Trump to Attend NBA Finals; Security Tightened at New York Venue, Fans Urged to Arrive Early

(Central News Agency, New York, 6th, Combined Foreign Reports) The NBA Finals have moved to the New York Knicks' home court. U.S. President Donald Trump will attend Game 3 between the Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at the iconic Madison Square Garden on the 8th. In response, surrounding roads will be strictly controlled, fans will not be allowed to bring bags, and it is recommended that they arrive at least two hours before the game.

According to Reuters, the underdog Knicks have secured two important away wins in the Finals, while San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has not performed as expected recently. The Knicks have not won a championship since 1973, and this is their first return to the Finals since 1999.

MetLife Stadium, located near the Knicks' home arena, will host eight FIFA World Cup matches, with the first game kicking off in one week. However, the NBA Finals have currently stolen the spotlight from the World Cup. As of this evening, the lowest ticket price for the first home game of the Knicks on the secondary platform StubHub has exceeded $9,000 USD (approximately NT$284,000).

Madison Square Garden, the home of the Knicks, is located above Penn Station, the busiest transportation hub in the United States. It bills itself as "The World's Most Famous Arena," but the Knicks have not challenged for the NBA championship here in over a quarter of a century.

Because of Trump's decision to attend, the Secret Service has called on ticketed fans to head to the arena early. Anthony Guglielmi, Chief of Communications for the Secret Service, said in a statement: "Attendees should expect strict road closures around Madison Square Garden."

"There will be a strict enforcement of a no-bag policy. We want to inform fans as early as possible so they can plan accordingly. Attendees should also expect to undergo Secret Service-level security screening, similar to airport security procedures."

Commuter services for the New York subway and the Long Island Rail Road are expected to continue without interruption, with trains stopping normally at Penn Station.

The Knicks said in a statement: "Fans should make every effort to minimize their personal belongings to the absolute minimum."

During his second term, Trump has embraced major sporting events. Last year, he became the first sitting president to attend the NFL Super Bowl and has since watched other major events, including the Ryder Cup golf tournament and the FIFA Club World Cup final.

In September of last year, security checks due to Trump's attendance at the US Open men's singles final caused slow entry, causing thousands of ticketed fans to miss the start of the match.

Guglielmi said: "To ensure timely entry and avoid delays, we strongly recommend that fans arrive at least two hours before tip-off. While the final operational details are still being coordinated, this is the planning framework we anticipate at this time."

Additionally, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, in response to riots caused by fans celebrating the Knicks' Game 2 victory over the Spurs, said he hopes fans will "celebrate responsibly." "But there is no place for violence, and violence against police officers is absolutely unacceptable."

Mamdani, a lifelong Knicks fan, has attended numerous local sporting events since winning the mayoral election last year. He told New York radio station 1010 WINS that he plans to attend the NBA Finals game on the 8th. (Editor: Qu Xiangping) 1150607