Some Knicks fans say Trump’s MSG visit is overshadowing Game 3
Some Knicks fans say Trump’s MSG visit is overshadowing Game 3
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Some Knicks fans gathered outside Madison Square Garden said they wish President Donald Trump would stay away from Game 3 on Monday night, the team’s first home game of the NBA Finals. The arena and surrounding area are expected to be under heavy security because of Trump’s attendance.
“I don’t really think Trump should even be here, to honest with you,” Ryan Wang told CNN Sunday. “He doesn’t even count himself as a New Yorker. No reason for him to be here at all.”
Hundreds of barricades were being set up around the arena early Monday morning, part of stepped-up security measures.
A popular fan watch party outside Madison Square Garden, which has attracted thousands of fans, will not be held this time in order to accommodate security demands, officials announced over the weekend.
Lance Thompson, a Knicks fan who had hoped to attend the watch party, said he was disappointed, noting that many people cannot afford tickets to the game and have relied on the watch party to celebrate with other fans.
“Personally, I think it’s kind of a shame. We’ve been waiting for this for how long?” Thompson said. “A lot of people can’t afford to get into the game. I’m one of those people, so I was actually looking forward to going to one of these watch parties.”
Fans with tickets are preparing well ahead of tip-off. Ebony Watson and her girlfriend plan to arrive at the Garden by 3 p.m. in hopes of getting inside smoothly.
“I’m trying to see if I could get out of work early, and we got a hotel,” Watson told CNN. “We paid a lot of money for that hotel because we know it’s going to be crazy. Trump is coming, there is going to be a lot of security, and I have a strong feeling they’re going to win tomorrow, so it’s going to be extra crazy.”
