57
JUNE 2026
PHOTOS: NYC FERRY
A
s the New York Knicks 
rocketed to their first NBA 
Championship in 53 years, 
they brought their hometown along 
for their momentous journey to the 
top. With fans traveling from all over 
the surrounding region, local ferry 
operator, NYC Ferry, saw a surge in 
passengers during the series. 
New York City Economic Develop-
ment Corporation (NYCEDC) re-
ported that NYC Ferry set new all-time 
daily and weekly ridership records. 
From June 15-21 the operator record-
ed more than 260,000 boardings, the 
highest weekly ridership ever—over 
20,000 more than the previous record. 
The city’s ticker tape parade on June 
18, to honor the championship team 
helped drive nearly 37,000 boardings 
for that day—48 percent higher than a 
typical summer weekday.
The operator recorded its highest dai-
ly ridership ever on Saturday, June 20, 
with 53,375 boardings, surpassing the 
previous record set on Aug. 2, 2025.
The numbers were notable in part 
because they were achieved before the 
start of the Rockaway Rocket service 
which ferries passengers to a popular 
local beach destination and has his-
torically been a major driver of NYC 
Ferry’s highest ridership days and 
weeks. Rockaway Rocket service was 
operating when the previous daily and 
weekly records were set last summer.
“This record-breaking week is yet an-
other sign of NYC Ferry’s continued 
momentum and importance to New 
York City’s transit ecosystem,” said 
NYCEDC Interim President & CEO 
Jeanny Pak. “From daily commutes to 
beach trips to the Knicks champion-
ship parade, more New Yorkers than 
ever before are choosing NYC Ferry 
to get around the city—or as we like 
to call it: ‘The City of Champions’.”
MEMBER NEWS
NYC Ferry Was the Ride 
for Knicks in Five
The Knicks championship contributed to 
record ridership for NYC Ferry. 

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