Ian Begley, SNY.tv | Twitter |
The Knicks have offered 2019-20 season-ticket holders an option to get refunds for the remaining regular season games on the schedule amid the coronavirus crisis.
The club also offered season ticket holders the option to put money spent on the unused tickets toward a season ticket package for 2020-21. If the fans choose that option, they can receive credits to the team store or concessions at Madison Square Garden or they can receive an RJ Barrett jersey.
The options were communicated in a letter to season ticket holders sent on Monday and obtained by SNY. The offers were first reported by the New York Post.
The NBA season was suspended in mid March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The league is still exploring many options to resume the season, including the possibility of playing the remainder of the regular season.
But it's highly unlikely that any of those games take place in front of fans, which is presumably why the Knicks have offered refunds on the final eight games of the regular season.
The club initially communicated those options in a letter to season ticket holders sent in late March. Like all other teams, New York is awaiting the NBA's decision on potentially resuming the season.
There is a possibility that the 2020-21 season is played -- at least partially -- without fans because of the pandemic.
Adam Silver reportedly told players in a conference call this past Friday that revenue from fans who attend games accounts for roughly 40 percent of overall league revenue.
MSG Sports, which owns the Knicks and Rangers, had an 18 percent drop in revenue last fiscal quarter, compared to the same period in 2019, per The Athletic. The arena closed on March 12. The company, whose owner, James Dolan, tested positive for coronavirus, has reportedly committed to paying qualified workers through the end of the month.
According to Politico, the company is lobbying to shape the next coronavirus relief package.
EWING STILL HEARS FROM MJ
Speaking on ESPN's The Jump, Patrick Ewing says Michael Jordan still talks trash to him.
"He's been talking trash from the first day that I met him and he still continues to talk trash telling me that I have never beaten him when it counts … it still hasn't stopped," Ewing said with a smile.
Ewing was asked about ex-Knicks teammate Charles Oakley's comments to the New York Post that were critical of his play against Jordan and the Bulls.
The Hall-of-Famer again took the high road.
"I have nothing but respect for Charles Oakley. He was one of my greatest teammates," he said. "We called him the hitman. He protected all of our backs. So anything happened on the floor, he was always going to be there to protect you. So I have nothing but respect for him. Me passing out of double teams, there were times when maybe I should have but there were times when I thought that it was my job to try and win the game, so that's what I did. I gave my blood, sweat and tears to the Knicks, and that's it."