Fans will be prohibited from hosting watch parties outside Madison Square Garden or bringing bags into the venue during Game 3 of the NBA Finals, as MSG, the U.S. Secret Service and the New York Police Department ramp up security measures with President Donald Trump planning to attend the game Monday night.
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“A strict no-bag policy will be in effect, and fans should make every effort to limit personal items to an absolute minimum,” MSG and the U.S. Secret Service said Saturday in a statement posted on X.
The Knicks said fans should expect “TSA-style screening procedures” and plan to arrive at least two hours before the game starts due to enhanced security around the president’s visit.
“There will be no watch party outside MSG on Monday,” the NYPD said in a statement released Sunday afternoon. “This decision (to prohibit watch parties outside MSG) was made in coordination with the Secret Service. There will be watch parties at other locations. We are currently determining where they will be.”
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In a statement released Sunday, the Knicks said the city’s permitting office denied a permit for a watch party at Plaza33 next to MSG “in consultation with the NYPD.”
“The White House will confirm that this is not about the President,” the team’s statement read. “We understand NYPD Commissioner (Jessica) Tisch is planning additional street closures around Madison Square Garden.”
The city initially denied a permit for outdoor watch parties in May after police arrested six fans when the Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, but eventually lifted the ban ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals. After the Knicks’ Game 2 win over the Spurs in San Antonio, thousands of fans partied in the street in an unruly celebration that led to police arresting 17 people and issuing summonses for disorderly conduct to nine others.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani also plans to attend the game Monday. In an interview with The Athletic on Saturday, Mamdani said security is a priority.
“This is the constant bounce in any time of immense excitement and joy is that we want to make sure that it is safe, it is secure, and also that we are not stifling a moment that New Yorkers are going to remember for a long time,” Mamdani said.
Enhanced security has become a staple at major sporting events during Trump’s second term, with the president making appearances at games including the 2025 Super Bowl, the College Football Playoff championship game in January and the New York Yankees’ game on Sept. 11.