Ticket price hikes and extra security for US President Donald Trump aren’t changing the electric energy of legendary Madison Square Garden as it hosts games three and four of the NBA Finals.
The New York Knicks, chasing their first basketball championship since 1973, take a 2-0 lead over the San Antonio Spurs into the third game of the best-of-seven series on Monday, with the fourth game following on Wednesday.
Ticket prices have risen beyond the reach of most New Yorkers, but the self-proclaimed “World’s Most Famous Stadium” will still be packed, with celebrities on the court and Trump in attendance for at least the third game.
The shiny trappings are just part of the attractions at the 58-year-old venue.
But on Sunday evening, six people were injured in a stabbing at Penn Center, which is located below the stadium – a reminder of the security concerns that also lurk before the main event in New York.
The Garden is one of America’s most iconic venues, where yellow lighting and vintage photos of Muhammad Ali and the Rolling Stones displayed in the concourse nod to its place in sports and entertainment history.
