Madison Square Garden on Saturday announced that it’s ramping up security, enforcing what it called “TSA-style screening procedures,” plus a strict no-bag policy, ahead of President Trump’s attendance for Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday.
In a joint post on social media under the Knicks logo, MSG and the U.S. Secret Service advised there will be “no storage available for prohibited items” and said fans should make every effort to “limit personal items to an absolute minimum.”
To allow extra time for screening and entry, the post strongly encourages fans to arrive at the Garden at least two hours before the game’s 8:30 p.m. tip-off.
The President, who is a Knicks fan, has said he was invited to attend a Knicks playoff game by team owner James Dolan, who has donated to Trump’s political campaigns.
Mayor Mamdani will also be taking in Monday’s game at MSG, but wouldn’t say if he’ll be meeting Trump during his visit to New York.
“I will be in a very different section of the stadium,” Mamdani said on Thursday, “and I think we look forward to welcoming any New Yorker who is excited for the Knicks to have that chance to win that championship.”
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries wasn’t fond of Trump attending a Knicks game, telling the GOP President on Friday to stay away.
“Why does Donald Trump always have to ruin a good thing?” the lifelong Knicks fan told CNN. “Like, literally, the Knicks haven’t been in the NBA finals for 27 years. The city is trying to celebrate this. We’ve embraced this team, and this guy has to inject himself.”
NYPD officials said they’ll be coordinating with the Secret Service to determine the best way to protect Trump during his visit.
A presidential visit to the city, in general, is fraught with traffic and security challenges, city officials said. And one at a major sporting event will pose an even greater traffic and security nightmare, a city source said.
It was not clear if a watch party will be held outside MSG during Monday’s game. The watch parties at the Garden are usually announced within 24 hours of game day.
A list provided by the Secret Service of prohibited items that won’t be allowed inside the Midtown hoops mecca 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, among others.