New York pro sports teams get green light to begin training camps

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Sports teams based in New York can start conducting training camps as of Sunday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced.

"I believe that sports that can come back without having people in the stadium, without having people in the arena, do it," Cuomo said. "Work out the economics if you can. We want you up (and running).

"We want people to be able to watch sports (while) still staying home. It gives people something to do, it's a return to normalcy, so we are working and encouraging all (New York-based) sports teams to start their training camps as soon as possible and we'll work with them to make sure that can happen."

Cuomo's announcement affects the New York Knicks, Islanders, Mets, Rangers, Yankees, New York City FC, the New York Liberty, and the Brooklyn Nets, as well as the Buffalo Bills. The Sabres aren't expected to be part of the NHL's 24-team return-to-play plan, and it's unclear whether Cuomo's green light impacts the New York Giants and Jets or the New York Red Bulls, as those clubs are based in New Jersey.

All the leagues in question have suspended play due to the coronavirus pandemic, except the NFL, with that league's 2020 campaign set to begin in September.

Several weeks ago, it was reported that NHL teams wouldn't reopen their facilities until all of that league's squads could do so at or around the same time.