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April 21, 2008
Barclay Center Blood Sport
Ultimate fighting has its proponents in Brooklyn
Courier Life Publications
By Stephen Witt
The new Barclay's Center, the home of NBA's Brooklyn Nets* that is expected to open sometime in 2010**, may also feature Ultimate Fighting Championship bouts.***
The UFC is the trademarked league that promotes and produces mixed martial arts fights that are growing nationally.†
While currently not legal in New York, the State Senate and Assembly are moving bills to officially sanction the sport. ††
I have talked with someone [from Forest City Ratner Companies — the Nets owners and Atlantic Yards developer] unofficially, but it's our understanding that the arena won't be built for another two or three years," said Marc Ratner, UFC vice president of governmental and regulatory affairs. †††
...
FCRC spokesperson Joe DePlasco refused to comment on discussions involving the sport.
Click image to read the rest.
* Note: The team is still called the "New Jersey Nets."
** Everyone knows that there's no way the arena will be ready in 2010, despite the public protestations of developer Forest City Ratner.
*** Hence the "blood sport" headline, which Barclays Bank is probably not too thrilled about.
† Does this sentence scream "I come from a press release," or what?
†† Because the State Legislature has nothing better to do?
††† So, Marc Ratner has a good idea that the arena won't be ready by 2010, but reporter Stephen Witt doesn't?
Posted by lumi at April 21, 2008 7:43 PM