Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce events at Madison Square Garden prompt Midtown street closures Friday
MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- Drivers, commuters and pedestrians traveling through Midtown on Friday should expect significant disruptions around Madison Square Garden as the NYPD implements street closures ahead of two highly anticipated private events reportedly tied to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.
Beginning at 1 p.m. Friday, several streets around the arena will be closed to vehicle traffic, while portions of the area will also be restricted to pedestrians.
According to the NYPD, the following streets will be closed to vehicular traffic:
- Seventh Avenue between West 30th and West 34th streets
- West 33rd Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues
- West 32nd Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues
- West 31st Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues
- West 31st Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues
Pedestrian closures beginning at 1 p.m. include:
- West side of Seventh Avenue between 31st and 34th streets
- West 33rd Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues
Officials said there will also be managed access on the east side of Eighth Avenue between West 30th and West 34th streets, as well as portions of West 31st, West 32nd and West 33rd streets.
For those traveling through Penn Station or Moynihan Train Hall, the NYPD advises using the entrances on the west side of Eighth Avenue at West 31st and West 33rd streets to access the subway, Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road and NJ Transit. Managed access to Penn Station will also be available at the northeast corner of Eighth Avenue and West 31st Street.
Police barricades were already in place Friday morning as crews continued preparing Madison Square Garden for what sources told ABC News are two private events.
According to those sources, a smaller gathering for about 100 guests was held Thursday night. A larger event is expected Friday night with approximately 1,000 attendees and is reportedly scheduled to continue until 4 a.m. Saturday.
Sources also told ABC News that guests, vendors and security personnel will reportedly not be permitted to use cell phones during the event. Tents and canopies may also be set up around the venue to shield guests from public view.
Rumors have swirled for days that the events are connected to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, though neither Swift nor Kelce has publicly commented on the reports.
Swift fans gathered outside Madison Square Garden on Friday, hoping to catch a glimpse of the couple.
"I think it's our version of a royal wedding because she's so popular and her future husband's so popular," one fan told Eyewitness News. "Everyone's going to be all eyes on them the whole weekend."
Another fan said the excitement offers a welcome distraction.
"It's exciting. I feel like so much is going on in the world. Everybody needs a little excitement. We're huge Taylor Swift fans, and we're happy that it's happening for them."
Just hours before Thursday night's event, Swift and Kelce announced a $26 million donation to charitable organizations.
ALSO READ: MSG street closures announced for Swift-Kelce wedding events
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