James Dolan defends MSG's facial-recognition lawyer exclusions; New York officials object

Timeline

12 timeline entries on this page. Dates: January 25, 2023 to August 14, 2026

1. January 2023

   1. January 252023January 25, 2023

      Letitia James requests information about facial-recognition exclusions

      The attorney general questioned whether litigation-related exclusions violated civil and human rights laws and urged MSG to reverse its policy.

      [01]Letitia James

      James questions the exclusion of lawyers at firms suing MSG and asks the company to reverse its policy. Her letter raises possible violations; it is not a court finding.

      Letitia James seeks information about MSG's facial-recognition exclusion policy · Letitia JamesAttorney general's statement and description of the information request
   2. January 262023January 26, 2023

      Dolan defends the policy; Hoylman-Sigal calls for legislation

      Reaction

      Dolan defended the exclusions in a FOX 5 interview. Hoylman-Sigal responded that legislators should expand admission protections to sporting events. In a statement the same day, MSG said the policy kept attorneys with active lawsuits against the company out of its venues until the litigation ended and did not cover sexual harassment or employment discrimination claims.

      [02]James Dolan defends MSG's lawyer-exclusion policy in a FOX 5 interview

      Dolan argues that a private venue may exclude lawyers involved in litigation against it. The article also carries MSG's explanation of the policy and its exceptions.

      James Dolan defends MSG's lawyer-exclusion policy in a FOX 5 interviewFacial recognition and property-rights exchanges; company statement at the end

      [03]Brad Hoylman-Sigal

      Hoylman-Sigal calls for legislation expanding admission protections to sporting events and criticizes the exclusion policy.

      Brad Hoylman-Sigal responds to James Dolan's defense of the exclusions · Brad Hoylman-SigalHoylman-Sigal's response to the FOX 5 interview

      [04]Georgetown Law Technology Review analysis of MSG's facial-recognition exclusions

      Rodriguez criticizes the policy while questioning whether existing state law prohibited it. His analysis argues for broader regulation of private facial-recognition uses.

      Georgetown Law Technology Review analysis of MSG's facial-recognition exclusionsMarch 2023 analysis; paragraphs separating legality from the policy's merits

      [05]MSG Entertainment states its position regarding adverse attorney policy

      MSG's statement describes the policy as barring attorneys with active lawsuits against the company until the litigation ends and says it does not cover sexual harassment or employment discrimination claims.

      MSG Entertainment states its position regarding adverse attorney policyOur Policy and Our Rights section

2. February 2023

   1. February 22023February 2, 2023

      Assembly bill would extend ticket-holder protections to sporting events

      Assemblymember Tony Simone's bill, the same as Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal's S2424, would add sporting events to Civil Rights Law 40-b, which bars covered venues from turning away adult ticket holders. It was referred to committee in 2023 and again in 2024 and did not advance. A 2025-2026 version, A6310, the same as S9738, was referred to committee in 2025 and 2026. We found no record that either chamber had passed it as of October 2026.

      [06]New York Assembly bill A3195 (2023-2024 session)

      The Assembly record shows the bill, the same as S2424, adding sporting events to Civil Rights Law 40-b, and its referrals to committee in 2023 and 2024.

      New York Assembly bill A3195 (2023-2024 session)Bill summary, actions and sponsor memo

      [07]New York Assembly bill A6310 (2025-2026 session)

      The Assembly record shows the 2025-2026 version of the sporting-events bill, the same as S9738, with referrals to committee in March 2025 and January 2026. The sponsor memo cites MSG's exclusions of ticket holders.

      New York Assembly bill A6310 (2025-2026 session)Bill summary, actions and sponsor memo
   2. February 62023February 6, 2023

      MSG exempts lawyers in Tao Group litigation from the policy

      MSG Entertainment said it had lifted its adverse attorney policy for litigation pending with Tao Group Hospitality entities while it explored a sale of its majority stake in Tao. The company said the policy stayed in place for other firms with active litigation against it.

