NEW YORK – Barclays Center sits right above a major mass-transit hub, an ideal destination for fans throughout New York.
Not right now, though.
With those subways knocked out by Hurricane Sandy and no way of knowing how fans would get there, the citys mayor decided this isnt the time for a game.
So Michael Bloomberg asked the NBA to postpone todays highly anticipated opener between the Knicks and Nets, and the league agreed Wednesday.
Its a great stadium, it would have been a great game, but the bottom line is: There is not a lot of mass transit. Our police have plenty of other things to do, Bloomberg said at a news conference.
Without knowing what – if any – subways would be available and with city officials still preferring people not drive into New York, the Nets agreed with the decision.
Were disappointed that we cant play, but theres a lot more important things going on right now, a lot of people displaced from their homes, a lot of people lost loved ones. So in the grand scheme of things, a basketball game really doesnt mean much right now, Nets point guard Deron Williams told reporters after practice. I think itd be hard for a lot of people to even get to the game in the first place, with public transportation being shut down. I guess it makes sense to not have the game.
The Knicks are now scheduled to open their season at home Friday night against the Miami Heat. The Nets are scheduled to play host to Toronto on Saturday night.