Some might consider this a good problem to have, but the New York Knicks’ magical run to the NBA Finals could create even more chaos than originally thought.
With the team sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers and reaching the Finals for the first time since 1999, fans in the Big Apple have been in a frenzy supporting the seemingly “uncursed” squad.
However, with the schedule reveal for the NBA Finals, there could be even more chaos in store for the “city that never sleeps” with the FIFA World Cup also in town.
Regardless if it’s the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs representing the Western Conference, the Knicks will be set to host Games 3, 4 and 6 – with the last of three only if necessary in the best-of-seven series.
While the first two games to be played in Madison Square Garden are scheduled for June 5 and 8 — before the soccer tournament kicks off — should there be a Game 6, it is set for June 16, the same day that France will face Senegal in a highly touted group stage game to take place across the river in East Rutherford, N.J., at the home stadium of the NFL’s New York Giants and Jets.
This should put an enormous strain on both public transportation and security in the NYC area — even more so if the Knicks could potentially clinch a first championship since 1973.
There is some cause for relief given that the games will not be taking place at the same time, with France-Senegal kicking off at 3 p.m. and the Finals game beginning at 8:30 p.m.
Another issue could arise on June 13, with Knicks fans having been flocking to massive watch parties across the city throughout the team’s playoff run so far.
Game 5 of the series will be an away game for the Knicks, but large gatherings will be likely for the game. Also taking place on June 13 at 6 p.m. in East Rutherford: Another highly touted group stage game between Brazil and Morocco.
Does the World Cup in Toronto overlap with Jays games?
While it’s certainly not on the same level as a championship final, there could be some big headaches for sports fans in Toronto next month.
Toronto will be hosting six FIFA World Cup games at BMO Field – which will be known as Toronto Stadium during the tournament with three matches fall on the same days as Blue Jays home games — including a fairly big one.
On Friday, June 12, Canada will take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in their opening game of the soccer tournament while the Jays will host the New York Yankees at the downtown dome. It will be the Bronx Bombers’ first trip to Toronto this season and first pitch is set for 7:37 p.m., which at least should provide some buffer from the World Cup match, which is slated for a 3 p.m. start.
On June 23, the Blue Jays will host the Houston Astros at Rogers Centre while Croatia and Panama will kick off down at the Exhibition Grounds.
While the contests originally had been scheduled to both take place in the evening, the Jays moved their start time to 4:07 p.m. while the World Cup match remains at 7 p.m.
On Friday, June 26, Senegal and Iraq have an afternoon match at 3 p.m. while the Jays host the Texas Rangers at their usual 7:07 p.m. evening start.
The dates of the other five World Cup matches in Toronto all fall on either away games for the Jays or an off-day for the team.
What about Toronto’s other teams?
While Toronto FC will be on break during the World Cup for obvious reasons, their BMO Field roommates, the Toronto Argonauts don’t have that luxury. As such, in a bizarre CFL scheduling quirk, the team will play seven games on the road in a row — but will be considered the “home” team for three of them.
An interesting piece of scheduling could come into play should the Toronto Marlies defeat the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in their AHL Eastern Conference final, starting on Wednesday night. With a potential Game 7 of that series scheduled for June 9, the Calder Cup final would take place while the World Cup is in progress.
With the Marlies playing their home games out of Coca-Cola Coliseum, right next door to BMO Field, the AHL would have to factor in FIFA’s schedule when drawing up its own. While there still are a lot of variables at play, the Marlies would be the lower seed in the final and would host Games 3, 4 and 5. With FIFA’s security protocols stating that events on the Exhibition Grounds aren’t allowed to take place on match days or the day prior, it would set up an interesting dilemma for the Marlies.
Toronto’s WNBA expansion franchise, the Tempo, also play out of the Coliseum, but do not have any home games scheduled on the same days as World Cup contests.