Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. has announced a lawsuit against the New York State Liquor Authority for threatening to ban the sale of alcohol at company locations.
The filing is the latest in an ongoing feud between New York Knicks owner James Dolan and the SLA, which has been investigating MSG for banning attorneys involved in litigation against the company.
New York law requires that retail stores licensed to sell alcohol must allow public access.
However, MSG has steadfastly refused to allow competing attorneys onto the company’s premises during ongoing litigation.
“This gangster-like government organization has finally encountered an entity that will not bow down in the face of their outrageous abuses,” Dolan, who also owns the NHL’s Rangers, said in a statement. “While others who have been subjected 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 that have long been exposed to SLA corruption.”
New York Knicks owner James Dolan watches the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Fans walk past closed concession stands before the game between the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden
The lawsuit has not yet been served on SLA, the organization said in a statement on Saturday: “As the agency in this lawsuit has not been served at this time, we cannot comment directly on it, but we stand ready to vigorously defend our proceedings, Actions and committed employees.’
In February, the SLA indicted MSG for four violations of the “adverse attorney’s policy,” which also drew the attention of New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose office is investigating the use of facial recognition technology to enforce the policy.
MSG has until March 15 to respond to the SLA’s allegations.
The company alleges that the SLA misrepresents its rules by mandating that venues selling liquor are open to the public, while nightclubs and bars have “far more exclusionary policies.”
In January, the normally media-shy Dolan addressed the Good Day New York controversy.
“If you sue us, all we ask is, don’t come until you’re done with your argument with us — the end,” Dolan told Good Day New York. “And yes, we use facial recognition to enforce that.”
When asked if he would resign from that position, Dolan emphatically replied, “Not at all.”
James’ interest in the case comes after the State Liquor Authority threatened MSG’s license, prompting Dolan to attack the group’s Chief Executive Sharif Kabir (right) head on.
Dolan spoke to Good Day New York after James MSG warned it may be violating anti-bias laws by barring attorneys from its venues if they work for firms suing the company. James’ interest in the case comes after the SLA threatened MSG’s license, prompting Dolan to directly attack the group’s chief executive, Sharif Kabir, during his Good Day New York interview in late January.
“They’re extremely aggressive and they’re like, ‘We’re going to take your liquor license away,'” Dolan said.
“So I have a little surprise… because they’re basically doing this for the public, so we’re going to give him some publicity,” he continued, lifting a small flyer with a picture of Kabir and his contact information.
“What we’re going to do right is pick a night, right? Maybe a Rangers game and we will be closing all liquor and alcohol in the building now.
“That won’t bother me because I’ve been sober for 29 years. I don’t need alcohol But instead we will be putting one of these up where we serve spirits that says: ‘If you would like to drink it as a game please call or email Sharif Kabir, Chief Executive Officer, on this number …and tell him to stick to his knitting.”
“Stop tramping around trying to get press.”
Kabir did not immediately respond to ‘s request for comment.
Dolan spoke to Good Day New York after Attorney General Letitia James (pictured) warned MSG that their practice of banning attorneys from their venues may violate anti-bias laws if they work for firms that do sue companies
The attorney general’s office said in a letter to MSG Entertainment that the ban — and the company’s use of facial recognition technology to enforce it — could violate anti-discrimination laws and prevent attorneys from taking cases such as sexual harassment or workplace discrimination against the company.
“MSG Entertainment cannot fight their litigation in their own arenas,” James, a Democrat, said in a statement. “Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall are world-renowned venues and should treat all customers who have purchased tickets with fairness and respect.”
The bar ban came to light in October 2022 when attorney Larry Hutcher, a longtime New York Knicks season ticket holder, was told his seats had been revoked because his law firm represents ticket resellers who are suing MSG. He then filed a lawsuit.
Since then, other attorneys have come up with stories of being banned from concerts, sporting events and shows, including the Rockettes’ Christmas Gala.
The policy potentially affects thousands of attorneys at numerous firms and will be enforced through the use of technology that scans the faces of people entering venues owned by MSG and matches them to a database of attorneys from banned firms.