The Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium is typically filled with stars, but for two unforgettable nights in June, some of basketball’s biggest stars took over the dome.

As the New York Knicks battled the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals, Liberty Science Center joined the excitement sweeping across the tri-state area with two sold-out LSC After Dark Finals Watch Parties. Fans from both sides of the Hudson cheered on the Knicks, turning LSC into one of New Jersey’s most unique places to experience the team’s historic championship run!

On June 10, Knicks fans sold out the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium to watch Game 4 unfold on its massive 89-foot screen. With just 1.2 seconds remaining, OG Anunoby scored the game-winning basket, securing a dramatic 107-106 victory.

The win gave the Knicks a commanding 3-1 series lead and placed them just one victory away from their first NBA championship since 1973. Inside the sold-out planetarium, every basket, block, and momentum-changing play appeared larger than life as fans cheered beneath the dome.

With the Knicks on the verge of making history, orange-and-blue fever returned to LSC for Game 5 on June 13! The title-clinching watch party expanded beyond the planetarium, with fans watching inside the JDW 3D Science Theater and additional viewing areas throughout the Center. Before tipoff, guests could test their own basketball skills in a free-throw contest for the chance to win LSC swag, return tickets, and other prizes.

The Knicks once again found themselves trailing, this time falling behind by 16 points in San Antonio. But the team completed another comeback behind a 45-point performance from Jalen Brunson, defeating the Spurs 94-90 and winning the series 4-1. Brunson was named NBA Finals MVP as the Knicks captured their first championship in 53 years!

From championship games and viral videos to blockbuster movies and major television appearances, Liberty Science Center continues to find itself at the intersection of science and pop culture.

The LSC After Dark Finals Watch Parties transformed the nation’s largest planetarium into a one-of-a-kind sports arena, giving fans the opportunity to experience two of the most memorable games in Knicks history together. The Knicks made history, and LSC had a front-row seat.