Pedestrian traffic restricted in Midtown Manhattan as Trump's NBA Finals trip spurs intense security

NEW YORK — Pedestrian traffic will be restricted for several blocks surrounding Madison Square Garden on Monday as U.S. President Donald Trump attends Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.

The Knicks will play their first Finals home game in 27 years, carrying a 13-game postseason winning streak. They return to New York after back-to-back road victories that gave them a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, fueling intense excitement across the city and driving resale ticket prices sharply higher.

Trump’s planned attendance prompted an expanded security operation over the weekend. On Monday, the New York Police Department said pedestrians without an authorized reason would not be permitted inside a secured perimeter around Madison Square Garden, spanning West 35th to 30th Streets and Sixth to Eighth Avenues beginning about 4½ hours before the 8:30 p.m. ET tipoff.

“With tonight’s presidential visit, there will be extra security measures in and around MSG that the NYPD and Secret Service have planned together,” the NYPD said in a statement posted on social media.

The department added that no one will be allowed inside the secure area unless they have a game ticket, a train ticket, a business appointment within the zone, official credentials, or another authorized reason to be there. Entry will be limited to designated access points, where all individuals will be screened.

The U.S. Secret Service previously advised ticketholders to arrive at least two hours early at the arena, which sits above Penn Station, one of the busiest transit hubs in the United States.

Fans are expected to undergo “Secret Service-level security screening,” including a strict no-bag policy.

The outdoor watch party traditionally held for fans during previous playoff games outside Madison Square Garden will not take place on Monday due to security concerns, the NYPD said.

Trump has attended several major sporting events during his second term, including the U.S. Open men’s tennis final in Flushing, Queens, where thousands of spectators experienced delays entering the venue as enhanced security checks slowed access and caused congestion. -Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot/Reuters