NEW YORK (WABC) — Police scuttled an NBA Finals watch party near Madison Square Garden and the New York Knicks warned fans to get to Monday’s matchup at least two hours early as part of enhanced security measures with President Donald Trump attending the game.
Trump is a longtime Knicks fan who confirmed Friday that he would attend the first NBA Finals game in New York since 1999.
Part of the fallout from Trump’s visit was the cancellation of a Game 3 watch party outside MSG. The NYPD said the decision was made in coordination with the Secret Service.
Also, the Knicks are warning fans to bring as little as possible to Game 3 and encouraging them to arrive early as part of enhanced security measures with Trump attending the game.
Officials announced Sunday that team-sanctioned watch parties will go on at Wollman Rink in Central Park and Brooklyn Bowl. Both events reached capacity by Sunday afternoon.
The team announced Monday that a third watch party will take place at Bryant Park.
“These watch parties have become a celebration of New York City itself,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “From every borough and every neighborhood, this city has come together to cheer on the Knicks and share in a moment that belongs to all of us. That’s why we’re adding Bryant Park as an additional watch party location, so even more fans can be part of this incredible Knicks Finals run. Whether you join us in Bryant Park, Central Park or at Brooklyn Bowl, we invite New Yorkers to come together and support our team. Let’s go Knicks.”
The Bryant Park watch party is free and open to the public, but registration is required. The event will have a maximum capacity of 5,000 attendees.
While there is no outdoor watch party outside Madison Square Garden on Monday, the NYPD says it will return for Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Street closures
Physical security enhancements are being installed around Madison Square Garden, including anti-scaling fencing, vehicular mitigation barriers, crowd-control infrastructure and other protective measures.
NYPD will institute temporary street closures as President Trump arrives and departs.
The security perimeter will be from West 30th Street to West 35th Street, between Sixth and Eighth avenues.
Seventh Avenue and Eighth Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic and general pedestrian traffic at 4 p.m.
No one will be allowed in the secure area without a ticket to the game, a train ticket, they are going to a business in the area, they have credentials or some other authorized reason. And everyone entering the secure area will be screened.
You can enter at one of five designated entry points:
west side of Sixth Avenue at West 32nd Street
west side of Sixth Avenue at West 33rd Street
northeast corner of West 29th Street and Seventh Avenue
northeast corner of West 30th Street and Eighth Avenue
southeast corner of Weet 34th Street and Eighth Avenue
Rail service will not be affected at Penn Station.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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