NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Donald Trump is set to be the first sitting U.S. president , bringing strict security measures that will require fans to navigate an extensive safety perimeter around Madison Square Garden and an expected lengthy wait to get inside the building.
The security for Game 3 between the Knicks and and the scene around the arena more closely resembled New Year’s Eve in Times Square, and for fans, it might seem more akin to a trip to the airport. They were asked to get to the game two hours early and will be required to provide a ticket to get past various checkpoints along with passing through a TSA-style magnetometer.
Trump鈥檚 appearance led the New York Police Department and Secret Service to establish a multi-block security perimeter around the arena, and institute a no-bag policy for ticket-holders. Fans had gathered around the Garden to watch games during this playoff run, during which the Knicks have won 13 games in a row to reach the final for the first time since 1999 and move two victories from their first NBA title since 1973.
鈥淭he NYPD in coordination with the Secret Service made the decision for Game 3, where we have a presidential visit, that we could not support watch parties right outside of the Garden,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference Monday. “We are looking forward to bringing back watch parties for Game 4. But I think New Yorkers are used to presidents coming to town, and they understand that that generally means lockdowns of areas and that鈥檚 what you鈥檙e going to see tonight at the Garden.鈥�
Trump has attended several major sporting events in his time as president, and the security measures have created major hassles for fans.
Thousands of fans of last year鈥檚 U.S. Open men鈥檚 singles final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner because of lengthy security lines. Even though the U.S. Tennis Association pushed back the start of the match by a half-hour, many fans still couldn鈥檛 get in because added measures meant that they had to go through screening not only when they arrived at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center but again in front of the steps into Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Trump watched from a suite.
Asked his thoughts on Trump attending, Knicks center Mitchell Robinson said: 鈥淐ool, I guess. We can still get out there and play (no matter) who鈥檚 here and who鈥檚 not.鈥�
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other dignitaries are also expected to be at the game Monday night.
It was already hard enough for Knicks fans to get inside Madison Square Garden because of astronomical ticket prices. is higher than the average cost of monthly rent in New York, surging over $6,000. The best seats are tens of thousands of dollars. Mamdani said he bought his ticket for about $1,000 directly from Madison Square Garden.
The difficulty of seeing the game in-person has prompted fans to crowd bars, streets and watch parties all over the city. The watch party near the Garden has become a major event all through the playoffs, but with Trump attending, that event will be moved a few blocks away outside the security perimeter, at Bryant Park.
鈥淲e improvise,鈥� said Knicks guard Jose Alvarado, who is a New York native. “We’re New Yorkers. We鈥檙e going to find a way to watch a game, and that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e doing.鈥�
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AP Sports Writer Brian Mahoney contributed to this report.
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