Authorities plan to cordon off a 10-block section of Midtown surrounding Madison Square Garden to traffic and pedestrians ahead of the NBA Finals game Monday evening in light of President Donald Trump’s attendance.
Only ticket holders, Penn Station travelers, those working or doing business in the area, those with credentials and people with “some other authorized reason to be there” will be granted access to a perimeter stretching from West 30th to West 35th streets between Sixth and Eighth avenues, starting at 4 p.m., NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Monday morning.
Tisch also said Seventh and Eighth avenues within that security perimeter will be closed to car and general pedestrian traffic.
“It is an extraordinary moment for the Knicks and for fans across the five boroughs. A chance to celebrate this team, and this run, with the energy only New York can bring. But tonight will also bring a major presidential visit to Madison Square Garden,” Tisch said at a news conference. “There will unfortunately be no watch party outside of Madison Square Garden.”
To enter the security zone, all ticketholders — whether to the Knicks game or for trains at Penn Station — will have to enter specific entry zones to be screened by the NYPD. The entry points are at:
- West 32nd Street on the west side of Sixth Avenue.
- West 33rd Street on the west side of Sixth Avenue.
- Northeast corner of West 29th Street on Seventh Avenue.
- Northeast corner of West 30th Street on Eighth Avenue.
- Southeast corner of West 34th Street on Eighth Avenue.
Certain items won’t be permitted into the zone, including backpacks, bags and alcohol. There will be exceptions for Penn Station travelers with backpacks and luggage.
When the game ends, fans leaving Madison Square Garden will exit from either Seventh or Eighth Avenues and will be guided either north or south outside of the security perimeter. Tisch advised fans looking to take taxis or rideshare vehicles to do so outside of the zone.
Officials urged fans to take mass transit to and from the Garden. The NYPD doesn’t anticipate any changes or disruptions to train service.
The New York Knicks are two wins away from winning the NBA championship. The first two games of the series were in San Antonio as the team is taking on the San Antonio Spurs, and Knicks fans have been celebrating outside the Garden in designated watch party zones.
There will be no such watch party outside MSG Monday night. But fans will still be able to gather at watch parties in Central Park, Brooklyn Bowl and Bryant Park.
The city announced the addition of the Bryant Park watch party early Monday. The party, which will host up to 5,000 people, is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
