NBA and NHL teams battle delays as nationwide FAA ground stop disrupts weekend sports travel
Some teams were left searching for hotel rooms, others rescheduled flights, leagues adjusted start times and several college football programs took the unusual step of chartering buses rather than waiting for the ground stop to end.
- The ground stop has since been lifted, but it still caused some serious travel nightmares for several professional teams.
- CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE Additionally, both the NHL and NBA have had teams impacted by the stoppage.
- Fortunately for them, shortly after the ground stop was lifted, the Sharks were given clearance to head to Salt Lake City and were still scheduled to get there on Friday evening.
Millions of people across the nation are trying to figure out how to get from A to B in the wake of a nationwide FAA ground stop — only the second since 9/11 — and that includes some professional teams.
That means that while the ground stop has been lifted, more travel headaches could be ahead for teams across sports.
- The travel interruption came on the eve of a full college football slate and as NFL teams prepare to travel for Sunday’s games.
- Meanwhile, in the NHL, there are just four teams in action on Friday, with two games on the schedule.
- There were nine games scheduled for Friday in the NBA and five for Saturday, with some running into issues.
- The Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls had planned to do the same, while the Detroit Pistons managed to fly to Miami earlier on Friday and made it there with no issues.
- The Grizzlies were one of a few teams scheduled to fly out on Friday night after their games.
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