The Empire State Building faced fierce backlash from fans after its ‘disgraceful’ NFL display, showing the New England Patriots’ colors, the rival of the New York Jets and Giants…
The Empire State Building caught flak for displaying the New England Patriots’ colors(Image: X: @EmpireStateBldg)
The Empire State Building faced fierce backlash after displaying the colors of the New England Patriots.
On Sunday, the Patriots, led by the ascendant Drake Maye, punched their ticket to Super Bowl LX, winning 10-7 over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game. Maye, in just his second season, led New England to the Big Game after seven years.
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To celebrate the Patriots’ accomplishment, the Empire State Building flashed its lights in a color scheme reminiscent of New England’s, which did not sit well with fans. The moment came after Mike Vrabel threatened the Patriots’ stars with missing the Super Bowl if they broke a strict rule.
“Santa Clara bound! Shining in @Patriots colors in honor of their AFC Championship win,” the 26-second clip was captioned on X, showing a view of the upper floors of the building in red, blue, and white.
Upon seeing the Empire State Building’s post on social media, droves of fans quickly shared their thoughts, many using the same word to describe their feelings. “DISGRACE,” one fan simply posted in response to seeing one of New York City’s most iconic landmarks displaying the Patriots’ colors.
Another added, “This is disgraceful,” while a third fan shared that same sentiment. A fourth posted that the building will need to amend its agreement with the league, especially with how badly it looks for the New York Jets and New York Giants, as they both are mired in their respective rebuilds.
“You really need to terminate this contract with the NFL. The Johnson’s and Mara’s can’t just pay you to NOT night up in rival colors? They I am sure can match whatever the NFL is paying you,” the fan posited.
An optimistic fan called on the newly elected Zohran Mamdani to change how the Empire State Building seemingly promotes the Jets’ and Giants’ rivals. “Can we stop lighting up the Empire State Building in celebration of non New York Teams,” the fan wrote, which garnered over 1,000 likes on X.
As a whole, fans ultimately shared the sentiment that it does not sit right with them for a New York staple to be cheering for one of the city’s rivals.
That said, Patriots star Milton Williams claimed that the New England head coach laid out some rules for his players as they celebrated the accomplishment. “No curfew tonight,” Williams declared after the fact.
He added: “But the bus leaving at 8 in the morning— so if you ain’t on it, you ain’t playing in the Bowl.” When pressed if he was joking or not, Williams stated, “Oh yeah. I ain’t playing.”
Maye and the Patriots are set to take on Sam Darnold and the Seahawks in a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX.
Fans are once again voicing their frustration over the Empire State Building’s apparent association with NFL teams outside of New York, calling on city leaders and landmark officials to reconsider long-standing promotional agreements.
One particularly outspoken fan urged the iconic skyscraper to cut ties with the NFL altogether. “You really need to terminate this contract with the NFL,” the fan wrote. “The Johnsons and the Maras can’t just pay you to not light up in rival colors? I’m sure they can match whatever the NFL is paying you.” The comment reflects a growing belief among New York football fans that the building’s lighting choices undermine local loyalty.
Another fan, taking a more optimistic tone, appealed directly to newly elected official Zohran Mamdani to intervene. “Can we stop lighting up the Empire State Building in celebration of non-New York teams?” the fan posted on X. The message quickly gained traction, receiving more than 1,000 likes and sparking a broader discussion online about civic pride and sports rivalries.
Overall, the sentiment among fans is clear: many believe it feels wrong for one of New York City’s most recognizable landmarks to appear to support teams that directly rival the New York Jets and New York Giants. For these fans, the Empire State Building is more than a tourist attraction—it’s a symbol of the city’s identity, and they want that identity reflected consistently, especially during high-profile NFL moments.
Meanwhile, on the field, celebrations continued for the New England Patriots following their latest success. Patriots defensive standout Milton Williams revealed that head coach Jerod Mayo laid down strict but memorable ground rules for the team’s post-victory festivities. “No curfew tonight,” Williams said. “But the bus is leaving at 8 in the morning—so if you ain’t on it, you ain’t playing in the Bowl.”
When asked whether he was joking, Williams made it clear he was serious. “Oh yeah. I ain’t playing,” he said, emphasizing the coach’s no-nonsense approach even amid celebration.
Looking ahead, quarterback Drake Maye and the Patriots are preparing for a highly anticipated matchup against Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks. The game will serve as a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX, adding another layer of intrigue for NFL fans nationwide.
As passions rise both on and off the field, the debate over loyalty, tradition, and symbolism in New York sports culture shows no signs of cooling down.
