After the success that Major League Baseball had with its “Field of Dreams” game last month, the NBA has engaged in discussions about holding an outdoor event, writes Dan Feldman of NBC Sports.
Evan Wasch, the league’s executive vice president of basketball strategy and analytics, discussed the possibility during a recent appearance on “The Crossover” podcast with Chris Mannix and Howard Beck.
“The biggest concern is the basketball one you highlight, that whether it’s blacktop and injury concerns or a wooden court outside with humidity concerns and moisture that can get on the court, being beholden to rain, all of those of things become a consideration,” Wasch said. “We’ve explored it, and we’ll continue to talk about it. Obviously, the ‘Field of Dreams’ game was incredibly successful. So, no surprise it has sparked some discussions, and it’s worth exploring. But the logistical challenges of a basketball game outside are just significantly more than a baseball game, which, of course, is already outside.”
Rucker Park in New York or Venice Beach in California could be potential sites, Feldman notes, especially if the games involve cross-city rivalries like the Knicks and Nets or Lakers and Clippers. He adds that that Suns played three outdoor preseason games at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California a little more than a decade ago.
Limited room for paying customers would be an issue with any outdoor venue, but Feldman suggests that fans would be willing to accept higher ticket prices for such a rare experience. Working outdoor games into an already-set TV contract would also be a challenge, along with potential scheduling issues caused by bad weather.
I’d like to see lebron lose an outdoor game, because it’s almost guaranteed he would somehow blame the loss on the sun or the wind
LeBron owns your franchise
Bravo, best comment lol
Wow. Is that you Skip? Sucks to be a lebron hater considering was clearly the best player in the league for over a decade.
And even in his old age he’s STILL well above average.
Lol
Dam bro it’s the off-season and you’re still letting lebron live in your head rent free. Sad!!
Air conditioners are his mortal enemy
a game at rucker park would be tuff ngl
In the 70s there was an attempt to use a polymer surface that was softer than hardwood but still bounced a basketball back up, but that went away for some reason. How about revisiting that.
Wait…so we could watch basketball outside? How exciting,
If they play at Rucker they need to have a DJ and Fat Joe gotta announce the starting lineups
Why? Baseball needs whatever they can get cause no one cares or watches, NBA does not need this kind of stuff one bit. Its also pretty cold during NBA season.
NBA ratings plummeted the last couple seasons thanks to the woke crowd. But keep drinking the kool-aid and believe it’s as popular as ever.
The NBA is not losing sleep losing racist viewers. I guarantee you the next TV deal will triple the last one.
Not to take sides either way, but the country is basically divided 30-30-40. 30 left, 30 right, 40 center. The NBA, or ANY business would be stupid to just not worry about any of those three groups because each one represents a LOT of money. I’m not saying that people should agree with any politics just to make money, but to refuse to sell your product to someone because of their political leanings is a dumb way to do business and not a good sign for the future.
Real1 might want to do a simple Google search. Since 2009-2010 nba has lost nearly 65 percent viewers. Last years finals was the first in nearly a decade to net 10 million viewers. The highest views were bulls, and lakers dynasty 90’s to early 2000’s
Yea, just like the nfl ratings went in the toilet because of “woke” kneeling…they doubled their media contract this year at over 100 BILLION dollars…but yea, those down ratings and america hating kneelers really hurt the bottom line. Nba will be just fine
Those ratings only reflect cable not people who cut the cord
People are talking two different things, ratings and revenue.
Live sports remains the best way to get people to watch advertising or subscribe to a content service, so sponsors gravitate there even if ratings do not rise.
Writers who do not differentiate are trying to sell some ideology. Unfortunately this applies to mainstream writers too.
Benny, are cord-cutters similar?
Just let them live in the dark Benny, they feel safer that way –
Imagine taking time outta your day to come to an anonymous website and post about a sport you “don’t like”
Some of you need to be medicated
Exactly. Really stupid idea for the NBA.
Would the game in Venice Beach include the homeless and drug addicts hanging out Courtside? Maybe a halftime show at Rucker Park featuring a drive-by shooting? Yeah, I see how this will be must see tv.
And a halftime interview… “Catching up with a Columbine or Sandy Hook school shooter”
@Brian
they have these guys that wear specialized jackets and shirts that say “security”. And these other guys who wear uniforms and carry guns and walkie talkies. The same way you see them in abundance at the arena will certainly be working these games as well, with what I can assume would be extra staff to secure the location.
Wait till you hear about what happens near where the Bulls play right now
Anything to get something special for the NY and LA crowds. That’s the only teams the NBA is ever worried about anyway.
Besides, if you are going to do a movie tribute, then why not have the Pacers playing in the gym from Hoosiers?
Hoosiers makes most sense to start. Avoids the logistical and injuries issues
moving outdoors with pros.
If they do proceed with outdoor games, I feel it will start with either the g league, or preseason games where player can sit out.
Rucker doesn’t seem feasible for reg season due to weather concerns
Summer League maybe.
That would be pretty dope.
hiflew I love it !! That would be a real connection, the Hoosiers thing. There’s no connection for the NBA to outside. Sure we play Pick-up ball outside at times but there’s no real NBA connection.
With Field of Dreams they already have the connection they’re playing Outdoors already. Instant nostalgia with the White Sox Etc. Outdoor NBA game? I don’t see the Nostalgia but in the Hoosiers gym that would be something. Or a similar thing.
Disney Wild World Sports Complex? Like in city that doesn’t have a NBA Team and have game on ESPN.
Have the all-star game outside.
Every 3pt shot made will be called “incredible” due to winds which will be compared to hurricanes.
I’m surprised with all these negative comments. I love the idea and have been hoping for it for quite a while. This could be exactly what you look for in an extra tournament. And even for a regular season game it could bring extra excitement. There are ways to play outside but still cover the court and protect against too much wind I would think.
That college game on a boat was pretty fun
How about Target Field in Minneapolis MN in either January or February ??