The New York Knicks are closing in on their first NBA championship since 1973. New York is up 2-0 against San Antonio in their best-of-seven series with the next two games taking place at Madison Square Garden. Unfortunately for fans, one fun tradition will not take place during Game 3.
The Knicks are expected to cancel any watch parties outside of Madison Square Garden due to President Trump's attendance, per Nicole Sganga of CBS News. However, no decision has been finalized either way, per Knicks reporter Ian Begley.
Fan can expect a hard closure around the entirety of Madison Square Garden. Beyond the potential watch party cancellations, there will be no vehicle access and no pedestrian travel through that secured area. Fans attending the game must submit to Secret Service-level screening before entering the stadium. They cannot bring bags to the venue, with law enforcement advising fans not to bring purses, backpacks, or tote bags of any size.
New York previously held two watch parties outside the venue during the first two games of the series. But now fans without a ticket must watch the game at home or at another venue altogether.
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Trump will make NBA history after attending Game 3. It will be the first time a sitting president has attended a postseason game. He is also the first sitting president since 2015 to attend an NBA game. President Barack Obama attended the season opener between the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers.
“It's the first president that's ever come in to go to a basketball playoff game. So you can imagine the Garden is gonna have 50,000 fans, now you've got a presidential motorcade coming in, streets sealed off,” former NYPD Deputy Commissioner Rich Esposito told CBS New York.
Game 3 between the Knicks and Spurs tips off at 8:30PM ET on June 8th.
The New York Knicks are closing in on their first NBA championship since 1973. New York is up 2-0 against San Antonio in their best-of-seven series with the next two games taking place at Madison Square Garden. Unfortunately for fans, one fun tradition will not take place during Game 3.