Suns, Nuggets will play October game in open-air arena

[Warhawk]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3252746

Taking a page out of the NHL's playbook, the NBA is heading to the great outdoors when the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets square off in an October exhibition game, according to a published report.

Donald Miralle/Getty Images
Indian Wells Tennis Garden will host the Oct. 11 Suns-Nuggets exhibition game.



The matchup will be held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif., on Oct. 11, The Arizona Republic reports. The stadium seats 16,100 fans and annually hosts the Pacific Life Open tennis tournament.
According to the newspaper, the Suns visited the game site last summer and put down a basketball court on the tennis surface. The Suns are also expected to bring a scoreboard and video boards for the game.
An official announcement of the game is expected Tuesday.
Once before, according to the paper, an NBA game has been played outdoors. Phoenix was also part of that event when it faced Milwaukee in Puerto Rico in 1972.

 

[uolj]

They should paint the court black even if they still make it out of parkay or butter or whatever they normally make indoor courts out of.

 

[oldenpolynice]

I think outdoor hockey works a lot better than outdoor basketball. It should be pretty fun to see the players struggling with the elements though (wind, etc.).

In the big scheme of things, I don't think this increases the attraction of the game. Not sure what the Suns, Nuggets or the league is trying to accomplish with this one.

 

[Glenn]

If there is a significant amount of wind, we may see our first NBA game go to a 0-0 tie.

 

[Warhawk]

A setting sun should make shooting interesting even if the wind is calm, at least at one end of the court....

 

[piksi]

what is the surface ?

 

[Superman]

Another stupid publicity stunt by the NBA to try to boost popularity. Bad idea.

 

[uolj]

Am I the only person who has ever played basketball outside? What's the big deal if they play an NBA preseason game outdoors?

Obviously it's biting off of the NHL game, which appeared to be very cool (literally and figuratively). But it would still be a nice atmosphere to watch a game outside in southern California in October.

One of the attractions of going to a baseball game (or in some areas a football game) is the fact that you can enjoy being outside at the park while watching your sporting event. I don't think they should do it for a regular-season game, but I'm sure it will be fun for the preseason.

 

[Superman]

Am I the only person who has ever played basketball outside? What's the big deal if they play an NBA preseason game outdoors?

What happens if there just happens to be inclement weather that day? What about noise pollution?

Not that any of that is a very big deal, I just find this to be unnecessary and unordinary, and I don't like it or think it makes much sense. It's not going to make the NBA more popular or increase it's crossover appeal to people who enjoy outdoor sports. It's a cheap tactic that I don't think is going to work.

 

[Bricklayer]

Am I the only person who has ever played basketball outside? What's the big deal if they play an NBA preseason game outdoors?

Obviously it's biting off of the NHL game, which appeared to be very cool (literally and figuratively). But it would still be a nice atmosphere to watch a game outside in southern California in October.

One of the attractions of going to a baseball game (or in some areas a football game) is the fact that you can enjoy being outside at the park while watching your sporting event. I don't think they should do it for a regular-season game, but I'm sure it will be fun for the preseason.

Doesn't bother me in the least for a preseason stunt, although I think there could be an increased injury risk depending on the surface.

I prefer my own ball in hot , sweaty, gyms however.

 

[vj9999]

Stern should organize a game on grass surface at Wimbledon.

 

[uolj]

What happens if there just happens to be inclement weather that day? What about noise pollution?

Not that any of that is a very big deal, I just find this to be unnecessary and unordinary, and I don't like it or think it makes much sense. It's not going to make the NBA more popular or increase it's crossover appeal to people who enjoy outdoor sports. It's a cheap tactic that I don't think is going to work.

But that's just it. It's a (relatively) cheap tactic that doesn't cost them anything if it gets rained out or a lukewarm reception. And if people like it and it's fun then they can do it again.

My impression is that this isn't supposed to be a big deal, so if it fails then nothing negative will come out of it.

And I'm totally assuming it's going to be a regular basketball court material, anything else that isn't tested thoroughly would be stupid just because of the injury risk.

 

[est.1999]

what happens if it rains? Will they cancel it outright or will they re-schedule?