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The coronavirus pandemic across the world and United States has not only impacted the health and safety of individuals but the schedule and access of sports, with the NBA expected to limit access to arenas to the public and only players, coaches, officials, and few others permitted in spaces to play games. The New York Knicks, however, stand as one team opposed to this decision.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Knicks, owned by Madison Square Garden Company executive chairman James Dolan, were against the NBA reaching a decision to either continue games this season without fans in attendance or postponing the schedule to a later date with fans invited. Wojnarowski adds the Knicks preferred to wait until a “government mandate” was issued that would dictate a public health issue.
Several teams were willing to put the games on hiatus, but the rest wanted to move toward eliminating fans from arenas to continue playing games, sources tell ESPN. One team wanted to keep status quo until a governmental/public mandate dictated change: The New York Knicks.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 12, 2020
The Golden State Warriors were the first team to announce games at Chase Center will go on without fans in attendance when they play the visiting Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. Multiple states have already seen public mandates against large public gatherings due to the potential spread of the coronavirus. Washington and Ohio are among states preventing such events.
The Knicks are currently on the road and would not return to the Garden until Tuesday, March 17 against the Charlotte Hornets. However, it is more than likely that before that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, with the Board of Governors' approval, will announce the league's team's arenas to be limited in access to the public.
One interesting detail, though, is the Knicks could see pervasive “Sell the team” chants come to an end this week, as frustrated fans have vocalized complaints toward Dolan's way all season long.