      [08]Madison Square Garden lifts ban on some lawyers as it explores sale of Tao Group

      The ABA Journal quotes MSG's announcement lifting the policy for litigation with Tao Group entities and keeping it for other firms with active litigation against the company.

      Madison Square Garden lifts ban on some lawyers as it explores sale of Tao GroupArticle text quoting MSG's February 6 release

3. March 2023

   1. March 282023March 28, 2023

      Appeals court vacates the injunction in Hutcher's suit over the ban

      The Appellate Division, First Department, agreed with the trial court that Civil Rights Law 40-b requires MSG venues to admit ticket holders to theatrical performances and concerts but not to sporting events. It vacated the November 2022 preliminary injunction, holding that the statute's damages remedy is the plaintiffs' only remedy.

      [09]Hutcher v Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., March 2023 appellate decision

      The First Department held that Civil Rights Law 40-b covers MSG venues when they host theatrical performances or concerts but not sporting events. It vacated the preliminary injunction because the statute's damages remedy is the plaintiffs' only remedy.

      Hutcher v Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., March 2023 appellate decisionDecision and order, 2023 NY Slip Op 01646

4. November 2023

   1. November 282023November 28, 2023

      Appeals court lets the Liquor Authority case against MSG proceed

      The Appellate Division affirmed an April 2023 judgment dismissing MSG's bid to stop a State Liquor Authority proceeding. The authority had charged that the attorney exclusions meant the venues were no longer open to the general public. The court held that the authority had not exceeded its power and that MSG had to complete the administrative hearing before seeking court review. It quashed one investigatory subpoena the authority had sent to a nonparty.

      [10]Matter of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. v New York State Liquor Authority, November 2023 appellate decision

      The court affirmed the dismissal of MSG's challenge to a State Liquor Authority proceeding over its attorney exclusions, required MSG to complete the administrative hearing first, and quashed one subpoena issued to a nonparty.

      Matter of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. v New York State Liquor Authority, November 2023 appellate decisionDecision and order, 2023 NY Slip Op 06090

5. December 2023

   1. December 72023December 7, 2023

      Appeals court rules in the Hutcher case as the firm drops its suit

      The Appellate Division affirmed the denial of MSG's motion to dismiss the Civil Rights Law 40-b claims and reversed, as premature, a partial summary judgment of $662.35 for one of the firm's lawyers. The plaintiffs had told the court they would not pursue the case. Larry Hutcher said the firm dropped its suit after the ticket-reseller litigation that led to its ban was resolved, the ABA Journal reported.

      [11]Hutcher v Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., December 2023 appellate decision

      The court affirmed the denial of MSG's motion to dismiss the Civil Rights Law 40-b claims and reversed a partial summary judgment of $662.35 as premature. It notes that the plaintiffs said they would not pursue the case.

      Hutcher v Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., December 2023 appellate decisionDecision and order, 2023 NY Slip Op 06314

      [12]Lawsuits challenging Madison Square Garden's lawyer ban are abating; only 2 remain

      The ABA Journal reports that Davidoff Hutcher & Citron dropped its suit after the ticket-reseller case behind its ban was resolved, and that two challenges to the policy remained.

      Lawsuits challenging Madison Square Garden's lawyer ban are abating; only 2 remainArticle text

6. May 2024

   1. May 72024May 7, 2024

      Federal judge dismisses a biometric-privacy suit tied to the exclusions

      Judge Lewis A. Kaplan dismissed claims by Aaron Gross and Jacob Blumenkrantz that MSG violated a New York City biometric privacy law by sharing customers' biometric data with a vendor to keep out lawyers at firms suing it. The court ruled that the law bars profiting from the data transaction itself and does not reach every indirect benefit a company draws from sharing the data.

      [13]Gross v. Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., memorandum and opinion

      Judge Kaplan dismissed claims that MSG violated New York City's biometric identifier law by sharing biometric data with a vendor to keep out lawyers at firms suing it. The opinion addresses the city law, not the merits of the exclusion policy.

