New York Knicks Opener Still on as Scheduled

While Hurricane Sandy has wreaked havoc on the east coast and caused massive damage, there had been plans to cancel the New York Knicks season opener Thursday night against the Brooklyn Nets at the brand new Barclays Center.

However as of right now, that game will tip-off as scheduled.

Tim Frank, the NBA’s senior vice president of basketball communications, updated the situation as it pertains to Thursday’s openner.

Knicks-Nets game will be played as scheduled this Thursday at 7 p.m. at Barclays Center

— Tim Frank (@tfrank14) October 31, 2012

While plans can still change as the damage is assessed, it’s probably good news that the game is being played. If anything it will serve a a distraction to those effected by all of the damage.

Oct 8, 2012; New York, NY, USA; Aerial view of the Barclays Center. The venue is the home arena for the Brooklyn Nets of the NBA. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

The new arena didn’t sustain any damage from Hurricane Sandy, a Nets spokesman confirmed Tuesday, but the storm forced the shutdown of public transportation throughout the tri-state area. This is problematic because fans traveling to the Barclays Center are expected to rely heavily on public transportation. The arena is in close proximity to major subway and Long Island Rail Road stations.

Fans may not be the only ones that will have problems getting to the game, as Nets’ rookie point guard Tyshawn Taylor,  tweeted Tuesday night that he’s currently stranded at his Hoboken, N.J., apartment building as a result of the hurricane.

My building is literally an island .. flooded by water on all sides !!!

 

Taylor also tweeted that he has no power and can’t call out.

So while people in the area are slowly trying to pick up the pieces left behind from Hurricane Sandy, the Knicks and Nets are set to go off as planned.

It could prove to be the perfect distraction that people effected by Sandy really need.