nyk Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 Report: Liberty to play first outdoor pro basketball game in JulyESPN.comUpdated: April 9, 2008, 9:45 AM ETFor one night, the New York Liberty gets to take its game to an outdoor playground.In this instance, the playground will be Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, normally home of the U.S. Open. On Saturday, July 19, the Liberty will play the Indiana Fever under the lights at 7:30 p.m.The news was first reported by the New York Post. The Liberty is expected to announce the game, which also will serve as a breast cancer research fund-raiser, later Wednesday.The game is being titled the Liberty Outdoor Classic, and will be the first regular-season professional basketball game played outside, according to the Post."Each year we try to raise the profile of our team. We thought that we'd do something different for the fans," Liberty general manager Carol Blazejowski told The Post. "Something as big as this, an outdoor game at Ashe, will garner a lot of exposure and interest and increase our fan base beyond our diehards."The Liberty's court, also used by the New York Knicks, will be moved to Arthur Ashe Stadium for the game. The team and the league chose not to go with a day game, to protect the players' health, but if it rains, the game will be rescheduled -- to be played indoors -- for the next day, July 20.This also will be the first non-tennis event held at Arthur Ashe, which seats 23,000. "It was not too big, not too wide open," Blazejowski told the Post. "The court fits beautifully right in the center. It's a great place to watch an event. It will be fun. It will be history."The NBA will have its first-ever outdoor game, when the Phoenix Suns play the Denver Nuggets in a preseason matchup in October in Indian Wells, Calif. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrySmalls Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 So it's still possible to witness a NY basketball team win a game? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopard88 Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 This is a very cool idea. A tennis stadium is the perfect size for this sort of event. Most Liked Content of the Day -- February 15, 2017, August 21, 2017, August 22, 2017 ///// Proud Winner of the CCSLC Post of the Day Award -- April 8, 2008 Originator of the Upside Down Sarcasm Smilie -- November 1, 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJTank Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 Wow this may actually make me watch a WNBA game I have not seen one in eons. www.sportsecyclopedia.com For the best in sports history go to the Sports E-Cyclopedia at http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadragon76 Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 So, how many fans will show up? 100, 200... Heck, I bet you that at least 500 people will show up.Sorry. If it was Knicks-Pacers and not Liberty-Fever, I'd be interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee. Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 I still think the NBA is missing out on a glorious opportunity by not holding a special event street game somewhere. Think about it, set up some temporary bleachers in the parking lot of the Staples Center (or someplace), put up some nets, paint the asphalt, surround everything by a chain-link fence...hell, do it for an all-star game. Bring the players back to their roots, so to speak, and even have an exhibition match with some of the best street ball players in the country. I think it's a winner.And for the record, no, I did NOT watch "White Men Can't Jump" recently. Welcome to DrunjFlix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMMF Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 And for the record, no, I did NOT watch "White Men Can't Jump" recently.But you should have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcgd Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 So, how many fans will show up? 100, 200... Heck, I bet you that at least 500 people will show up.Sorry. If it was Knicks-Pacers and not Liberty-Fever, I'd be interested.Considering that the lowest average attendance in the league is the Sky at about 3700 a game and that the Liberty average over 8500 and the Fever 7250...I'm sure its going to be over that.I bet it almost sells out considering its a special game and all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadragon76 Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 So, how many fans will show up? 100, 200... Heck, I bet you that at least 500 people will show up.Sorry. If it was Knicks-Pacers and not Liberty-Fever, I'd be interested.Considering that the lowest average attendance in the league is the Sky at about 3700 a game and that the Liberty average over 8500 and the Fever 7250...I'm sure its going to be over that.I bet it almost sells out considering its a special game and all. Buzzkill... Either way, I'm sure it'll probably be a total waste of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee. Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 So, how many fans will show up? 100, 200... Heck, I bet you that at least 500 people will show up.Sorry. If it was Knicks-Pacers and not Liberty-Fever, I'd be interested.Considering that the lowest average attendance in the league is the Sky at about 3700 a game and that the Liberty average over 8500 and the Fever 7250...I'm sure its going to be over that.I bet it almost sells out considering its a special game and all. Buzzkill... Either way, I'm sure it'll probably be a total waste of time.For you, yes. For the 10,000 or so that do show up, I'm sure they'll have a great time. Welcome to DrunjFlix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BB61 Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 For you, yes. For the 10,000 or so that do show up, I'm sure they'll have a great time.Don't forget the millions of fans watching at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEAD! Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 Some pics from the game. It looks like it was half full/empty.http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.a...ventId=80796218 I saw, I came, I left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcgd Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 Game attendance was 19,393.Not bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slickster Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 I still think they should play more games at Radio City Music Hall like they did in 2004. The surreal experience of basketball played on a proscenium stage is unlike any other environment to witness or take part in. Especially since you could end up chasing the ball and wind up in the orchestra pit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiddySicks Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Honestly that looks pretty cool. I'm sure as a player to play a big league game (Yeah its the WNBA, but you know what I'm talkin about) where the "roof" changes that drastically from the first quarter to the last has to be pretty interesting. If the NBA were to ahve a few games like this I'd definitely attend. generaly my biggest reason for not attending any NBA games is being indoors in months like April and May makes no sense to me, it's just too damn nice outside to do so. Of course, November till May I have no real excuse other than laziness On 11/19/2012 at 7:23 PM, oldschoolvikings said: She’s still half convinced “Chris Creamer” is a porn site.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Korbyn Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Cool idea, even if it is stolen from the NHL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luigi74 Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Game attendance was 19,393.Not bad.From looking at the pics there was nowhere near 19,000 people in the stands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcgd Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 That's what ESPN had in the Boxscore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
averyj Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Honestly that looks pretty cool. I'm sure as a player to play a big league game (Yeah its the WNBA, but you know what I'm talkin about) where the "roof" changes that drastically from the first quarter to the last has to be pretty interesting. If the NBA were to ahve a few games like this I'd definitely attend. generaly my biggest reason for not attending any NBA games is being indoors in months like April and May makes no sense to me, it's just too damn nice outside to do so. Of course, November till May I have no real excuse other than laziness Ye ask and ye shall recieve:http://boards.sportslogos.net/index.php?sh...t=0#entry882556 You know, I rarely visit ccslsc anymore. I really should fix that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shumway Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 I still think the NBA is missing out on a glorious opportunity by not holding a special event street game somewhere. Think about it, set up some temporary bleachers in the parking lot of the Staples Center (or someplace), put up some nets, paint the asphalt, surround everything by a chain-link fence...hell, do it for an all-star game. Bring the players back to their roots, so to speak, and even have an exhibition match with some of the best street ball players in the country. I think it's a winner.And for the record, no, I did NOT watch "White Men Can't Jump" recently.Hell, why doesn't the NBA have a game at The Rucker? Now that'd be sweet, except for a lack of seating.And yes, you should've watched White Men Can't Jump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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