Knicks game vs. Magic Tuesday night postponed due to absestos debris in Madison Square Garden

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Knicks game vs. Magic Tuesday night postponed due to absestos debris in Madison Square Garden

 

 

By Frank Isola

NY DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

 

Tuesday, November 2nd 2010

 

 

The Knicks were forced to postpone Tuesday night's game against the Orlando Magic due to asbestos-related debris falling onto the arena playing surface at Madison Square Garden, the team announced.

 

There is a possibility that upcoming events, including Friday's Knicks-Wizards game, could be postponed or forced to be played at another venue.

 

In a statement, the Garden said it is "working with the city and independent experts, ATC Associates and GCI Environmental Advisory, to evaluate and determine the most appropriate course of action. As the safety of our customers and employees are our top priority, we will not reopen the Garden until we are absolutely assured the Arena is safe."

 

No make-up date for the game against Orlando has been announced.

 

The Garden is currently being renovated at a cost of $775 million to $850 million and will take three years to be completed. The plan is to shut down the 42-year-old building for the next three summers in order to speed up construction.

 

A Garden spokesman said that following Monday's Rangers win over Chicago workers were cleaning asbestos-related materials from the attic above the ceiling and that some debris fell into the Arena.

 

As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, the basketball court had yet to be installed above the hockey ice and the arena was roped off.

 

A worst-case scenario for the Garden would be halting construction while the Knicks and Rangers seasons are in progress or moving their teams to another venue, possibly the Izod Center at the Meadowlands, which is currently vacant.

 

The Garden said that "out of an abundance of caution, and after consulting the NBA, we are postponing tonight's" game.

 

The Garden also apologized "for any inconvenience."

 

Here is the statement released by the Knicks:

 

Following last night's Rangers game, during overnight maintenance of Madison Square Garden, which included cleaning asbestos-related materials in the attic above the ceiling, some debris fell into the Arena.

 

Out of an abundance of caution, we are postponing tonight's Knicks v. Magic game. We will be working with the city and independent experts, ATC Associates and GCI Environmental Advisory, to evaluate and determine the most appropriate course of action. As the safety of our customers and employees are our top priority, we will not reopen the Garden until we are absolutely assured the Arena is safe.

 

Ticketholders are advised to retain their tickets, and return to nyknicks.com for rescheduling information. We will announce information about future events as soon as they have been determined."

 

 

 

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2010/11/02/2010-11-02_knicks_game_vs_magic_tuesday_night_postponed_due_to_absestos_debris_in_madison_s.html#ixzz14Aa7HpNw