Trump drew 20,000 to MSG and tens of thousands rallied outside: They could have sold the Garden twice
It’s not just what’s inside that counts.While some 20,000 Trump supporters filled Madison Square Garden to capacity on Sunday — many thousands more were turned away, according to law enforcement sources.Estimates on the number MAGA faithful in Midtown Manhattan varied, but one cop on the scene guessed that another 20,000 were turned away when officials closed the doors to MSG about 4:30 p.m.
— three hours before Trump went on.“They could have sold the Garden twice,” the source said.
The source noted that Trump supporters just kept coming from all directions long after the last guests were admitted to MSG.one supporter of former President Donald Trump said he had been in the wrong line for two hours — and then was denied entry.“I don’t mind though,” he said.
“We’ve been to Trump rallies before, so missing one is no big deal.”Pushed away by law enforcement, some Trump supporters who didn’t make the cut to get in then swarmed nearby bars and restaurants — where they changed the channel to tune into the rally.At Avenida Bar across from the iconic venue, for instance, television sets were tuned into the rally and patrons were seen wearing MAGA hats, drinking, and chatting with one another.
“This definitely isn’t the usual crowd, they asked for all of the televisions to be turned onto the rally.I’ve already been called a Mexican once,” one employee at a nearby restaurant who declined to be named, told The Post.
Those hoping to get in to MSG faced stiff competition as some people lined up outside as early as Friday.By early Sunday morning, roughly 10,000 people had assembled to get in, per an estimate by The Post corroborated by local cops.
Standing outside in the nippy weather, many MAGA-loving fans waiting in line had fought through urges to go to the bathroom and were peeved by the lack of nearby porta-potties, which prompted some to relieve themselves in battles, which littered to pavement leading into the venue.New York is ...