      Gross v. Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., memorandum and opinionDocument 46, Case 1:23-cv-03380 (S.D.N.Y.), pages 2-4

7. August 2025

   1. August 132025August 13, 2025

      MSG says lawyers suing it stay barred until their cases end

      ESPN reported that MSG's exclusion list remained in effect and that, according to reports, more than a thousand lawyers at about 90 firms had been barred since 2022. In a statement issued after the story was published, MSG said the policy exists "to ensure the safety and security of our patrons and employees" and that firms suing the company or its employees "are deemed to be hostile and are prohibited from patronizing our venues until the litigation is concluded." MSG said their lawyers are reinstated once the litigation ends.

      [14]ESPN reports that MSG's exclusion list remains in effect

      Devin Gordon's August 2025 ESPN feature describes MSG's letters barring lawyers at firms suing the company and quotes a statement MSG issued after publication. Figures on the number of barred lawyers are attributed to other reports.

      ESPN reports that MSG's exclusion list remains in effectSections on the attorney exclusion letters and MSG's statement

8. April 2026

   1. April 302026April 30, 2026

      MSG revokes the tickets of a lawyer suing it for an injured officer

      WIRED reported that a letter to attorney John Scola dated April 30, 2026, said "Any tickets to MSG Venues ... are hereby revoked." Scola had sued MSG in February on behalf of NYPD officer John Przybyszewski, who alleges injuries suffered while working security at a 2025 boxing match at an MSG venue. MSG did not respond to WIRED's request for comment.

      [15]A New York Cop Got Injured at a Boxing Match. Now Madison Square Garden Is Banning His Lawyer

      WIRED reports that an April 30, 2026, letter revoked attorney John Scola's tickets to MSG venues after he sued MSG for an injured NYPD officer. MSG did not respond to WIRED's request for comment.

      A New York Cop Got Injured at a Boxing Match. Now Madison Square Garden Is Banning His LawyerArticle text describing the April 30 letter

9. July 2026

   1. July 222026July 22, 2026

      Liquor Authority drops its access charges against MSG venues

      Gothamist reported on July 22, 2026, that the State Liquor Authority had dropped, the previous week, its charges that the attorney exclusions violated the public-access rule for liquor licensees. Under the agreement, Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theatre each agreed to pay $10,000 on a separate charge over an unauthorized corporate change. An authority spokesperson said the withdrawal did not endorse any exclusion policy. An MSG spokesperson said the fines concerned an administrative error.

      [16]State drops case over MSG lawyer blacklist, issues $30K fine for paperwork

      Gothamist reports that the State Liquor Authority dropped its access charges against three MSG venues in an agreement under which each venue agreed to pay a $10,000 penalty on a corporate-change charge. It quotes the authority and an MSG spokesperson.

      State drops case over MSG lawyer blacklist, issues $30K fine for paperworkArticle text

10. August 2026

    1. August 142026August 14, 2026

       City Council bill to bar face scans of customers gains majority support

       A City Council bill that would bar businesses open to the public, including arenas and concert venues, from using biometric recognition on customers had 28 co-sponsors, a majority of the 51-member Council, Gothamist reported. Councilmember Shahana Hanif announced the support of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration at a rally outside Madison Square Garden, where speakers cited Dolan's use of the technology to bar attorneys suing the venue. The bill still lacked the support of Speaker Julie Menin.

       [17]Momentum builds to ban Madison Square Garden's 'surveillance empire'

       Gothamist reports that a City Council bill restricting businesses' use of facial recognition on customers gained a majority of Council sponsors and the Mamdani administration's backing. It quotes an MSG spokesperson.

       Momentum builds to ban Madison Square Garden's 'surveillance empire'Article text

       [18]New York City Council Int. 213-2026, biometric recognition in public accommodations

       The Council's legislative record lists the bill's sponsors and actions: introduced and referred on January 29, 2026, heard and laid over by the Committee on Technology on March 2, 2026.

       New York City Council Int. 213-2026, biometric recognition in public accommodationsLegislation details and history