Once again, Madison Square Garden security is being accused of using facial-recognition software to identify and target fans critical of New York Knicks and Rangers owner James Dolan, according to an article by a long-time NBA reporter.
Fans speaking to Ethan Strauss, formerly of ESPN and The Athletic, claim to have been harassed by security after criticizing the 67-year-old sports mogul and son of HBO and Cablevision founder, Charles Dolan. Furthermore, Strauss reports to have spoken to sources claiming the existence of a six-tiered penalty system used to classify critical fans, including celebrities such as director Spike Lee and actor Michael Rapaport.
DailyMail.com has been in touch with MSG spokespeople, who vowed Friday morning to issue a statement in the near future. The company did give a brief statement to the New York Post on Thursday night: ‘This is written by an unqualified blogger with multiple inaccuracies and incorrect facts.’
Strauss’ report follows similar claims that Madison Square Garden Entertainment used facial-recognition technology to refuse entry to attorneys at firms that are in litigation against the sports holding company. In November, a New York judge gave a partial victory to the attorneys, ordering an end to the bans from musical and theatrical performances at various company properties, while upholding bans at sporting events. Both sides have vowed to appeal the ruling.
Madison Square Garden security is being accused of using facial-recognition software to identify and target fans critical of New York Knicks and Rangers owner James Dolan (left), according to an article by a long-time NBA reporter. Sources also claim the existence of a six-tiered penalty system used to classify critical fans, including celebrities such as director Spike Lee (near right) and actor Michael Rapaport (far right)
Strauss’ report describes a six-tiered penalty system in which Lee is considered a ‘Code 2,’ meaning he’s monitored throughout the building, but not necessarily approached by security. According to Strauss, Lee would receive more security attention, were it not for a highly publicized spat with guards in 2020, which resulted in negative press for Dolan and the Knicks.
Rapaport, however, has been far more critical of Dolan than Lee, once calling him a ‘s*** stain,’ and is now banned entirely.
‘Rapaport is a [Code] 5,’ one source said. ‘He’s banned. He’s going to be approached by senior leadership. Pretty much, his case would be a director or above.’
And it’s not just security guards who are utilized in the process, according to Strauss. Lawyers are reportedly on hand as well.
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‘Now, the way they do it, they have lawyers that attend every event in every venue, not the clubs, just the venues, Beacon Theater, Radio City, and the Arena,’ the source continued. ‘They would have the conversation, too. He would also be approached with a cop, to kind of lock his ass up for trespassing if he did try to put up a fight.’
One fan, a Merrill Lynch financial advisor named Brett Klein, told Strauss that he has been harassed by MSG security at least 10 separate times since writing ‘sell the team’ on a Facebook page dedicated to Dolan’s band, JD & The Straight Shot.
One fan, a Merrill Lynch financial advisor named Brett Klein (pictured), told Strauss that he has been harassed by MSG security at least 10 separate times since writing ‘sell the team’ on a Facebook page dedicated to Dolan’s band, JD & The Straight Shot
Dolan took similar offense in 2019, when a fan was ejected from a JD & The Straight Shot concert in Tennessee for holding a sign reading: ‘Sell the Knicks.’
Dolan also famously barred Knicks legend Charles Oakley from the arena.
Oakley, who already had an acrimonious relationship with Dolan, was arrested on February 8, 2017 after being physically removed from his seat by arena security during a Knicks game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Lee, a longtime Knicks fan, boycotted the team in 2020 after a separate incident with security, but has since returned to the arena. Other critical fans have also been banned from the arena at various times.
And recently, those bans have been extended to attorneys involved in litigation against MSG, as well as clients and colleagues of those attorneys.
Attorney Kelly Conlon says she was flagged and asked to leave a Rockettes performance at Radio City Musical amid her firm’s legal battle with MSG. Another attorney, Larry Hutcher, claims he and 60 colleagues from his firm were barred from the arena after becoming counsel for 24 ticket resellers who have sued the MSG.
In November, New York State Judge Lyle Frank ruled that Hutcher and his colleagues at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP can attend musical and theatrical shows at the Garden, Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theatre if they show up with a valid ticket. However, that ruling doesn’t apply to Knicks and Rangers games. Hutcher, who has been a Knicks season-ticket holder for decades, is appealing that aspect of the ruling.
MSG, meanwhile, argues that it has a right to bar lawyers who are suing the company, adding that security would ‘vigorously defend’ that policy. Company spokespeople also vowed to appeal the judge’s decision.
‘It is not unreasonable that while in active litigation, we would want to preserve our right to protect ourselves against improper disclosure and discovery,’ read an MSG statement. ‘That is why we instituted this policy and we have repeatedly made clear that once litigation is resolved, impacted attorneys will be allowed back in our venues.’
