New York City is gearing up for what Mayor Zohran Mamdani says could be the largest parade in the city’s history, as the newly crowned NBA champion Knicks prepare for their first‑ever ticker‑tape celebration in Manhattan on Thursday.

City landmarks are already lit in blue and orange, and the Department of Transportation is producing more than two dozen commemorative “Champion Way” street signs. Officials say the signs will line the Canyon of Heroes, with installation expected to begin Wednesday.

The parade is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, June 18. It will start at Battery Park and travel north along Broadway before concluding at City Hall, where the team will receive the key to the city.

“It may well be the largest parade in New York City history, and I think that speaks to what this team means to this city,” Mamdani said. “It also speaks to 53 years of waiting.”

The Knicks clinched the championship Saturday night in San Antonio, triggering celebrations across the five boroughs. But the excitement quickly gave way to unrest in Midtown, where police reported 63 arrests, seven shootings and assaults. Several school buses were set on fire. The NYPD’s Strategic Response Group and mounted unit were deployed, with officers in tactical gear and on horseback.

“There is no amount of excitement or celebration that can ever excuse violence in our city,” Mamdani said.

City officials have not yet released full security and logistics plans for Thursday’s parade. Mamdani said agencies are coordinating to ensure safety and urged fans to celebrate responsibly.

“We’re going to take every precaution to make this a safe and joyous moment for New Yorkers, because people have been waiting their entire lives for this,” he said.

Logistical details and where fans can register for a limited number of tickets for the City Hall ceremony are expected to be released soon.

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