The NJ Transit strike, which began overnight on Friday, is expected to cause significant disruptions for commuters ahead of two major New York sports events. The Subway Series game between the New York Yankees and New York Mets in the Bronx, along with the Knicks-Celtics playoff game at Madison Square Garden, will see fans facing challenges in finding alternative transportation options due to the strike. The strike has affected hundreds of thousands of commuters, with a large number of attendees needing to find alternate routes to these events.
The Bronx stadium can hold over 52,000 fans, including standing room, and the cross-town rivalry will likely bring a crowd close to that number. Some fans will have to opt to be designated drivers due to the strike. However, driving into the Bronx is not the worst option. The Knicks-Celtics playoff game at Madison Square Garden is also expected to draw a significant number of fans, with the arena only able to hold roughly one-third of the capacity of Yankee Stadium. The location of MSG, practically above Penn Station, where driving is already a major challenge, adds to the complexity of the situation.
If the Knicks win, fans will take to the streets to celebrate, similar to past playoff games. Meanwhile, a concert by Shakira and Pitbull at MetLife Stadium will also be affected, as it has its own NJ Transit station. The strike is not only impacting daily commuters but also posing challenges for fans of major sporting events in New York.