What to know about Penn Station and Madison Square Garden during Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals Game 3 Monday night (original) (raw)
As the New York Knicks will host their first NBA Finals home game in 27 years on Monday and President Donald Trump will be attending, security will be extremely tight for fans and those navigating Madison Square Garden.
NYPD and Knicks team officials have warned of "TSA-style" security, with limited access to the area around the Garden. Rail service at Penn Station is not expected to be affected, but commuters could still face additional screening.
With no watch party outside the Garden in Plaza33, the city is hosting several other watch parties and expects to resume the outdoor watch party for a potential championship-clinching-Game 4.
Here’s what to know about going to or avoiding Madison Square Garden on Monday night for Game 3.
Getting to the Garden
Fans are urged to arrive at least two hours before the 8:40 p.m. tipoff for Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs.
The NYPD will set up a security perimeter that runs from West 30th to West 35th streets between Sixth and Eighth avenues. Seventh and Eighth avenues will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians from 4 p.m. through the end of the game.
Access around the Garden will only be limited to game ticket holders, commuters with train tickets or anyone going to businesses in the area. Everyone going through the perimeter will be subject to search by the NYPD.
Screenings will be done at entry points on the west side of Sixth Avenue at West 32nd Street, the west side of Sixth Avenue at West 33rd Street, the northeast corner of West 29th Street and Seventh Avenue, the northeast corner of West 30th Street and Eighth Avenue, and the southeast corner of West 34th Street and Eighth Avenue, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
No bags, backpacks or alcohol will be allowed, except for commuters in Penn Station, who will also be subject to search.
Navigating Penn Station
The best entry points for Penn Station will be through Moynihan Train Hall outside the security perimeter on the west side of Eighth Avenue on 31st and 33rd streets, Tisch said.
Schedules for Penn Station, Amtrak and the subway should not be changed due to security and the game. Officials urged fans and those traveling into Midtown to use public transit. The NYPD expects to deploy hundreds of police officers in and around Penn Station, Tisch said.
When the game ends, fans leaving the Garden will be directed onto Seventh Avenue or Eighth avenues, where they can either go north or south toward West 29th or West 36th streets, Tisch said. Pedestrians can only move from east to west in the security area and can only move north of 35th Street and south of 30th Street.
Watch parties
There will be no officials watch party Monday night outside of Madison Square Garden, due to enhanced security with the U.S. Secret Service for Trump’s visit.
The city is hosting three other watch parties Monday night. A free, but ticketed, watch party is planned for Byant Park for up to 5,000 fans.
Watch parties are also planned for Wollman Skating Rink in Central Park and Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg.
The Game 4 watch party outside the Garden in Plaza33 is expected to be held Wednesday with similar security measures, metal gates and screening. The past two watch parties for Games 1 and 2 led to several arrests, including for charges of assaulting NYPD police officers.
"The plan will be modeled after Times Square New Year's Eve, one of the most joyous nights of the year," Tisch said. "So, the message is simple: Celebrate the Knicks, but avoid the MSG area tonight if you do not have tickets for the game or some other valid reason to be there tonight."
The Knicks plan to resume the watch parties for Game 4.
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.