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Madison Square Garden bans T-shirt designer over 'Ban Dolan' shirt — years after he made it
By
Charles Lane
Published Mar 26, 2025
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Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images
By
Charles Lane
Published Mar 26, 2025
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A T-shirt designer said he’s been banned from all Madison Square Garden venues over merch critical of Knicks owner James Dolan — a move he only learned about this week.
The ban represents the latest tilt of Dolan's ire against his critics. In 2023, he acknowledged using facial recognition technology to spot his perceived enemies and ban them from his properties. In 2022, Dolan banned a lawyer escorting Girl Scouts to a Radio City Music Hall show because her law firm was litigating against his companies.
Frank William Miller Jr., 44, told Gothamist that while the incident raises concerns about the Madison Square Garden CEO and executive chairman's control over major cultural venues like the home of the Knicks and the Rockettes based on personal grievances, it’s also just funny.
"I just think it's amusing that a lowly thousandaire like myself is living rent free in a billionaire's head," Miller said. "The only part that really bothers me is that my mom was crying."
Miller said he created the "Ban Dolan" T-shirt in 2017 out of irritation that Dolan banned former Knicks player Charles Oakley from Madison Square Garden.
"It was a little tough to be a professional sports fan,” he said. “I pretty much haven't been an active sports watcher since."
The shirt gained notoriety after his friend wore it to a Knicks game in 2021 and was told to remove it.
Miller said he was unaware of any ban until March 24, when he was stopped while attending a Cleo Sol concert at Radio City Music Hall with his parents, who were celebrating their 47th anniversary.
Seven security officers surrounded him in line and pulled him aside, he said.
"They rushed our metal detector line and said, 'Stop the line, stop the line,’” Miller said. “Real theatrical, index fingers on the earpiece saying 'We may have a potential P-five.’”
They presented him with a trespassing notice and informed him he was banned from all MSG venues, which include Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden and the Beacon Theatre.
His mother started crying, but Miller said he encouraged his parents to enjoy the show without him.
According to MSG, Miller was banned for violating the company's code of conduct, but a spokesperson declined to cite specifics.
Some have raised privacy concerns about Dolan unwittingly using the biometric data of ticket holders to ban them from his properties, but last year a judge dismissed a lawsuit claiming such bans violate privacy laws.
“These venues are bigger than his ownership — they were here before his family owned them,” Miller said. “They belong to the people, maybe not legally, but the Knicks, Radio City… it's just crazy.”
Tagged
new york city
public safety
manhattan
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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