New York City, New York — As excitement builds around the New York Knicks’ NBA Finals appearance, one Manhattan bar owner is taking fan enthusiasm to another level by offering customers a potentially huge discount if the team starts the series with a victory.
The creative promotion has already generated attention across New York and highlights the growing buzz surrounding the city’s basketball team.
Bar Offers Fans $100 Off If Knicks Win
At The Jeffrey, a popular Upper East Side beer garden, customers could receive $100 off their bar tabs if the Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The idea comes from owner Andy Freedman, a longtime Knicks supporter who wanted to create a memorable experience for fans gathering to watch the game.
According to Freedman, the city’s excitement surrounding the team’s playoff run has been unlike anything New Yorkers have experienced in recent years.
“The city’s a buzz, it’s great for the bar scene,” Freedman said.
“Since the pandemic there really hasn’t been this extensive communal excitement that the Knicks have brought out in New Yorkers and really we’re just feasting and feeding off that.”
The promotion quickly gained attention because of the significant discount being offered to patrons.
Clever Bet Helps Offset Potential Losses
While handing out $100 discounts could become expensive, Freedman found a creative way to reduce the financial risk. The bar owner reportedly placed a $5,000 wager through prediction market Kalshi tied to the outcome of the game.
If the Knicks win, Freedman expects the bet could return more than $13,000, helping offset much of the money lost through discounted tabs.
If the Knicks lose, however, he stands to lose the wager.
Even so, Freedman believes the increased foot traffic and publicity surrounding the event will make the promotion worthwhile regardless of the outcome.
“I’m not an obsessive gambler, but I dabble every now and then,” he said. “I looked into a few things and decided it’d be a really cool thing to run with.”
California and Florida Could See Massive Release of Specially Bred Mosquitoes Under EPA Proposal
Previous Knicks Promotion Went Viral
This is not the first time The Jeffrey has linked customer discounts to Knicks playoff success.
During the Eastern Conference Finals, the bar offered a promotion that reduced customers’ bills by one percentage point for every point the Knicks won by in a playoff game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Knicks’ dominant 130-93 victory resulted in customer tabs being reduced by 37%.
The promotion attracted widespread attention and even became the subject of media coverage, helping elevate the profile of the Manhattan establishment.
The success of that promotion helped inspire the latest Finals-related offer.
Longtime Knicks Fan Enjoying Historic Run
Freedman, who co-founded The Jeffrey in 2013, has lived in New York for more than two decades and says he has supported the Knicks through both successful and difficult seasons.
Now, with the team making a historic postseason run, he says the atmosphere around the city has been remarkable.
“It’s been nothing short of amazing, it’s historic the run they’ve been on,” Freedman said. “And you gotta hope it keeps on going.”
For many fans, the promotion is about more than discounts—it reflects the excitement and optimism surrounding a Knicks team that has energized basketball supporters throughout New York.
It’s worth noting that the potential $100 discount does not apply to taxes or tips, according to the promotion.
Would you visit a bar offering discounts tied to your favorite team’s success? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
