When the NYPD and Secret Service shut down a dozen blocks surrounding Madison Square Garden on Monday in advance of President Donald Trump attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals, the general reaction from Knicks fans, commuters, and people trying to move through the city to the security regime ranged from "this is such bullshit" to "ruined the whole experience."
Announcing the restrictions on Monday morning, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch had attributed the measures to Trump's visit. "Because of that visit and in coordination with the United States Secret Service, there will unfortunately be no watch party outside of MSG for Game 3 of the Finals and no access to the immediate vicinity of MSG without an authorized reason to be there," she said. Despite—or perhaps because of—the heavy NYPD presence, there were some fan scuffles with police on Monday night, with the cops the making 21 arrests.
Wednesday night, the Knicks are back at the Garden for Game 4, and Donald Trump is blessedly elsewhere. The watch party was briefly back on before being canceled early Wednesday evening. Not canceled is the massive police restricted zone, stretching from 29th Street to 35th Street between Sixth and Eighth Avenues.
"Unless you are going to the game, restaurant or bar, or traveling through the train station, you should avoid this area," the NYPD posted on social media, adding, "Leave the bags at home."