New York’s State Liquor Authority has begun the process that could lead to Madison Square Garden—home of the Knicks and Rangers—losing its liquor license, according to the New York Post.
The reason for this move is that James Dolan, the owner of the property, has been charged with banning attorneys from the venues (MSG, Radio City Music Hall, and Beacon Theater) that are in active litigation against him or the Garden, identifying them through facial recognition technology. Dolan’s other properties would also lose their liquor licenses.
Charles Stravalle, a New York State Liquor Authority investigator and retired police captain, has been assigned to look into whether that ban violated New York State’s beverage laws that require establishments to admit the general public.
Four violations were reportedly received via certified mail last month on February 21st. They demanded that Dolan’s properties provided a formal plea by the 15th of March. Dolan instead filed a petition in Manhattan Supreme Court asking a judge to put an end to the SLA violations. He called them a collective “abuse of power.”
“This gangster-like governmental organization has finally run up against an entity that won’t cower in the face of their outrageous abuses. While others that have been subject to this harassment may have been forced into submission or silence, we are taking a stand on behalf of our fans and the many small businesses who have long been subject to the SLA’s corruption,” Dolan told the New York Post.
Dolan also said that other venues like clubs or bars prohibit entry based on weaker criteria like dress codes or “vibes.”
As for whether fans would tolerate a brewless Garden, the Post says the idea would be unpopular, to say the least.
The next step in this saga is for the charges to go to a hearing where the authority’s board can determine the proper consequences. Potential outcomes include fines, cancellation, suspension, or revocation of liquor licenses.
