RealGM

The NBA's Toronto Raptors would love to play next season at home, but with travel between the U.S. and Canada currently restricted — including a 14-day quarantine — they're weighing a temporary U.S. residence.

The state of play: The NBA season is expected to start on Dec. 22, and a surge in positive cases in the U.S. means travel restrictions could remain for a while.

The MLB's Blue Jays dealt with the same problem, ultimately playing home games at Buffalo's Sahlen Field, a minor league ballpark.
Multiple options are being discussed, with two candidates emerging as early frontrunners:

Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.): This one makes a lot of sense given its proximity to the Raptors' divisional foes (Celtics, Sixers, Knicks, Nets). Limiting travel cuts costs, and I don't need to tell you how important that is this year.

Barclays Center (Brooklyn, N.Y.): If the Lakers and Clippers can share Staples Center, the Nets and Raptors can do the same.
The bottom line: The decision will likely come down to money, which includes travel costs and local TV markets. Seven weeks left — the clock's ticking.

https://www.axios.com/toronto-raptors-coronavirus-us-canada-restrictions-87ba1b05-bcbb-4948-94ac-a00b37f27ed1.html

MrDollarBills wrote:They should play at the Pru.

Stone wrote:I guess there is no word on if the NBA will allow fans at the games for the upcoming season.

I know if they do allow fans and the Raps are playing at the Prudential, I would go to a few games. Which in turn would lead me to go to less of our games at the Barclays. I mention it because if it did happen it would effect ticket sales for the Nets and Knicks.

I am so ready for this Covid19 thing to be over.......

MrDollarBills wrote:

Stone wrote:I guess there is no word on if the NBA will allow fans at the games for the upcoming season.

I know if they do allow fans and the Raps are playing at the Prudential, I would go to a few games. Which in turn would lead me to go to less of our games at the Barclays. I mention it because if it did happen it would effect ticket sales for the Nets and Knicks.

I am so ready for this Covid19 thing to be over.......

Covid cases are skyrocketing around the country and NJ is seeing at least 1.5-2k new cases being reported daily, this is up from around 150-300 per day during the summer. Both NY and NJ might go into winter lockdown if this trend continues. It would be criminal negligence to allow fans in any of the basketball arenas.

Meanwhile, down the street my dumb ass neighbors are having a party with tons of people.

Stone wrote:

MrDollarBills wrote:

Stone wrote:I guess there is no word on if the NBA will allow fans at the games for the upcoming season.

I know if they do allow fans and the Raps are playing at the Prudential, I would go to a few games. Which in turn would lead me to go to less of our games at the Barclays. I mention it because if it did happen it would effect ticket sales for the Nets and Knicks.

I am so ready for this Covid19 thing to be over.......

Covid cases are skyrocketing around the country and NJ is seeing at least 1.5-2k new cases being reported daily, this is up from around 150-300 per day during the summer. Both NY and NJ might go into winter lockdown if this trend continues. It would be criminal negligence to allow fans in any of the basketball arenas.

Meanwhile, down the street my dumb ass neighbors are having a party with tons of people.

Ironically , right after I posted I got an E-mail from the Nets/NBA for a survey about attending games. Questions like "How willing would you be to arrive two hours before a game?". Would I be willing to be swabbed or saliva tested? What if we did not sell food and drinks? What are your concerns?.....ect

Seems like an awful lot to go through. It could take hours just to get out of the arena.

A friend once told me he attended an event in Japan many years ago and when it was over an announcer said something like "Section 212 you have permission to leave now" and people would just sit there calmly waiting to exit......That would never fly here.

TheNetsFan wrote:I still haven't been to Barclays yet. Previous seasons had very few Fri-Sun home games. Last season was looking more promising before Covid. It's just too far for me to get there on a work day.

If I have the opportunity, I might go once. I want to get a chance to see the arena, but more importantly see KD and Kyrie as Nets live at least once.

TheNetsFan wrote:I still haven't been to Barclays yet. Previous seasons had very few Fri-Sun home games. Last season was looking more promising before Covid. It's just too far for me to get there on a work day.

If I have the opportunity, I might go once. I want to get a chance to see the arena, but more importantly see KD and Kyrie as Nets live at least once.