I'm trying to watch the Liberty road game tonight and actually hear the broadcast. Tip is 7, Knicks preseason starts 7:30. I work near Fulton and usually walk toward LES/EV after closing, so I'd love a spot below 23rd if possible, but I'll ride a little if it's the right setup.

In past years this was easier when the schedules didn't collide, but now any Knicks preseason game means every TV in a sports bar switches to MSG and the speakers follow. I've tried a couple of places around Union Square where the bartender was happy to put the Liberty game on one corner TV, but it stayed on mute with captions. Captions are OK for a second quarter, not for a whole game if you care about the actual broadcast.

I'm not looking for a full watch-party situation. Just a bar that can keep the Liberty feed on a dedicated speaker zone or at least a back TV with sound until the crowd gets there. I know asking at a crowded bar after tip is pointless, so I'd rather call ahead.

If you've been somewhere recently that does this—especially for nationally televised Liberty games—please drop the name and what time to get there. Also curious if anyone knows whether the bar needs a specific package for the game tonight, because that might explain why some places act like it doesn't exist.

YES! This is the exact conflict I've been moaning about. The Liberty get treated like background music every time there’s a Knicks preseason scrimmage, and it’s maddening!! They deserve sound.

A few spots come to mind. Have you tried Standings on 7th Street? It's small, but the staff actually know their AV. I've seen them run a separate feed on the back left TV during a Rangers game. It might work for Liberty if you get there before 6:45.

Also, The Winslow on 2nd Ave used to have a solid WNBA crowd, but I don't know if they kept that up. The real issue is if tonight's game is on something weird like Prime Video or ION—that makes bars hesitate because it’s not on the main cable/satellite box. If it’s on ESPN/ABC, you’re fine.

Please post what you find! I’ll be watching from City Island so I’m not much help, but I want a list for next round.

Wait, bars will actually change the sound for one person? I just moved to Dyker and I thought only the big football games got sound. I went to a bar in Bay Ridge once and was too scared to ask for the Mets audio because everyone was watching the Knicks lol.

Do you just go up and say 'can you put the Liberty game on sound?' Or do you have to like buy a round first? Sorry if this is a dumb question, I'm still learning the rules.

DykerNewbie, it's not a dumb question. The answer is: yes, you can ask, but timing and wording matter. Most Manhattan sports bars have a single main sound feed, plus maybe a second zone for the back room/patio. If you want a smaller game on audio, ask early—before tip, not after the Knicks broadcast starts.

I'd phrase it as: 'Would it be possible to put the Liberty game on that corner TV and keep the back speaker on their audio? I'm happy to sit over there.' Bartenders are much more cooperative if you make it easy and you're not asking them to mute the main room.

To the original question: I've seen Standings do this for non-mainstream matchups, but the room is small and once it's full, the main audio wins. Blind Pig on 14th used to have a secondary zone near the windows, but I haven't tested it this season. In Astoria, The Mad Donkey sometimes keeps one outdoor speaker on a second game, though it's not really a Liberty bar.

One caveat: if the game is on Prime Video, some bars genuinely can't broadcast it because their commercial package doesn't have a reliable feed. It's not always attitude.

lol DykerNewbie, tip a few bucks cash when you ask and you're definitely not weird. I've asked for the sound on random Yankee spring training games and the bartender just flipped a switch. The crowd is the problem though. Once the Knicks fans fill in, Liberty sound gets dropped.

I've had luck at The Grayson on 1st Ave for a WNBA game, but only when there wasn't any Knicks or Rangers game. Tonight is tough. Might be better to find a Liberty watch party. They had some in lower Manhattan last playoffs, but I don't remember the names.

If you find a bar playing Liberty sound, post it. I'm off Wednesday but might still come through.

Quick update: I ended up taking astoria_arch's suggestion and went to Standings. Got there about 6:40, asked for the Liberty game on the back-left TV with sound. Bartender looked a little skeptical, but another staffer knew the AV zone setup and turned the Liberty audio on the rear speaker. It held until about 7:20, then they switched to the Knicks pregame because the bar was getting loud and they had a bunch of people asking.

So not a complete win, but I got the first quarter and change with sound. I'd call it a legitimate option for a non-Knicks night. For tonight's exact conflict, maybe the better play is a restaurant-bar that doesn't bill itself as a sports bar but has TVs and can give you the game without a Knicks crowd.

Chelsea_C, I think you're right about the watch party route. If anyone sees a Liberty official watch party for the next road game, drop it here. I'll keep checking a couple of spots and report back.

Okay, this is really helpful. I live in Astoria so I checked with a spot near me after reading this. The bartender said 'is it on cable?' and I had no idea what to say. What network should I even ask for? Is there an easy way to know before I go in? I don't want to look like a total newbie.

Also, are watch parties usually listed somewhere? Instagram maybe? Sorry, I don't follow the Liberty accounts closely yet.

For real, half the time the staff doesn't know either. Just look up the game on your phone before you walk in. If it says ABC/ESPN, easy. If it says Prime Video or ION or whatever, just ask 'do you get that feed here?' Some bars will stream it on the TV but not on the main speakers.

Up here in Inwood, I'd be shocked if any place gave Liberty audio over a Knicks preseason game. But if you get a place on a night without the Knicks, they'll usually do it for a few people. Calling ahead is the move.

newbie_nate_nyc, yes! Always check the network first. The Liberty games have been on a bunch of different platforms—some on ESPN/ABC, some on Prime Video, some on the local MSG/YES feed depending on the night. If it's Prime Video, don't say 'do you have Prime'—say 'do you have the business feed for Prime Video sports?' because the regular bar might have a staff TV logged in but the commercial setup is different.

I keep a small list of places that have actually said yes to Liberty audio: Standings (as bike_lane_lou confirmed), The Winslow maybe, and a few watch parties last year in Williamsburg. Have you tried any bars in Astoria like Daly's or Blackbirds? They might be more open when there's no hockey.

Good point from cityisland_crab on the Prime Video distinction. It's genuinely a thing. Commercial sports packages are separate from your living room login. A bar manager can't just cast a personal account without breaking the terms, so some places will refuse—which is correct, not laziness.

For a reliable list, I'd say the process works better than a specific bar name anyway: call before tip, say 'will you have the Liberty game on with sound, and what platform is it on?' If they pause and check, you've found a place that knows the difference. If they say 'we'll put it on,' still get there early and sit near the speaker zone you asked for.

I'm in Astoria, and I'd add King of Falafel? no, that's food. Keep an eye on the Liberty social accounts for official watch parties. Those are probably the only guaranteed audio on a conflict night. Let's keep this thread updated for the next road game.