The Boston Celtics are talking about the possibility of playing an NBA regular season game outdoors in Fenway Park. The NHL Winter Classic was a success in Foxbrough, Massachusetts. According to ESPN, Celtics President Rich Gotham said, “I’ve gotten into it. I really like the idea. I think if you can find a way to sort of differentiate the game and make it fun for fans, that’s a great thing. And the Winter Classic certainly does that.” Should the NBA even consider this?
There are a few problems with the idea. The NBA season starts in late October and ends in April. Most NBA cities during the months of December through February have wintry weather including snow. It’s not like hockey where the NHL can pick date.
The NBA plays games only indoors. Depending on the time of year , the court could be ruined by rain or snow. The court could be wet and slick. In that case the games would be tricky to make up because teams may not have the same off day. If wind were to pick up during the game, players would have a difficult time shooting the ball. Weather would be a factor.
The idea itself is great on paper because it would be a novel event. In reality it just wouldn’t work. There seems to be too many variables with the elements perhaps preventing fans and players from having an enjoyable experience. If they want an outdoor venue maybe consider a few preseason games. This way they can see how the game is played outdoors plus they would receive feedback from the players. If that is successful then think about doing it in the regular season. It just doesn’t seem plausible for the NBA to host an outdoor game.
What do you think of an outdoor NBA game?
Leave a Reply