NEW YORK (AP) — New York City is bracing for a chaotic Saturday as the Knicks play for the NBA title in San Antonio, Brazil faces Morocco in the World Cup in New Jersey, and a concert at Madison Square Garden draws thousands more. The city has declared a Gridlock Alert.
Knicks on the Brink
The Knicks lead the Spurs 3-1 in the NBA Finals. Game 5 is in San Antonio, but fans will gather at watch parties near Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and Wollman Rink. Up to 3,000 fans can attend the Garden party with advanced registration and police screening.
Previous Watch Party Tensions
For Game 4, the Knicks canceled a watch party after owner James Dolan criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the NYPD over security restrictions following President Donald Trump's visit to Game 3. Outside the Garden, crowds swelled to 10,000, leading to destructive behavior: fights, fireworks, smashed police vehicle windshields, and attempted taxi flips. Ten officers were injured, 56 people were taken into custody, and 15 were arrested.
World Cup and Concert Complicate Logistics
The Brazil-Morocco match at MetLife Stadium kicks off three hours before the Knicks game, with traffic and transit restrictions extending to Manhattan. A 5 Seconds of Summer concert at the Garden adds 15,000-20,000 people to the area. A heatwave and the National Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sunday add further strain.
Gridlock Alert and Street Closures
The city declared a Gridlock Alert for Saturday. From noon, 32nd and 33rd streets near the Garden will close for train queues. Truck deliveries are banned from 30th to 60th streets from noon to 11 p.m. Streets around the Lincoln Tunnel will close, and some streets like 42nd Street become bus-only corridors.
Fan Excitement and Incidents
Knicks fans celebrated wildly after Game 4's historic 29-point comeback, but incidents included a 17-year-old beaten into a coma, an egg thrown at Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, and a Spurs fan's jersey ripped off. If the Knicks win Saturday, a parade in Lower Manhattan's Canyon of Heroes is planned; otherwise, Game 6 is Tuesday at the Garden.
