NBA and NHL teams scramble as nationwide FAA ground stop disrupts weekend sports travel

Millions of people across the United States are facing travel disruptions following a nationwide FAA ground stop, a rare occurrence that has particularly affected professional sports teams preparing for weekend games. The Federal Aviation Administration issued the stop at all US airports due to communications problems, creating chaos for teams trying to reach their destinations.

NBA teams affected

The National Basketball Association has been significantly impacted, with nine games scheduled for Friday and five for Saturday. The Brooklyn Nets were attempting to travel from New Orleans to Memphis when their flight was halted. Coincidentally, the Memphis Grizzlies were also in New Orleans for a Friday night game against the Pelicans.

The Grizzlies were one of a few teams scheduled to fly out on Friday night after their games. 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.

NHL teams scramble

In the National Hockey League, four teams were scheduled to play on Friday, with two games on the docket. While none of these teams play on Saturday, the remaining 28 teams in the league do. Most teams made it to their destinations before the shutdown, but the San Jose Sharks were not as fortunate, as their flight to Utah for a Saturday night game against the Mammoth did not depart in time.

Travel disruptions continue

As flights resume, teams across sports leagues are likely to face additional delays and complications. The ground stop comes on the eve of a full college football slate and as NFL teams prepare to travel for Sunday's games, indicating the ripple effects could extend beyond basketball and hockey.