The Knicks have won 3 NBA titles, but their first parade was held up for 55 years by a budget crisis and a rejected $372 expense report | Fortune

The Knicks' three NBA titles will be celebrated with a ticker-tape parade on Thursday, the franchise's first such event in more than half a century. Historically, Knicks championships did not automatically bring a public procession through Lower Broadway's Canyon of Heroes, reflecting a city cautious about large-scale celebrations. The current plan acknowledges that long absence, tracing a 55-year gap caused by a budget crisis and a rejected $372 expense report that blocked a parade for decades. City officials hope the event will be a unifying moment for fans and a showcase of New York's sporting culture. Mayor Zohran Mamdani projects a crowd-filled spectacle that leverages New York's ticker-tape heritage and features 'Champions Way' signage along the route. The parade is set to begin at 10 a.m. near Battery Park and end at City Hall. The ticker-tape tradition began in 1886 for the Statue of Liberty dedication, was formalized in 1919, and evolved into athletic tributes by the mid-20th century, a history documented by the Downtown Alliance and the Museum of the City of New York.