« Landmarks Preservation Commission: Will Times Special Series Have it All Covered? | Main | City residents feel economy's pain »
December 1, 2008
Special report: Jazz staying put
Team executives say renovations are likely but relocation isn't
Salt Lake Tribune
by Steve Luhm
Bruce Ratner makes his way into a story about the Utah Jazz and the future of their aging arena.
In an era of unparalleled operating costs, NBA teams like the Jazz must maximize revenue streams, which includes income directly tied to their arenas.
If a building doesn't contribute to a team's bottom line, it's more than an inconvenience. It could be the death of a franchise in that particular city.
In Seattle, arena issues were cited by the Sonics' new owners as their reason for moving the team to Oklahoma City.
In New Jersey, owner Bruce Ratner's up-in-the-air plan to move the Nets to Brooklyn is based partly on the shortcomings of the outdated Izod Center.
In Sacramento, voters have been hesitant to help replace Arco Arena, leading to criticism by commissioner David Stern and rumors that the Kings might be the next team to relocate.
NoLandGrab: Imagine if you had to tear down your house every 25 years or so because it became outdated. Bet you wouldn't do that unless you were getting some generous help from the taxpayers.
Posted by eric at December 1, 2008 9:31 AM