Security will remain tight around Madison Square Garden when the New York Knicks take on the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, despite the fact that President Donald Trump is not attending, and some fans say the restrictions will put a damper on the fun.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the area will remain largely closed off for game four of the NBA finals, as it was when Trump attended Monday’s game, becoming a “frozen zone”.
City officials are concerned about safety at a watch party at the arena after a similar party at nearby Bryant Park turned violent on Monday.
Knicks owner James Dolan is also unhappy about the zone, calling Mamdani and Tisch “party poopers”.
“As we prepare to watch together, let me be clear: this is a historic, joyful moment for our city. We will not allow it to be disrupted by violence,” Mamdani said.
According to Mamdani, 1,000 people are expected for a ticketed watch party at Madison Square Garden.
Tisch said the public should expect Times Square New Years Eve-levels of security, Everyone will be screened, according to the New York City Police Department (NYPD), which advised attendees to “get there early and leave the bags at home”.
Dolan released a statement slamming Mamdani and Tisch as “New York City’s biggest party poopers”, saying: “We now know that these restrictions were never about the President. It was just a convenient excuse to restrict how and when Knicks fans celebrate.”
Asked about Dolan’s comments during a press conference, Mamdani said the security measures fit a gathering the size of the watch party.
The Knicks lost 111-115 at Madison Square Garden to the Spurs in game three of the best-of-seven NBA finals on Monday, cutting their lead in the series to 2-1.
The Knicks haven’t been in the finals since 1999, at which time they lost to the Spurs, and New Yorkers have been out in the streets celebrating each win.
“The city is electric,” a fan told the BBC.
Trump’s attendance led the cancellation of a scheduled watch party near Madison Square Garden and the installation of a fenced perimeter around the arena and surrounding streets. Those who had tickets for the game stood in line for hours as a section of Manhattan was blocked to pedestrians and vehicles. Inside the arena, airport-style security screenings greeted attendees.
Those without tickets turned to watch parties, including one organised by the city at nearby Bryant Park.
Thousands of people eventually flooded the area, blocking traffic, standing on cars and climbing building scaffolding to see the screens. The crowed turned violent, police say, brawling and throwing glass objects at each other. Eventually, 21 people were arrested in what the the NYPD called an “incredibly reckless” reaction to the game by fans.
Video also went viral showing a mob violently assaulting a 39-year-old Spurs fan as he walked back to his hotel room.
“The individuals proceeded to punch and kick the victim about the body and forcibly removed victim’s basketball jersey from his body,” the NYPD said.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama called the violence “unacceptable” and Texas Senator Roland Gutierrez called out Mamdani directly saying: “We don’t do this to your people.”
The NYPD’s Crime Stoppers have now launched a hunt for the suspects.
Celebrity fans of the Knicks also cautioned fans against getting violent.
“Being a Knick fan doesn’t mean being disrespectful to Spurs fans in any way…we get caught up during the games but we gotta show respect to our fellow humans,” said actor Ben Stiller, who has been a fixture at the finals games.
Mamdani echoed those comments.
“Couldn’t agree more. We’ll win this series on the court … not by targeting, harassing, or attacking Spurs fans,” he said.
By BBC News
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