The city pulled the plug on a planned Knicks watch party outside Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the NBA Finals Monday night with President Trump expected to be in the house.
The move comes as security for the game will be amped up with TSA-level surveillance and scrutiny – and widespread street and sidewalk closures around the arena, officials said.
“The permit for the Plaza33 Game 3 watch party was denied by the city’s permitting office in consultation with the NYPD,” an MSG spokesperson said in a statement to The Post.
“However, the White House will confirm that this is not about the president,” the statement said. “We understand NYPD [Commissioner Jessica] Tisch is planning additional street closures around Madison Square Garden.”
The NYPD confirmed there would be no watch party on Monday.
“This decision was made in coordination with the Secret Service,” a spokesperson said. “There will be watch parties at other locations, which are currently being determined.”
Other watch parties are planned for Central Park and Brooklyn.
Security measures near the Garden will include “both pedestrian and vehicular hard closures,” with the details due to be made public on Sunday night, Secret Service rep Anthony Guglielmi said.
“Physical security enhancements are being installed around Madison Square Garden, including anti-scaling fencing, vehicular mitigation barriers, crowd-control infrastructure and other protective measures designed to ensure a safe and secure environment,” he said.
The Post first reported last week that Trump would attend the Monday night game, with the Knicks up 2-0 on the San Antonio Spurs and two games from their first title since 1973.
Pumped-up Knicks fans have flocked to massive watch parties in several spots in the five boroughs – including on 33rd Street outside the World’s Most Famous Arena.
Trump’s presence has prompted the FBI and Secret Service to put in place TSA-style security measures including a no-bags policy while urging ticket holders to arrive at least two hours before the 8:30 p.m. tip-off on Monday.
The area outside the Garden will instead be filled with TV news trucks and Secret Service security facilities, law enforcement sources said.
This is a breaking story. Please check back for updates.
