Madison Square Garden transforms into a political powder keg as oddsmakers predict whether $8,000 seats will erupt in jeers for the President or cheers for New York’s Mayor.
In this space, we try to stay out of politics.
This is "The Fun and Games Department,'' as all of that.
But that doesn't mean that the good citizens of New York who are spending an average of $8,000 for a Madison Square Garden seat for Monday's Game 3 of the NBA Finals have to "stay out of politics.''
And indeed, the oddsmakers are literally betting that they won't.
After the first two games of the NBA Finals were held in San Antonio, the series will shift to New York City as the Knicks - up 2-0 - play host to the Spurs for Games 3 and 4.
Madison Square Garden is usually a star-studded place, with Spike Lee, Larry David, Ben Stiller, Timothee Chalamet, and other A-listers so often seen courtside.
For Game 3, however, a pair of guests figure to change the entire atmospshere.
For the first time since 2015, a sitting president will attend an NBA Game. After going to the College Football National Championship and Super Bowl, Donald Trump has penciled in the NBA Finals as his next sporting event.
And New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is also slated to be in attendance, with the whole scene obviously expected to draw some extra attention.
And some cheers.
And some boos.
And you can place a bet on the what's what and the who's who of it all. ... with Betonline suggesting that it'll be boos for the Prez and cheers for the Mayor.
The Knicks, meanwhile, haven't hosted a Finals game since 1999, so this is a hot ticket ... which doesn't seem to faze Trump.
“They can watch it on television,” said Trump when asked about the $8,000 cost. “It’s sort of semi-free to watch it on television. That’s the way life goes.”
Also part of "life'' as it involves a president? The increased security in the building reportedly means the MSG environment will be altered greatly as the on-the-street watch parties are being moved away or shut down completely.
Different figures involved here, from former Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to young superstar Victor Wembanyama to Knicks owner James Dolan and Knicks players like Jalen Brunson and Mitchell Robinson, have their opinions on Trump.
And now the world will be watching. Will Trump expose himself to possible boos by sitting courtside or will he be in a luxury box? Will Mamdani mingle in the nosebleeds with the voters or will he joust with Trump for a premium chair?
All that - plus a must-win Spurs basketball - is about to unfold.
