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Knicks fans desperate to return to Madison Square Garden pony up to $ 250 for last-minute COVID testing before reporting, to meet new state testing rules for large venues.
Under regulations that came into effect on February 23, sites with more than 10,000 people can operate at 10% of capacity – provided each guest has passed a COVID test within 72 hours of reporting.
But not just any old COVID test will do. The state requires ventilators to obtain the most sensitive and accurate PCR or polymerase chain reaction tests. Unlike a rapid test, which can give a result within minutes, PCR test results can take hours or days.
“I’ve been stuck in a house for a year and a half so I’ll be happy to spend whatever you want now,” said Anthony Jones, 33, from Queens, after paying $ 250 to get the PCR test needed before the tests. Knicks were scheduled to face the Pacers on Saturday night.
Saturday’s contest marked the Knicks’ third game with fans attending the Garden under the new rules.
The testing requirements leave few reliable options for ventilators, as most vendors can only guarantee specialized “PCR” test results within three to five days.
New York is the only state to require this level of testing for large venues, a Madison Square Garden spokesperson said.
Enter Rapid Test NYC. The company – which made headlines throughout the pandemic for its expensive and COVID-related concierge services to wealthy New Yorkers – has set up a makeshift clinic in a conference room at the Stewart Hotel , on MSG’s 8th Avenue, where she administers PCR tests with a promised 30-minute turnaround time.
“If a fan hasn’t been tested, they won’t let them participate in the game, and that sucks,” said Mark Golberg, who runs the Stewart Hotel Rapid Test Center in New York City and two other physical locations. in Nolita and on East 72nd Street.
He said fans entered the Stewart Hotel after presenting buyers of MSG tickets with a rapid PCR-free test.
“So they have to come to us,” Goldberg said. “Or they actually took a test at City MD or whatever and the results aren’t ready on time.” We are the last resort.
This is what happened to a father-son duo from Scarsdale who said they had a PCR test at another clinic on Thursday but did not get their results in time for Saturday’s game.
“We have to do this test a bit. 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 the hockey game tomorrow – and we haven’t gotten our tests yet.
Rapid Test NYC is one of three testing sites where MSG recommends customers go for testing. Northwell Health’s GoHealth Emergency Care Centers, which recommend being tested three days before the match, and Vault Health, which will send fans a quick test kit before match day, are also listed as recommended providers.
“Ticket holders can choose any health care provider to meet New York State testing requirements. We wanted to help our fans by providing information on test providers that offer different levels of convenience, at different prices. All three providers offer urgent care, alternatives at home and on test day, ”a Madison Square Garden spokesperson said in a statement.
A second father-son couple, who identified themselves as the Boothe family of Philadelphia, said they were completely caught off guard by the demands and were planning to sell their tickets because they couldn’t afford the price. of the $ 250 test.
“It’s $ 500 to go to the game. When you spend $ 500 on top of $ 200, it’s almost $ 1,000 just to get into this building right here, ”the disappointed father said after stopping by the Stewart Hotel. “It’s a bit like extortion. We are upset, but what can we do? I’m not spending $ 500 to go to a game that costs $ 200 for two tickets. “
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