A comprehensive security operation has been planned in New York for the wedding of pop star Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs star player Travis Kelce, according to a source familiar with the event. The plans include days-long street closures around Madison Square Garden in the heart of Manhattan, hundreds of VIP guests, and police measures funded by taxpayers.
According to the source, the NYPD plans to close a city block in front of Madison Square Garden to traffic. The event will span several days, with time allocated for setup, celebrations, and teardown. Around a thousand guests are expected to attend the event. While this number seems small for the venue, most of the guests are described by police as 'high-profile' and 'VIP'.
Police have been instructed to be prepared for large crowds and paparazzi outside. TMZ previously reported that Swift and Kelce are keeping their guest list secret, and invitations are sent with personalized watermarks to prevent leaks. Even the wedding venue remained a mystery for weeks.
A rehearsal dinner for about 100 people is said to be held at Madison Square Garden the night before the wedding. New York authorities will close West 31st Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues throughout July 3. This closure is said to be more limited compared to the multi-block closures during the New York Knicks' NBA Finals win this month.
On the wedding day, guests will first be taken to a secure welcome tent, where the cocktail hour will begin. According to the source, the ceremony will take place in the evening, and the reception will last until the early hours of July 4. The New York Post's Page Six reported that Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw will perform, and the celebration will be 'bigger than the Met Gala'.
A photo obtained by Fox News Digital on Monday showed a large truck unloading large materials covered in black plastic sheeting at the loading area of Madison Square Garden. The NYPD did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The wedding venue is located within the NYPD Manhattan South Patrol Borough, whose commander was removed from duty last week as part of an internal investigation.
The street closure permit was approved by the Mayor's Office of Event Coordination. The NYPD will provide security and traffic control services using public resources. About 10 blocks north in Times Square, ball drops marking midnight in every time zone where the U.S. has territory are planned as part of the country's 250th anniversary celebrations.
