What’s better than watching the Knicks score a historic victory? Watching them do it while enjoying a good old-fashioned NYC pizza.
That’s exactly what New York sports fans did last night during Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Pizzerias throughout the boroughs were keeping New Yorkers well fed throughout the Knicks’ ultimate slam-dunk win on June 3, beating the San Antonio Spurs, 105 to 95.
Numerous restaurants told amNewYork that before, during and even after the headline-making game, their phones were ringing nonstop, their food delivery apps and websites were flooded with orders, and lines for pie pick-ups were out the door.
Orders at Rocco Pizza BedStuy, located at 765 DeKalb Ave. in Brooklyn, were up 20% from a typical day. Sports fans stocked up big time on the shop’s most famous delight: Grandma pies.
“I could tell you that they were definitely ordering grandma pies, which was featured in the New York Times as the best grandma in NYC,” said Monica Prestia, a spokesperson for Rocco Pizza BedStuy.
Pizza was a slam-dunk order during Knicks NBA Finals Game 1
Other popular game-day delicacies from the restaurant included vodka, pepperoni, hot honey, chicken, bacon and ranch slices. Plenty of full-on entrees were ordered throughout the night.
“Pepperoni pinwheels, and our chicken parmigiana with ricotta and basil, and also plenty of orders for meatballs,” Prestia said.
It is not surprising that pizza places were busy for the game. According to a DoorDash report, pizza was the runner-up to wings on Super Bowl Sunday this year.
The report found that Americans made over 637,000 pizza orders during the Big Game, which authors said was “enough pizza orders to feed a sold-out Levi’s Stadium crowd nearly 10 times.”
Similar to football fans, New York basketball fans love their pizza, too.
Pauline Gee, owner of Paulie Gee’s, said business at the restaurant chain’s Greenpoint and East Village slice shops were up about 75% in the evening of the game. However, she added that delivery at the Greenpoint location was business as usual.
“We only have delivery in Greenpoint at this time, and that was not any higher than usual,” she said. “We have locations in Madison Square Garden operated by them. I was there at the watch party last night and it was very crowded at all three stands there both before the game and at halftime.”
Andrew Rigie, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, which champions the Big Apple’s restaurant and bar industry, was happy to share his thoughts about Wednesday night’s win-win for the Knicks and local pizzeria owners.
“With the Knicks in the NBA Finals, New York is electric,” Rigie said. “There’s no better place to cheer them on than at a local bar with fellow fans. When we show up for our team, we’re also showing up for small businesses, workers, and the neighborhood economy that makes this city strong. Let’s go Knicks!”
Over on Staten Island, Mr. Pizza of Mr. Pizza’s Pasta House and Mangia Pizzeria were both exceptionally busy for the game.
“It was a great night for business and the Knicks,” a rep for Mangia Pizzeria said.
Even serious Knicks fans outside of New York made it a point to watch the game with some solid delivery eats.
“I’m a big Knicks fan and grew up in Westchester,” Ernie Schiavone of who now lives in Delaware, said. “I’m ordering wings. I wish I could get them from the Candle Light in Scarsdale, but will get them locally.”
Meanwhile, as the Knicks remain strong and just three wins from their first NBA championship in more than 50 years, great pizza will live on, no matter the outcome of the games.
