Op-ed | The MTA has Knicks fever, too. Here’s how they’re helping fans celebrate and get around.

For the first time ever, we covered up the iconic green paint at the 8th Avenue entrance to 34 St-Penn Station, right outside Madison Square Garden, and even installed some basketball globe lights. It’s become the premier hot spot for Instagram videos. (Apologies to Washington Street in DUMBO.)

People are so excited, when I was at that subway entrance last week, a local bakery was handing out free orange and blue donuts. 

All credit to our amazing in-house Customer team, who love to celebrate all things NYC, especially the Knicks. It started with orange and blue lights in the LIRR concourse at Penn, which we like to think brought the team good juju in their four-game sweeps of the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers, and their hot start against the Spurs in this series. 

Now we’ve expanded to subway announcements starring MSG Celebrity Row regular Tracy Morgan. Another famous Knicks superfan, Fat Joe, did a guest stint as a conductor on the 1 train last week.

As New York natives, both know that taking the train is the best way to get to games at the Garden. No other arena in America has more or better transit options, whether it’s subway, bus, LIRR or Access-A-Ride. 

But it’s not all about efficiency – even though on-time performance continues to climb. Since the playoffs began, there has been a buzz all over New York, especially underground. I’ve seen total strangers bond over the Knicks when they look across the train car and spot another fan decked out in team colors. That’s magic you can only witness on mass transit.

I’ve said before that the MTA system is New York’s town square. It’s one of the few places in the City where people of all incomes and backgrounds come together and coexist – and lately, to show love for the hometown Knickerbockers. You don’t want to miss it.

Go New York, Go New York, Go!

Janno Lieber is chair and CEO of the MTA.