Fans react at a watch party inside Madison Square Garden for game one of the NBA Finals.
The New York Knicks hope to continue their dream playoff run and go up 3-0 over the San Antonio Spurs at game three of the NBA Finals in Madison Square Garden, the first Finals game there since 1999. But due to the planned attendance of President Donald Trump, fans are bracing for significant disruptions to their potentially once-in-a-lifetime (and extremely pricey) experience.
Trump’s impact on the game was felt as soon as Saturday, when the Knicks issued a statement advising fans that a “strict no-bag policy” will be in effect and that there will be no on-site storage of prohibited items barred by the Secret Service that were brought to the venue. The team also encouraged fans to arrive hours in advance, making a trip to the famed Garden more reminiscent of travel to La Guardia Airport.
“Fans should expect enhanced security measures when entering Madison Square Garden, including TSA-style screening procedures. Guests are strongly encouraged to arrive at least two hours before tip-off to allow additional time for screening and entry,” the statement reads.
It’s not the first time Trump-related enhanced security screenings have messed with sports fans in New York. When Trump attended the U.S. Open Men’s Final last year, some fans were heavily delayed getting to their seats, even as the start time for the marquee face-off between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner was pushed back an additional half hour due to the increased security measures.
The president’s presence also officially put a damper on one of the most coveted parts of the fan experience: the public watch party outside the arena. The raucous gathering at Plaza33 from the first two finals games will not go forward as usual during Monday night’s game with MSG and NYPD spokespeople offering dueling explanations for the shift.
A representative for Madison Square Garden said in a statement that a permit for the Plaza33 party was “denied by the City’s permitting office in consultation with the NYPD” while suggesting the closure was not related to Trump’s visit. “The White House will confirm that this is not about the President. We understand NYPD Commissioner Tisch is planning additional street closures around Madison Square Garden,” the spokesperson said.
An NYPD spokesperson confirmed that there will be no watch party held outside the Garden for game three only but indicated that the move was made entirely due to Trump’s attendance. “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 statement read.
Though festivities outside of the Garden have been called off, jubilant fans will have other options. On Monday morning, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the city will be hosting a public watch party in nearby Bryant Park. The event is free to attend with a maximum capacity of 5,000, but interested fans must register online to attend starting at noon. The event joins two Knicks-hosted watch parties held at Central Park’s Wollman Rink and the Brooklyn Bowl.
Last week, Trump, who was frequently spotted courtside at Knicks games in the 1990s, confirmed that he would be in attendance for the Knicks’s Game 3 following an invitation from Knicks and MSG owner James Dolan who is a longtime friend of the president. Mamdani is also expected at the game, though he’s said he would “be in a very different section of the stadium” from Trump.
While Trump will be the first president in history to attend the NBA Finals, he’ll hardly be out of place among the expected attendees. Ticket prices for the Knicks’ championship run have continued to break records with get-in prices hovering around the $3,000 range with courtside seats going into the tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
But with his own seat—likely in a private box— secured, Trump did not appear put off by the exorbitant prices facing Knicks fans when asked about them by a reporter Friday. “They can watch it on television. It’s sort of semi-free to watch it on television. That’s the way life goes,” he said.