Long Islanders shut out of Knicks parade crowds watch NBA champs from Manhattan bars

It wasn't exactly the brush with history they were hoping for, but a group of Knicks fans from Long Island rode the train to Manhattan on Thursday and settled for their own version of a watch party honoring the NBA champs.

Like many fans who made their way from Long Island, they were disappointed at not being able to see the parade in person, but the route had filled to capacity much earlier. The NYPD announced that all the pens for fans were full by 7:30 a.m. 

Rachel Robinson, 33, of Mastic Beach, had just bought her blue Knicks shirt on Wednesday night around 8 p.m. for the occasion. She and her fiance planned to meet up with friends in Penn Station before finding a spot to watch the parade. She girded herself for the adventure with a bagel and a Red Bull after the train from Ronkonkoma took off early Thursday.

But after being turned away by the NYPD at the Canyon of Heroes, where millions had packed in for the ticker-tape parade, she and her fiance, who didn't want his name used because he was supposed to be working, decided to watch it from a bar. They ended up at Blue Haven and joined the end of the line, which reached the subway stop at Fulton and Nassau streets.

Just before 9 a.m., other line-goers informed them the bar was only accepting those with reservations until noon.

Shortly after 9:30 a.m., the couple walked to the South Street Seaport and used the bathroom, and tried to join an open-space watch party. But after police shut that down, they walked to their second-choice bar, Ryan Maguire’s, where they managed to watch the parade on TV.

While the bar was crowded, televisions were easily accessible to view.

The crowd cheered multiple times as Knicks players, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and celebrities like Ben Stiller appeared on the screen. When Knicks star Jalen Brunson appeared, the crowd erupted into cheers, shouting "MVP!" multiple times.

Robinson, who is a public defender for The Legal Aid Society in Queens, said although her late father was a Knicks fan, she didn’t consider herself a basketball person until recently, noting she and her fiance matched on the dating app Hinge by talking about their love of football.

Robinson said her uncle, who died six months ago, was also a Knicks fan. "We’re here for family," she said. "It’s a community."

Her fiance watched the Knicks with his family. Watching the team come so close so many times and then finally seeing them win was a "full-circle moment."

"The fact that they won after so many years of not being good, I just love it," Robinson said. "It’s historic."

Travis Hoy, 37, who lives on the Upper West Side, made friends with the couple at the bar. He said it was remarkable to see so many people of different backgrounds united by sports.

"I'm actually happy. World Cup fans are here for this," Hoy said. "There are so many foreigners that are in New York City right now that get to experience this magical thing that has not happened in my whole lifetime. ... And we're remembering how amazing ... humanity is."

By noon, satisfied with their experience, the two closed their tab and left the bar feeling a sense of community. They headed home to try and beat the crowd and to ensure they made a meeting with their wedding venue.

"Being in my city, with people that I love ... is everything," Robinson said. "You can't describe it."