After a 27-year absence, the New York Knicks have finally made a comeback to the NBA Finals, igniting a fervent basketball craze in the city of New York. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) recently repainted the entrance of the 34th St-Penn Station near Madison Square Garden (MSG) in the team’s iconic orange and blue colors, enhancing the subway station’s entrance with Knicks’ branding to hype up the atmosphere for the team’s journey to the Finals.
Located at the intersection of 8th Ave and 34th St, the revamped entrance serves the A, C, and E train lines, adjacent to Madison Square Garden. In addition to the orange and blue color scheme, MTA also redesigned the station’s iconic spherical light fixtures into basketball shapes, infusing the space with a strong Knicks theme.
The installation was set up by MTA to celebrate the Knicks’ successful advancement to the NBA Finals, aiming to make commuters and fans feel the enthusiasm of the entire city of New York supporting their home team. Given that Madison Square Garden is the Knicks’ home court, these decorations have become a new landmark for fans to take photos and mark their visit.
The Knicks have had an outstanding performance this season, making their way back to the NBA Finals after 27 years and achieving their best record since 1999. The team’s advancement quickly captured the city’s attention, with various sectors of New York, from transportation infrastructure to commercial districts and social media, all joining in on the unprecedented “Knicks Fever.”
In addition to the involvement of transportation authorities in the celebration, mayoral candidate Mamdani signed a symbolic executive order on Monday announcing the “cancellation of bedtime for New York City children,” allowing young basketball fans to watch the Knicks’ Finals games. This executive order serves primarily as a promotional effort to show support for the team and further reflects the heightened interest sparked by the Knicks’ advancement to the Finals in New York City.