How New Yorkers celebrated the Knicks’ first NBA Finals appearance in 27 years

Fans paid thousands of dollars to see the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden and flooded Bryant Park for an outdoor watch party for the team’s first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.

As the first NBA Finals home game in 27 years approached, Knicks fans had to confront two problems: getting inside Madison Square Garden and watching from outside. Prices were prohibitive for most, and President Donald Trump’s attendance prompted enhanced security restrictions.

Subscribe to read this story ad-free

Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.

For those who were able to get into the arena, they paid a pretty penny. General sales to the public were limited and even before the Western Conference champion was crowned, Knicks home game tickets for the championship round were costing thousands of dollars.

NBC News spoke with fans heading into Game 3, and all said they spent between $1,350 and $20,000 for seats.