your phone before you leave. As this site’s coverage of how the Finals reshaped NYC schedules showed, this city reorganizes itself around moments like this – Thursday will be no different.
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