“As the owner of a professional sports club in New York, you are unloved until you die. » James Dolan has been aware of this for almost 25 years, during which time he acquired the Knicks and Rangers, purchased by his father a few years earlier. In the New York megalopolis, where “ all the supporters think they are the owner or the GM », the leader knows that he has a permanent target on his back.
The poor results of the Knicks over the last two decades are mechanically accompanied by a wave of criticism towards the owner of the place. According to him, two types of supporters present themselves at Madison Square Garden: those who come to have fun; those who are in conflict and behave inappropriately.
So rather than remaining passive in the face of this ambient discontent, the owner preferred to take the bull by the horns regarding the second category, which must, according to him, be kept aside. Thus, from 2018, a facial recognition system was put in place to “sort” among spectators.
Not all signs are tolerated
But what does James Dolan mean by inappropriate behavior? The New York Timeswho devotes a long paper to his “Sphere” project in Las Vegas, and the quest for “ redemption » arising from it, asked him the question.
Basically, if a fan holds up a sign calling on the owner to sell the team, they face eviction due to a violation of the venue’s code of conduct. “ We don’t want you “, can retort James Dolan for whom this type of message is directed “ on a personal basis, against the person responsible, that is to say me “.
“ If you’re holding up a sign that says ‘Play better, this team sucks’, fine. It’s part of being a fan », adds the leader, thus distinguishing between the attack targeting a group or an individual.
This system, whose cameras can retrace a spectator’s entire evening, also makes it possible to prevent access to certain unwanted people, such as the lawyers who are prosecuting him. James Dolan, who compiled a list of banned lawyers last year, says he doesn’t understand why anyone would expect him to welcome ” troll lawyers “, as he calls them, which attack his business interests.
“ This is what happens when your dad gives you a toy and says, ‘Do whatever you want with it.’ “, ironically formulates Larry Hutcher, a year-round Knicks fan for 47 years, first cited on this list because his law firm represented ticket resellers who sued Madison Square Garden Entertainment. The latter, who then sued for having been banned, was able to regain his place… after a judge finally dismissed his clients’ complaint against James Dolan’s company.
James Dolan doesn’t like owning sports franchises
Despite this very controversial operation, the New York leader insists on the fact that he is not at the origin of most of the skirmishes reported in the press.
“ You run the most famous gym in the world, so most of the time the fight comes to you. The best way to avoid this kind of fight is to let the other party know that you are ready to fight », Books James Dolan who thus assumes the past expulsion of Charles Oakley: “ It’s a matter of principle. »
The 2017 altercation, which is the subject of an ongoing lawsuit, remains a source of anger among Knicks fans. Looking back on this incident, James Dolan said he would have liked ” being able to change Charles Oakley “. A wish that leaves the former Knicks player incredulous: “ It’s embarrassing for him to say that, he’s the one who should behave better. Until death. »
Today, part of James Dolan’s future is being played out far from New York, in Las Vegas where he will open this “Sphere” supposed to revolutionize live performance.
The idea for this crazy project, costing more than two billion dollars, began to germinate in 2015, when he was wondering how to use the available cash from the companies under his control.
He considered expanding his sports portfolio, possibly purchasing a baseball or football team. But although the Knicks and Rangers are “ near and dear to [s]we heart “, James Dolan admits bluntly: ” I don’t really like owning sports teams. »
