Barclays Center opening up for a (first-ever?) free watch party, as the New York Liberty play a road game tomorrow in the WNBA finals.

This, I believe, is a first. The New York Liberty is in the WNBA finals with the Las Vegas Aces, and the owners of the team and arena operating company are opening the Barclays Center doors free tomorrow for a watch party, while the game is being played in Las Vegas, starting at 3 pm.

Libs fam 🗣️ Join us for a finals game 1 & 2 watch party as we face the Aces.

Tickets for both are available now! NY, come out and help us #LIGHTITUP🗽

Game 1 watch party: https://t.co/jibg0tQwLR
Game 2 watch party: https://t.co/4E4CoSU3kE pic.twitter.com/LF8kSjWmer

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 6, 2023

The tickets for tomorrow--doors open at 2 pm--are General Admission, so it's I suspect they'll be in the Lower Bowl. 

As far as I can recall, arena operators never opened the building for a watch party for the Brooklyn Nets--but then, again, they never got close to the NBA Finals.

The Game 2 watch party, at a club in Manhattan (why not Brooklyn?) called Slate, would presumably draw smaller crowds, given a 9 pm tipoff. Season ticket holders get in free, while others will pay $25, but will get food and drink.

In the best-of-5 series, the Liberty will play at home Sunday, Oct. 15 at 3 pm and, possibly, Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 8 pm. A fifth game would be in Las Vegas.

Here's a preview with two writers from The Athletic predicting a Liberty win. Here's an ESPN preview, with the four contributors split on Aces vs. Liberty.