New York found a backup plan, because of course it did.
After the planned Knicks watch party outside Madison Square Garden was canceled due to heightened NYPD and Secret Service security for President Donald Trump’s expected Game 3 attendance, Bryant Park was added as an extra official watch party location for Monday night’s NBA Finals matchup against the Spurs.
The move gives Knicks fans another place to gather after the area around MSG was turned into a tighter security zone. The Bryant Park event is free, but registration is required, and capacity is capped at 5,000 people. Central Park’s Wollman Rink and Brooklyn Bowl were already listed as watch party sites, though both reportedly hit capacity quickly.
It is a very New York solution to a very New York problem. The Knicks are hosting their first Finals game at MSG since 1999, the president is expected in the building, security swallowed the block party, and the city simply moved the noise a few avenues over.
The Garden will have the game. Bryant Park will have the roar.
