President Donald Trump will attend the Yankees home game against the Detroit Tigers on Sept. 11, the team and White House announced Thursday.
The Yankees have “strongly urged” fans to get to the game hours in advance due to “enhanced security measures” at all gates.
Gates will open earlier than usual, three hours before the 7:05 p.m. first pitch. The Yankees said fans are “encouraged to arrive as close to 4:00 p.m. as possible to expedite entry.” The team said areas inside or outside the ballpark that are “typically accessible” may be restricted, and noted street closures and limited parking.
The team is also being extra restrictive with items. Only one “clutch-type” bag per guest will be allowed, smaller than the usual size allowed for games. The team said fans “should make every effort to restrict personal items to an absolute minimum,” all of which should “be able to fit in a pocket.” No bottles, cans, or liquids—not even empty, reusable water bottles—are permitted, nor are any laptops or tablets. The stadium will not have a storage area for any banned items, either.
The game is just days after Trump attended the US Open men’s fingles Final on Sunday in Queens, where security enhancements caused such long lines that the match was delayed for more than 45 minutes. Before the match, USTA told media fans would receive “TSA-style security screening” on top of typical security screening. “You should also expect some delays moving around in public areas that may briefly become restricted access or frozen zones at certain times during the match,” USTA said. Trump attended the match as a guest of Rolex.
The Yankees said they are planning a tribute to the victims of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, during pregame ceremonies. When the Yankees made the World Series that year, President George W. Bush threw out the first pitch at the first game of the series held at Yankee Stadium.
Before Wednesday night’s game, the Yankees held a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk, the conservative political commentator and activist who was killed earlier that day at an event at Utah Valley University. Trump said he will posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom while speaking at the Pentagon on Thursday.
