The NBA has decided to postpone the game scheduled for Wednesday in New Orleans between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pelicans due to a severe winter storm that dumped around 30 centimeters of snow on the city. This exceptional weather phenomenon transformed the generally subtropical city into a place where travel was dangerous, due to the limited snow removal equipment available.
Adverse weather conditions
The storm that hit the region on Tuesday significantly disrupted traffic. The roads in this city, unprepared for such conditions, have become slippery and difficult to access. Faced with this, the Bucks anticipated by changing their usual schedule, taking a flight on Monday to arrive earlier in New Orleans. Their goal was to assess whether conditions would be sufficient to hold the match at the Smoothie King Center, an arena that can accommodate up to 18,000 spectators, located in the heart of the city.
Unfortunately, temperatures remained below freezing on Wednesday. As a result, several major roads in the region were closed by the relevant authorities, making traffic even more complicated, with patches of ice covering many roads.
Consequences on local activity
In addition to the difficulties faced by the basketball team, the storm impacted the daily lives of many residents. Schools and businesses in the region also had to close their doors this Wednesday, which added to the already heavy consequences of this storm on New Orleans.
-The Bucks plan to travel to Miami for a game scheduled for Thursday, but there is uncertainty over whether they will leave New Orleans. It was unclear whether the team would choose to leave town on the day of the game.
Air Travel Notice
In addition, Louis Armstrong International Airport announced the cancellation of all commercial flights for the day on Wednesday, making travel even more complicated for teams and travelers. As for the Pelicans, they must prepare for a match in Memphis, scheduled for Friday evening, but they also find themselves concerned by the weather situation.
In summary, the winter storm disrupted the sports calendar and the daily routine of New Orleans residents, leading the NBA to make unprecedented decisions in the face of conditions deemed too dangerous for the events to take place.
