The End Of Basketball City
It's sad to see the end of basketball city.
So many great moments there over the years.
I realize that the Hudson River Park Trust has big plans for this plot of land but we've got so little space for sports in downtown NYC that every lost square foot costs us dearly.
It would make me feel better if the Trust would have mandated that Pier 40 be a sports facility in its RFP. If we get an entertainment complex on Pier 40, we'll be doubly screwed.
The thing that really frosts me about this whole thing is that Bloomberg's PlanNYC specifically calls out for more outdoor space where we can play sports. The Hudson River Park is awesome, don't get me wrong. But you can't play soccer, baseball, and basketball next to the bike path. And the idea of doing that on the roof of an entertainment complex is just silly.
Let's hope we don't see a picture like this of Pier 40 anytime soon. That might just kill me.
At least they've moved Pier 63 / The Frying pan.... one of those rare nyc places that didn't make me feel like I'm in the city.
Posted by: Chapell | June 08, 2007 at 11:41 AM
Fred, your just afraid of change. Basketball city is the past, embrace the new shitty future like a good boy......
Posted by: jackson | June 08, 2007 at 01:08 PM
Great picture of the "ruins" of Basketball City. I'll miss some of the good times I had in the early days of BBCITY. It was exciting to be in the space. I actually did the first website for BBCity. It was a unique facility and it was like playing hoops on the Hindenberg - something about it was cool
For me though it started to go down hill- one of the last times i was there my wallet was stolen while i was playing hoops - thats nyc - the false sense of safety was broken for me.
I hope pier 40 goes with the peoples park- and builds the new hoops courts.
Personally i'm still looking for a park like i grew up in - a park where my kids could leave in the morning, alone, with no supervision, and come back safe and sound in time for dinner.
I know I'm hoping for the impossible - but I'll settle/hope for a few new hoops courts at pier 40.
Posted by: Steve | June 10, 2007 at 09:51 PM
That's doubly sad because of all the schools without gym facilities that used BBC for their school's home games. I've coached a few hundred games there. Where will those kids play now?
And yes, the city's desire to create walkways and not play spaces is dangerous and sad.
Posted by: Chris Lehmann | June 11, 2007 at 10:38 AM