Liberty take up residence at Radio City
Move over Rockettes. The New York Liberty are taking over Radio City Music Hall.
Over the years, the renowned venue has hosted awards shows, political rallies, presidential birthday celebrations, movie and television screenings, concerts and the famous Christmas show.
Add basketball to the list.
To allow for preparations for next month’s Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden, the WNBA’s Liberty have moved to Radio City for their next six home games.
The team left the Garden after last Sunday’s game against Charlotte, moving their belongings, including some office equipment, out of the arena. They will not be allowed to return until after the convention setup has been dismantled in mid-September.
The Liberty’s court was moved, in approximately 225 pieces, and laid out on the stage Monday.
The teams’ benches and the scorers’ tables are situated at the back of the stage, against the wall. There are about six rows of seats on each end of the court, and the media will be seated in the orchestra pit against the front of the stage.
“I think it’s pretty cool,” Liberty interim coach Pat Coyle said. “It fits great. It’s the same measurements we have in the Garden. There’s probably more room on the baselines and the sideline (at the front of the stage). We probably have more room here than we have in the Garden.”
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