New York Knicks fans will have their watch party for Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday night.
Donald Trump’s attendance at Madison Square Garden to watch the Knicks, who lead 2-0, take on the San Antonio Spurs saw plans for fans to gather outside the iconic area scrapped over security and logistical concerns.
But New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani announced early Monday that fans will be able to gather and watch the game together at another landmark.
‘These watch parties have become a celebration of New York City itself,’ said Mamdani.
‘From every borough and every neighborhood, this city has come together to cheer on the Knicks and share in a moment that belongs to all of us.
‘That’s why we’re adding Bryant Park as an additional watch party location, so even more fans can be part of this incredible Knicks Finals run.’
New York Knicks fans will have their watch party for Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Bryant Park
The Knicks are 2-0 up against the San Antonio Spurs and return to MSG for Game 3 on Monday
The watch party will be free and open to the public, with a maximum capacity of 5,000 fans allowed. They must register in advance.
Not only did police axe the watch party near Madison Square Garden, the Knicks have also warned fans with tickets to get to Monday’s matchup at least two hours early as part of enhanced security measures.
Trump is a longtime Knicks fan who confirmed Friday that he would attend the first NBA Finals game in New York since 1999. He already has attended a number of major sporting events in his second term, including the 2025 Super Bowl, Daytona 500 and Ryder Cup.
Part of the fallout from Trump’s visit was the cancellation of a Game 3 watch party outside MSG. The New York Police Department said in a statement Sunday the decision was made in coordination with the Secret Service.
‘There will be no watch parties outside of Madison Square Garden for Game 3 only,’ the statement said.
‘This was done fully in coordination with the Secret Service because of the presidential visit. We expect watch parties at Madison Square Garden to resume for Game 4.’
Such parties, where thousands of fans pack in to watch the game on a big screen, have been a point of contention for the city’s police department, even without the complication of a presidential visit.
More than two-dozen people were arrested as Friday’s watch party spilled into the streets surrounding the Garden after the Knicks beat the Spurs in San Antonio. One woman was accused of punching a police officer in the face, the NYPD said.
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has allowed Knicks fans to take over Bryant Park in Midtown
Donald Trump’s attendance on Monday night has caused security and logistical headaches
Heading into the NBA Finals, the city had moved to cancel watch parties outside the arena altogether because of rowdy behavior at unofficial gatherings but later reversed itself and granted a permit for Game 1 last Wednesday.
Matt McCool, special agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service´s New York field office, said he understood that with the Knicks on a historic run there would be some disappointment from fans.
‘At the same time, our responsibility is to ensure the highest level of public safety,’ he said.
‘After careful coordination and assessment, the Secret Service and the NYPD jointly determined that outdoor watch parties could not be accommodated in the immediate vicinity of Madison Square Garden due to the security requirements associated with an event of this scale and the need to maintain a secure environment for protective operations.’
Other team-sanctioned watch parties will also go on at Wollman Rink in Central Park and Brooklyn Bowl. They were already at capacity as of Sunday afternoon.
Strict rules were put in place for those attending the game. The Knicks warned fans to bring as little as possible to Game 3 and encouraging them to arrive at least two hours before tipoff as part of enhanced security measures.
The Knicks said Saturday that a strict no-bag policy would be in place and there would be ‘TSA-style screening procedures’ for fans when they enter Madison Square Garden for the game that is scheduled to begin just after 8:40 p.m. EDT.
