It is quite common in other sports where weather is a factor. Have you been to a cricket match where an extended time period can be required following rain to dry the outfield and ready the square? Even for tennis at Wimbledon the roof on Centre Court takes 10 minutes to close, and it then takes a further 20-30 minutes for the air management system to re-create the correct conditions.
Such delays are common in weather dependant sports and most sensibly minded 'newbies' would be accepting of this within a reasonable timeframe. I wonder if organisers in other sports get the same hammering that speedway promoters do!