Brooklyn Nets talk to NBA about debut in "Sandy" aftermath

Nets' representatives are talking to the NBA officials about Opening Night and although the city's subway and Long Island Railroad won't be running Thursday, the league has never cancelled an opener. League officials say that unless the Mayor and Governor ask the the game be cancelled, it's likely to go on.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg indicated he would live to watch the game at Barclays Center. Bloomberg said during a news conference on Tuesday that he hopes the game will be played as scheduled.

Brett Yormark tweeted a Nets fan from Northern Ireland (who's coming to Brooklyn) "@Jonny_BlackNI as of now the game is on. Nba must confirm. Lots to consider."

The arena itself survived the storm with its integrity intact...a few leaks here and there, said an arena official And with most of the staff Brooklyn-based, the Nets think they can handle Opening Night. Bridges to Manhattan are already open and city buses are running on limited service.

In addition, the game is nationally televised on TNT. The NBA. was evaluating the situation Tuesday as New York began to recover from the storm, Howard Beck reported.

"Tonight’s games will be played," Tim Frank, the N.B.A.’s senior vice president for communications, told Beck in an e-mail. "We are still assessing the situation with regards to the rest of the week."

There is no timetable for a decision, but everyone expects a decision Wednesday. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has already said the subways could be down for "four of five days." As much as 75 percent of the crowd would normally be expected to arrive by mass transit, either the subway or LIRR. In addition, it's uncertain when most of the metropolitan area will see power return.

Meanwhile, Mason Levinson of Bloomberg News writes that demand for tickets to the opener have dropped with concerns about the weather. Also, he writes, "Of those who have already bought tickets on the secondary market, 62 percent are from Manhattan, home of the Knicks, and 21 percent from Brooklyn, according to TiqIQ."

• Nets’ Opener Against Knicks in Doubt - Howard Beck - New York Times
• Nets-Knicks Ticket Price at Brooklyn NBA Opener Falls With Storm - Mason Levinson - Bloomberg News
• Status uncertain for Knicks-Nets - Mike Mazzeo & Ian Begley - ESPN New York
• Nets-Knicks rivalry gets a bounce - USA Today