Knicks fans, desperate to return to Madison Square Garden, are raising $ 250 for last-minute COVID tests before giving up to meet the new state testing rules for big places.
According to the regulations that came into force on February 23, seats with more than 10,000 people can operate at a capacity of 10% – as long as each guest has passed a COVID test within 72 hours of granting.
But not every old COVID test will do. The state requires fans to obtain more sensitive and accurate PCR tests or the polymerase chain reaction. Unlike a quick test, which can give a result in minutes, PCR test results can take hours or days.
“I’ve been trapped in a house for a year and a half, so I’ll be happy to spend anything now,” said Anthony Jones, 33, of Queens, after exceeding $ 250 to get the PCR test needed before the Knicks. were scheduled to take on the Pacers on Saturday night.
Saturday’s contest marked the third Knicks match, with fans present at The Garden, according to the new rules.
Testing requirements leave few reliable options for fans, as most suppliers can guarantee the results of specialized “PCR” tests only within three to five days.
New York is the only state that requires this level of testing for large venues, said a Madison Square Garden spokesman.
Enter the Rapid Test NYC. The company – which appeared first in the entire pandemic for its expensive COVID-related concierge services for wealthy New Yorkers – set up a makeshift clinic inside a Stewart Hotel conference room across 8th Avenue from MSG, where it PCR tests with a promised time of 30 minutes.
“If a fan hasn’t been tested, he won’t let them into the game and that’s shit,” said Mark Golberg, who runs the Stewart Hotel Rapid Test NYC and two other brick-and-mortar locations. in Nolița and on 72 Est Street.
He said fans entered the Stewart Hotel after presenting a quick non-PCR test to MSG ticket buyers.
“So he has to come to us,” Goldberg said. “Or they actually did a test at City MD or what you have and the results are not ready in time. We are the last resort. ”
That’s what happened to a father-son duo in Scarsdale who said they took a PCR test at another clinic on Thursday, but didn’t get their results back in time for Saturday’s game.
“It simply came to our notice then. I don’t know if we have a choice “, lamented the father, who refused to give his name. “We’re going to two games here – tonight and tomorrow in hockey – and we still haven’t recovered from our tests.”
Rapid Test NYC is one of three testing sites where MSG recommends customers be tested. The GoHealth Urgent Care Centers at Northwell Health, which recommends testing three days before the game, and Vault Health, which will send fans a quick test kit before game day, are also listed as recommended providers.
“Ticketholders can choose any health care provider to meet New York State’s testing requirements. We wanted to help our fans by providing information about test providers that offer different levels of comfort, which have different prices. The three providers offer urgent care, alternative testing at home and during the day, “a Madison Square Garden spokesman said in a statement.
A second father-son pair, who identified themselves as the Boothe family in Philadelphia, said they were completely surprised by the unforeseen requirements and intended to sell their tickets because they could not afford the $ 250 test price.
“It’s $ 500 to go to the game. When you spend $ 500 more than $ 200, it’s almost $ 1,000 just to get into this building right here, ”the father said, disappointed after falling at the Stewart Hotel. “It’s a kind of extortion. We’re upset, but what can we do? I don’t spend $ 500 to go to a $ 200 game for two tickets. ”