Hoylman-Sigal seeks to close the Civil Rights Law exception that lets Dolan ban fans from MSG
Brad Hoylman-SigalNew York state senator
Responding to Dolan's defense of the exclusions, Hoylman-Sigal said New York should not let "petty tyrants" impose their will on the public while collecting taxpayer subsidies, and called for closing the sporting-event exception in the state Civil Rights Law that allows Dolan to ban fans from Madison Square Garden.
“New York shouldn’t allow petty tyrants to impose their warped fantasies on the public while reaping millions each year from taxpayer subsidies.”
Official statement
Where this statement fits
James Dolan defends MSG's facial-recognition lawyer exclusions; New York officials object
In January 2023, James Dolan defended MSG Entertainment's use of facial recognition to bar lawyers at firms suing the company, saying a property owner may choose whom it serves. Letitia James and Brad Hoylman-Sigal objected that the policy punished people for pursuing legal claims. A New York appeals court later held that state law requires MSG to admit ticket holders to concerts and theatrical shows but not sporting events, with damages as the only remedy. MSG described the exclusions as a safety measure in 2025, and WIRED reported in May 2026 that MSG had revoked the tickets of a lawyer suing it.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Hoylman-Sigal calls for legislation expanding admission protections to sporting events and criticizes the exclusion policy.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Hoylman-Sigal responded to Dolan's FOX 5 interview.
After the quotation
Hoylman-Sigal then thanked the attorney general and the Manhattan district attorney for opening inquiries into what the statement calls Dolan's vindictive business practices.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Reference point: MSG's policy of excluding lawyers at firms suing it. Hoylman-Sigal calls Dolan a petty tyrant over the exclusions and seeks legislation to stop them. Challenged the characterization loses because the statement attacks the practice itself rather than MSG's account of it.
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More from this case
Read the full caseEFF criticizes MSG's exclusions and warns they could spread to protesters
Electronic Frontier Foundation
“Madison Square Gardens was recently caught using this technology to exclude employees of a law firm that sued the venue’s parent company. ... A business could easily extend this kind of “enemies list” to people who, online or on the sidewalk outside, protest a venue’s discriminatory policies.”Read statement
Williams rejects employer-based venue exclusions
“Individuals should not be removed from a place of business, because their employer is involved in legal action against said business.”Read statement
NYCLU calls MSG's ticket-holder exclusions an example of surveillance dangers
New York Civil Liberties Union
“The widely reported deployment of facial recognition at Madison Square Garden to ban people from the stadium that had already purchased tickets ... illustrates the dangers from the growing surveillance industry and the urgent need for comprehensive privacy protections.”Read statement
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- Hoylman-Sigal seeks to close the Civil Rights Law exception that lets Dolan ban fans from MSG
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The Dispute Index. "Hoylman-Sigal seeks to close the Civil Rights Law exception that lets Dolan ban fans from MSG". First published: 2026-10-18. Last updated: 2026-10-18. https://disputeindex.com/events/5897-responding-to-dolan-s-defense-of-the-exclusions