SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The court for Friday's men's basketball game between San Diego State and Syracuse aboard the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum arrived Monday and is set to be installed Tuesday.
Construction crews have been working since Halloween, and have finished installing the grandstand for about 5,000 fans, the museum's Scott McGaugh told City News Service. Lights soar about 60 feet above the flight deck, he said.
"It's amazing how big it is," McGaugh said about the stadium set-up.
A 3,000-square-foot press tent has been set up on the bow of the vessel, McGaugh said.
The 20th ranked-Aztecs and No. 9 Orangemen will play one of three contests aboard Navy ships in honor of Veterans Day, which is Sunday.
A wider festival, which was to have included a concert by San Francisco Giants pitcher -- and San Diego-area native -- Barry Zito's band was canceled a few weeks ago.
After all the preparation of the venue and practices by the teams to prepare for outdoor conditions, the weather might not cooperate. The National Weather Service is calling for temperatures in the low-60s with a chance of rain on Friday.
"We're busy sacrificing goats to the rain gods," McGaugh said.
Organizers have reserved the Valley View Casino Center as a backup location in case weather makes the court unplayable, McGaugh said.
