No bags, no watch parties at MSG for NBA Finals Game 3 as Trump plans to attend

Fans will be prohibited from hosting watch parties outside Madison Square Garden or bringing bags into the venue during Game 3 of the NBA Finals, as MSG, the U.S. Secret Service and New York Police ramp up security measures with President Donald Trump planning to attend the game Monday night.

“A strict no-bag policy will be in effect, and fans should make every effort to limit personal items to an absolute minimum,” MSG and the U.S. Secret Service said in a statement on X on Saturday.

The Knicks said fans should expect “TSA-style screening procedures,” and plan to arrive at least two hours before the game starts due to enhanced security around the president’s visit.

“There will be no watch party outside MSG on Monday,” the NYPD said in a statement released Sunday afternoon. “This decision (to prohibit watch parties outside MSG) was made in coordination with the Secret Service. There will be watch parties at other locations. We are currently determining where they will be.”

The city originally denied a permit for outdoor watch parties in May, after police arrested six fans when the Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, but eventually lifted the ban ahead of Game 1 of the NBA finals. After the Knicks’ Game 2 win over the Spurs in San Antonio, thousands of New York fans partied in the street in an unruly celebration that led to New York Police arresting 17 people and giving another nine court summonses for disorderly conduct.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani also plans to attend the game on Monday. In an interview with The Athletic on Saturday, Mamdani said security is a priority.

“This is the constant bounce in any time of immense excitement and joy is that we want to make sure that it is safe, it is secure, and also that we are not stifling a moment that New Yorkers are going to remember for a long time,” Mamdani said.

Enhanced security has become a frequent occurrence at major sporting events during Trump’s second term, with the president making appearances at games including the 2025 Super Bowl, the College Football Playoff championship game in January and the New York Yankees’ game on Sept. 11.