President Trump’s plans to attend Game 3 of the NBA finals means fans won’t be able to gather outside Madison Square Garden to cheer the Knicks on, NYPD officials decided Sunday.
On Friday, an estimated 7,000 spectators flooded W. 33rd Street outside the Garden, but revelers will have to take advantage of the multitude of smaller watch parties around the city for Monday’s game.
“There will be no watch party outside MSG on Monday,” NYPD officials said in a statement. “This was done fully in coordination with the Secret Service because of the presidential visit.”
The spokesperson added that the NYPD expects watch parties to resume at MSG for Game 4.
An MSG spokesman earlier said the cancellation was not because of Trump.
“The permit for the Plaza 33 Game 3 watch party was denied by the city’s permitting office in consultation with the NYPD,” the spokesperson said. “However, the White House will confirm that this is not about the President. We understand NYPD Commissioner (Jessica) Tisch is planning additional street closures around Madison Square Garden.”
However, Special Agent Matt McCool, who is in charge of the Secret Service’s New York Field Office, appeared to affirm the cancelation was related to the president’s attendance. “After careful coordination and assessment, the Secret Service and the NYPD jointly determined that outdoor watch parties could not be accommodated in the immediate vicinity of Madison Square Garden due to the security requirements associated with an event of this scale and the need to maintain a secure environment for protective operations,” McCool said in a statement shared with the Daily News.
McCool acknowledged fans’ disappointment but pointed to the numerous other watch parties going on throughout the city where people can gather to view the game.
The move comes as MSG announced strict security measures for ticket-holders planning to see the Knicks take on the Spurs — including “TSA-style screening procedures” and a strict no-bag policy.
“Fans should make every effort to limit personal items to an absolute minimum,” the Garden announced in a social media post Saturday. “Guests are strongly advised to arrive at least two hours before tip-off to allow additional time for screening and entry.”
President Trump arrives in Morristown, NJ on Friday. (AP Photo / Mark Schiefelbein)
A list provided by the Secret Service of prohibited items include weapons of any kind, ammunition, aerosols, drones, explosives, laser pointers, selfie sticks, recreational motorized mobility devices, bicycles, balloons, animals other than service or guide animals, and glass, thermal or metal containers.
Trump, a Knicks fan, has said he was invited to attend a playoff game by team owner James Dolan, who has donated to Trump’s political campaigns.
Friday’s watch party attracted throngs of revelers to MSG, but also brought some chaos to Midtown, with 26 people arrested for a variety of offenses, from assault to selling counterfeit merchandise to climbing on top of light poles, food vendor carts and subway entrances.
One NYPD officer was repeatedly punched as she tried to stop a female fan who jumped a barricade and ran into a frozen area, officials said.
Karely Reyes, 29, was charged with assault, resisting arrest and obstruction of government administration.
As Reyes was detained and transported in a police van, she repeatedly kicked her feet up in the air, then bit the arm of a cop who tried to stop her, saying, “Mmm, tasty,” prosecutors alleged.
She was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court Saturday and granted supervised release until her next court appearance.
A similar event outside MSG after Game 1 on Wednesday ended in eight arrests and thousands of dollars in damage when revelers jumped on a passing ambulance. An NYPD chief was punched in the face and a woman accidentally set her hair on fire during the celebration, cops said.
A man quickly rushed up and sprayed the woman’s head with a fire extinguisher, putting out the flames.