Knicks fans desperate to return to Madison Square Garden are earning $ 250 for last-minute COVID testing before being unveiled, in order to meet the new state testing rules for large venues.
Under regulations that went into effect on Feb. 23, venues with more than 10,000 people can operate at a capacity of 10 percent, as long as each guest has passed a COVID test within 72 hours of downloading.
But not any old COVID test will. The state requires fans to perform more sensitive and accurate PCRase or polymerase chain reaction tests. Unlike a quick test, which can give a result in 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 it is right now,” said Anthony Jones, 33, of Queens, after shelling out the $ 250 to get the necessary PCR test the Knicks were previously scheduled to take on the Pacers on Saturday night.
Saturday’s contest marked Knicks ’third clash with fans in the garden under the new rules.
Testing requirements leave few reliable options for amateurs, because most vendors can only guarantee specialized “PCR” test results within three to five days.
New York is the only state that requires this level of testing for large spaces, a Madison Square Garden spokesman said.
Enter Rapid Test NYC. The company, which has been headlines throughout the pandemic for its costly concierge services related to COVID, which serves wealthy New Yorkers, has set up a makeshift clinic inside a conference room at the Stewart Hotel, in the height of 8th Avenue MSG, where PCR tests are being administered. with a promised response time of 30 minutes.
“If a fan didn’t get tested, he won’t let them into the game, and that sucks,” said Mark Golberg, who runs the Stewart Hotel Rapid Test Center in New York City and two other brick locations. and mortar. a Nolita and East 72nd Street.
He said fans have entered the Stewart Hotel after presenting a non-PCR quick test to MSG subscribers.
“So they have to come to us,” Goldberg said. “Either they actually did a test at City MD or what do you have and the results are not prepared in time. We are the last resort ”.
That’s what happened to a Scarsdale father-son duo who said they did a PCR test Thursday at another clinic, but didn’t get their results in time for Saturday’s game.
“We are a little stuck in having to do this test. I don’t know if we have a choice “, lamented the father, who refused to provide his name. “We’re going to two games here – tonight and the hockey game tomorrow – and we haven’t recovered from our tests yet.”
Rapid Test NYC is one of three test sites where MSG recommends customers to take tests. Northwell Health’s GoHealth Urgent Care Centers, which recommend testing three days before the game, and Vault Health, which will send fans a quick test kit before game day, also appear as recommended providers.
“Ticket holders can choose any healthcare provider that meets New York State testing requirements. We wanted to help our fans by providing information about test providers that offer different levels of comfort, which have different prices. All three providers offer urgent care alternatives, at home and during rehearsal day, “a Madison Square Garden spokesman said in a statement.
A second parent-child couple, who identified themselves as the Boothe family of Philadelphia, said they were completely caught up in the requirements and planned 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 on top of $ 200, that’s almost $ 1,000 just to get into this building right here, ”said the disappointed father after passing the Stewart Hotel. “It simply came to our notice then. We are upset, but what can we do? I don’t spend $ 500 to go to a $ 200 game for two tickets. “