NEW YORK (AP) – The excitement surrounding the NBA Finals reached new heights as President Donald Trump confirmed his attendance at the first game in New York since 1999. The New York Knicks, a team Trump has long supported, urged fans to arrive early due to heightened security measures. This came as the team prepared for a thrilling matchup on Monday evening.
To ensure public safety, police canceled a planned watch party outside Madison Square Garden (MSG). The New York Police Department (NYPD) made this decision in close collaboration with the Secret Service, emphasizing that safety protocols required such actions.
“There will be no watch parties outside of Madison Square Garden for Game 3 only,” stated the NYPD. “This was done fully in coordination with the Secret Service because of the presidential visit. We expect watch parties at Madison Square Garden to resume for Game 4.”
The decision to cancel the event stemmed from previous incidents where rowdy behavior had led to arrests during watch parties. For example, during a recent celebration after the Knicks beat the Spurs, over two dozen people were taken into custody, with one individual accused of assaulting a police officer.
Despite the disappointment among fans, Matt McCool, the special agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s New York field office, highlighted the importance of safety. He stated, “While we understand fans’ feelings, our primary responsibility is to ensure the highest level of public safety.”
In light of the security situation, team-sanctioned watch parties will still occur at locations like Wollman Rink in Central Park and Brooklyn Bowl. However, these events required prior registration and were at capacity as of Sunday.
For those attending the game, the Knicks implemented strict rules. Fans were advised to travel light and arrive at least two hours early due to enhanced security measures. There is a no-bag policy in place, and attendees can expect “TSA-style screening procedures” at the entrance to Madison Square Garden.
Additionally, the Knicks warned fans that there would be no storage for prohibited items brought to the arena. A complete list of these items can be found at secretservice.gov.
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Associated Press writers Michael Sisak and Jake Offenhartz in New York contributed to this report.
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