Smile! You’re visible on the chaos camera.
The mixture of stress, anxiety, and ultimate joy felt by Knicks fans gathering outside Madison Square Garden on Wednesday was captured by several traffic cameras in midtown.
Artist Molly Coleman recently launched GardenCam to document the fervor surrounding the basketball action for those who, for various reasons, couldn’t make it or were hesitant to attend.
“I noticed a lot of excitement among the fans, and as a New Yorker, I wanted to craft something that my fellow city dwellers could experience and feel connected to during this unique event,” Coleman shared.
“You can witness the energy in real time.”
Wednesday’s Game 4 marked the first time the GardenCam caught the crowd, which streams footage from six traffic cameras placed outside, allowing fans to “watch people watch the Knicks.”
Yet, there was minimal human oversight on that day, as the venue canceled its outdoor viewing party just hours before the game.
The livestream primarily displayed fans coming and going from the famed arena, alongside footage of the NYPD setting up a perimeter around the area.
Much of the uncontrolled rowdy behavior moved out of the camera’s range and spilled into nearby neighborhoods, particularly the densely populated West Village, which was, in a way, taken over by enthusiastic supporters.
Coleman kicked off GardenCam to pay homage to the Knicks’ impressive journey towards an NBA title.
Inspired by a suggestion from a friend, he repurposed his well-received software. Last week, he integrated access to over 900 city traffic cameras through a platform previously called TrafficCamPhotoBooth.com, connecting users to streaming feeds available from the Department of Transportation’s site.
With a nod to the “orange and blue” scene surrounding MSG that floods social media on game days, he decided to focus on creating a Knicks-centric version.
“Some fans are posting from their front yards, while others are climbing lampposts for a better view over the crowd,” Coleman remarked. “I thought, ‘I have a different way to capture this energy more comprehensively.’
“I think it’s a fantastic way to showcase the city’s elation from another angle.”
The feed can be a bit shaky, with crowds forming around the arena, giving it a kind of time-lapse feel.
Interestingly, these cameras can sometimes be quicker than some television providers, giving viewers real-time cues on the game’s momentum based on the crowd’s reactions.
This setup allows people to experience historic moments and energetic gatherings without leaving their homes.
While the presence of star players has somewhat impacted attendance outside the arena in previous games, Coleman anticipates that security measures will ease by the time Game 5 heads to Texas, giving plenty of space for devoted Knicks fans around the Mecca.
