Officials are stepping up plans to secure Long Island's new cricket stadium ahead of the inaugural international T20 World Cup, which begins this weekend, announcing several road closures and other precautions to reassure the public on Thursday, a day after pro-ISIS media posts targeting the 34,000-seat venue gained attention online.
Eisenhower Park and the surrounding area in Nassau County will be off-limits to ticket holders for the 12-day tournament, which begins with a warm-up match between India and Bangladesh on Saturday, followed by matches on Monday, Wednesday and Friday next week and daily from June 8.
Police are urging people to avoid the area during the event, and Eisenhower Park itself will be closed to the public from 6am to 6pm during the event.
The second most popular sport in the world is finally coming to Long Island, NBC New York's Greg Cergol reports.
On game day, Park Boulevard through the park will be closed in both directions from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Merrick Avenue adjacent to the park will be closed in both directions from Hempstead Turnpike to Charles Lindbergh Boulevard from 7 AM to 6 PM. Local traffic will only be allowed access via Stewart Avenue.
Eastbound Charles Lindbergh Boulevard will be closed from Earl Ovington Boulevard from 4:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Westbound traffic onto Meadowbrook Parkway will not be affected.
On non-game days, the park will be closed, but Park Boulevard will remain open. Fans are encouraged to use public transportation, and the MTA announced that the Long Island Rail Road will add 29 stops to Westbury.
Authorities also said they planned to increase police presence at cricket viewing parties as part of a security effort, with the FBI's Nassau County office assisting.
ISIS supporters shared images on social media of a drone flying over a cricket stadium being built at Eisenhower Park on Long Island, urging violence at the match between India and Pakistan on June 9, which is expected to draw a sellout crowd and a billion viewers around the world, NBC New York's Pei-Shih Chan reported.
