Banished from MSG Venues Over Old T-Shirt and Facial Recognition

A concert at New York’s Radio City Music Hall turned into an unexpected ordeal for Frank Miller, whose entire experience was overshadowed by a lifetime ban from Madison Square Garden (MSG) properties. Despite attending to celebrate his parents’ wedding anniversary, Miller was stopped at security and informed he was barred from all MSG venues, including Radio City, the Beacon Theatre, and the Chicago Theatre.

The Unexpected Ban

Miller recounts that security handed him a notice of a lifetime ban, citing an incident at MSG in 2021. Strangely, he hadn’t visited the venue in nearly two decades, leaving him perplexed. He suspects his ban is linked to a T-shirt he designed years ago, featuring a provocative slogan and a vintage Knicks logo style, which criticized the team’s owner, James Dolan.

Facial Recognition and Past Incidents

MSG Entertainment declines to specify the exact reasons behind Miller’s ban or how he was identified, but Miller suspects facial recognition technology played a role. The company has a history of deploying such systems—a controversial practice in many public venues.

In 2017, Charles Oakley, a former Knicks star, was forcibly removed during a game, leading to legal conflicts. Miller’s “Ban Dolan” shirt—created in response to that incident—became a symbol of fan criticism towards Dolan’s management. When a friend wore a similar shirt to a Knicks game in 2021, he was ejected and banned, an incident widely covered and criticized.

The Recent Incident

This time, Miller was not wearing the controversial shirt nor attending a Knicks event. His acquaintance on social media tagged him as the shirt’s designer during the 2021 incident, but Miller hadn’t visited MSG venues in years. Yet, security at Radio City identified him and pulled him aside before security screening, asked for ID, and escorted him to another entrance, informing him he was banned from all MSG properties.

Miller emphasizes he has not purchased tickets himself to MSG events—tickets were either gifted or obtained through work. He finds the experience somewhat humorous until he learned his parents, present at the show, were upset—his mother was crying in the lobby. He worries that the surveillance system, possibly via facial recognition, unjustly linked him to past events and his online activities.

Broader Concerns and MSG’s Response

Miller hopes his case raises awareness about the pervasive surveillance “panopticon” and its implications on privacy and fairness. MSG’s EVP of Communications, Mikyl Cordova, states that Miller reportedly made threats against an MSG executive on social media and sold offensive merchandise, violating the company’s conduct policy.

Interestingly, MSG has a history of more overt surveillance. In 2022, a New Jersey attorney was barred from Radio City after being flagged on an “attorney exclusion list”—a list compiled using facial recognition technology, highlighting how the venue monitors certain individuals.

Final Thoughts

Frank Miller considers appealing his ban but currently views it as a low priority. His experience underscores escalating concerns about data privacy, the use of facial recognition technology, and the power dynamics in big entertainment venues—raising questions about how much surveillance is justified and how it impacts honest fans.

Update (March 28): MSG spokesperson Mikyl Cordova reaffirmed the company’s stance on security and conduct policies, emphasizing the reasons behind Miller’s ban.