THE Freedom of New York are WNBA champions at last, and New York City is about to celebrate victory with a ticker tape parade.
The Liberty emerged triumphant after an incredible five-game series with the Minnesota Lynx that culminated in a 67-62 overtime victory. The victory ended the Big Apple’s 27-year wait for a WNBA crown. While the wait for New York’s basketball championship dates back to 1973, Thursday’s parade will be a moment to savor for a basketball-mad city.
“This championship is not just for us and the City of New York, it is for all Liberty Loyals and our Brooklyn community!” Keia Clarke, CEO of Liberty, said in a press release from team press. “We are honored to celebrate at the iconic Canyon of Heroes, and we also gather with our passionate fans at home in Brooklyn. The borough community has welcomed us wholeheartedly since we began playing at the Barclays Center and we want to share this moment with them.”
Here’s what you need to know to follow the New York Liberty parade along Manhattan’s Canyon of Heroes:
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When is the New York Liberty Championship Parade?
The New York Liberty will host a parade celebrating the 2024 WNBA Championship on Thursday, October 24.
Participation in the Victory Parade is free and will begin at 10 a.m. ET at Battery Place. Very quickly, it will turn onto Broadway and head up the Canyon of Heroes, a roughly 0.8-mile stretch ending at City Hall.
What will the New York Liberty Championship Parade include?
The New York Liberty Parade will include a slow procession along Broadway, heading from the southern edge of Manhattan to City Hall. Upon arrival, the Liberty will participate in a ceremony on the steps of City Hall (an event whose start time depends on the speed of the parade and its conclusion). While the ceremony at City Hall is open to the public, the team announced that all tickets for the event have been claimed.
After all that, on Thursday at 7 p.m. the Liberty will host a championship celebration at the Barclays Center. While this event is free and open to the public, tickets are required and, according to the team’s website, those tickets are already sold out.
How to Watch the New York Freedom Parade
The New York Liberty parade celebrating the team’s 2024 WNBA championship victory will be streamed. ABC 7 New York and on Fox 5 NY.
Who else had a ticker tape parade in New York?
The New York Liberty will host the eighth ticker tape parade in New York since the year 2000. Ticker parades in New York date back to October 28, 1886, when—somewhat in connection with this year’s parade for the Liberty—a Spontaneous celebration took place following the inauguration of the Statue of Liberty.
Since then, a wide range of events have received the same treatment, with visiting dignitaries, U.S. Olympic delegations, early airmen and military leaders all holding their own parades. In recent years, however, ticker-tape parades have largely focused on sports.
While the most recent parade was held in 2021 to honor healthcare professionals and essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the other six such events since 2000 have focused on champion teams. The New York Yankees (2000, 2009), New York Giants (2008, 2012) and the United States Women’s National Soccer Team (2015, 2019) have had the honor of climbing the Canyon of Heroes, with the Liberty joining them on Thursday.
Historically, the Yankees have held the most ticker-tape parades, with nine such events occurring over the years. Aviator Richard E. Byrd was honored with three of these parades, more than any other individual.
This article was originally published on USA TODAY: New York Liberty Parade: Time, How to Watch WNBA Celebration
