May 24, 2020 | 12:35pm | Updated May 24, 2020 | 4:37pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s push to get professional sports going again in New York took another step forward Sunday.
Cuomo said during a press conference at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh that as of Sunday, professional sports leagues can begin holding training camps in New York, as leagues work on their plans to resume play amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Starting today, all the New York professional sports leagues will be able to begin training camps,” Cuomo said. “I believe sports that can come back without having people in the stadium, without having people in the arena, do it! Do it! Work out the economics if you can. We want you up. We want people to be able to watch sports to the extent people are still staying home. It gives people something to do. It’s a return to normalcy. So we are working and encouraging all sports teams to start their training camps as soon as possible, and we’ll work with them to make sure that can happen.”
As of Friday, the Yankees and Mets were expected to resume spring training at their respective sites in Florida.
Some NBA teams have been reopening their practice facilities as the league plots its return in Orlando, but the Knicks and Nets were unable to do so until now. Knicks players have been scattered around North America since the league suspended play in March.
The NHL is planning a 24-team playoff for this summer, but the Rangers are still awaiting word from the league regarding permissible activities.
As for the Giants and Jets, both teams train in New Jersey and will have to wait and see when Gov. Phil Murphy allows sports teams to reconvene for training. All NFL teams are currently going through virtual offseason programs. Training camps are still roughly two months away.
