With Donald Trump set to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday, the Knicks have reportedly canceled the popular watch party outside of Madison Square Garden that have been attended by thousands of die-hard fans.
Via CBSNews.com:
Advertisement
A hard closure is expected around the entirety of Madison Square Garden. Officials are planning for no watch parties, no vehicle access and no pedestrian travel through the secured area, which sits in a busy part of Midtown Manhattan and is above a major transit hub. CBS New York reported that thousands of fans attended a pair of watch parties for Game 1 on Wednesday night.
The Seventh and Eighth Avenue corridors around the arena are expected to be closed.
A spokesperson for MSG told NJ Advance Media that the cancellation of the watch party “is not about the President” attending the game.
“The permit for the Plaza33 Game 3 watch party was denied by the City’s permitting office in consultation with the NYPD,” the statement reads. “However, 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.”
Advertisement
The get-in price for the game exceeds the get-in price for the most recent Super Bowl. The Legion Hoops post about the watch party cancellation received immediate criticism on social media.
“This is a very poor decision from the Knicks PR,” one person wrote. “Cancelling watch parties and punishing thousands of passionate fans who cannot afford Madison Square Garden’s ridiculous ticket prices just because one political figure is attending is completely unfair.”
“Knicks fans waited 50 years for them to not even be able to afford to get in or even have a watch party,” wrote another.
“And fans going have to show up 2 hours early. Really ruining the vibes for everyone else smh,” wrote a third.
Advertisement
MORE BY
ADAM ZAGORIA
Knicks’ Josh Hart calls ticket prices for Game 3 ‘ridiculous’Jun. 7, 2026, 1:52 p.m.
The Knicks announced Saturday that fans cannot bring bags into the arena and should arrive at least two hours prior to tipoff to allow time for TSA-screening procedures.
When Trump appeared at the U.S. Open men’s final last September, his presence caused a 30-minute delay to the match and long lines due to enhanced security. A similar scenario could unfold at the Garden.
