Nets-Knicks opener now postponed
by Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports
Thursday night’s NBA opener of the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn between the Nets and New York Knicks will be postponed after all.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office is expected to formally announce the cancellation of the game Wednesday afternoon, according to two people familiar with the decision. They spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because it had not been announced. The news was first reported by Greg Anthony of NBA TV.
Word comes a day after the NBA said the game would be played despite transportation and power issues throughout the city in the wake of Sandy.
Barclays is the new home of the Nets and a $1 billion facility that is bringing pro sports back to Brooklyn.
The league had assessed the damage and transportation issues and consulted with Bloomberg’s office before spokesman Tim Frank on Tuesday evening said the game “will go on as scheduled Thursday night.”
It is unclear then the game will be played. Knicks General Manager Glen Grunwald said via Twitter that his team’s game Friday against Miami at Madison Square Garden is still scheduled. He also confirmed Thursday’s postponement to reporters in New York.
Thursday was supposed to be the season opener for both teams, and the first regular-season NBA game in Brooklyn. TNT was scheduled to televise the historic game as pro sports officially returns to Brooklyn for the first time since 1957 when the Brooklyn Dodgers played in the borough.
However, New York City’s subway and train operations have been suspended and the Metropolitan Transit Authority said limited service would begin on Thursday.
MTA chairman Joe Lhota said Tuesday that “This is the worst damage we have ever seen to the MTA system” and later said the MTA will be able to discuss a timetable for service restorations by midday Wedneday.”
Public transportation is the best and easiest way to get to Barclays Center, located at Flatbush and Atlantic avenues in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights neighborhood. Barclays Center officials have boasted that 11 subway lines, 11 bus lines and the Long Island Rail Road drop riders off just steps from the … [For more on Nets-Knicks opener at Barclays Center now postponed, click here.]
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