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March 5, 2009
Nets to Newark for the Preseason
The announcement by the New Jersey Nets of two preseason games in the Prudential Center in Newark generates more coverage and comment. Common themes are: the insistence that the Nets just have to come to Brooklyn (never mind how an arena can be financed) and the arrival of the Nets by the (best case scenario for the Nets: 2012). Observers of the Atlantic Yards fight are urged to look at what Nets management does rather than what it says. It's clear that delays from lawsuits and financial troubles are forcing the Nets to keep all options open. Meanwhile, loyal Nets fans hope that their team can stay in New Jersey.
The Star-Ledger - NBA Nets agree to play in Newark
By Ted Sherman
They say it means nothing; they are still headed to Brooklyn, so don't read anything into it -- no how, no way. But the New Jersey Nets will be play two exhibition basketball games in Newark this fall.
The Nets, who play their regular season home games at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, will meet the Boston Celtics on Oct. 13 and the New York Knicks on Oct. 21 at the downtown Prudential Center -- bringing NBA basketball for the first time to the state's largest city.
Nets officials said the preseason games are aimed at regionalizing the team's fan base, and not any sign that they were exploring alternatives to the long-delayed move to Brooklyn. The Brooklyn move is tied to the construction of a $1 billion arena project that is under mounting financial pressure in the face of a worsening recession.
"Absolutely not," insisted Nets CEO Brett Yormark when asked whether the team was backing away from Brooklyn. "We're going to Brooklyn for the 2011-12 season."
New York Times - Newark’s Dreams Conflict With Ratner’s Vision for the Nets
By William C. Rhoden
Mayor Cory Booker described himself as a “hopeless dreamer” Wednesday morning.
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Booker extended the concept to the impact a professional team could have on a city. In fact, he said that when he spoke of being a dreamer, he was referring to bringing the Nets to Newark, the odds of which seem slim to none.
Everyone associated with the Nets’ owner, Bruce C. Ratner, insists there is no way the Nets are staying in New Jersey. Ratner’s vision has always been that the team would be the crown jewel of a sprawling real estate complex in Brooklyn. “The fact is, we’re going to Brooklyn,” Brett Yormark, the Nets’ chief executive, said Wednesday.
Booker is undaunted. He spoke confidently about luring the Nets. He was passionate in describing the economic and psychic impact they would have on the city, which already has a great arena in the Prudential Center, where the Nets will play two preseason games in October.
“We don’t have to use state money to build anything,” Booker said. “The Nets coming to Newark would supercharge the city. I’m working on it every day.”
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Meanwhile, Ratner, whose company, Forest City Ratner, was the development partner for the Midtown headquarters for The New York Times company, continues to nip and tuck and shrink his grand development project. In deference to a ravaged economy, he said he would build the basketball arena first and hold off on proposed office buildings and most of the housing until the economy improves. According to reports, he is trying to cut the estimated $1 billion cost of the arena in half in the hope of attracting financing and attracting more city and state subsidies.
Newark would be so easy. Unfortunately, that’s never been the Nets’ way.
The struggle always continues.
Daily News - Nets to play a pair at The Rock
by Julian Garcia
Loyal Nets fans from New Jersey have been screaming for years that the team should forget about moving to Brooklyn and just head for Newark, where a brand new arena would await them.
Meanwhile, Nets owner Bruce Ratner - and the people who speak for him - have been screaming back, "Forget about it!'
Well, we found out today that moving the team to the Prudential Center in downtown Newark is not such a far fetched idea.
The Nets announced today that two preseason games next season with be played at the Prudential Center, affectionately known as "The Rock." They will also play one game at St. John's University - conceivably to give the impression that they are still heading to one of the boroughs of New York City in the near future.
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Since the Nets have been adamant about not moving to Newark, why would they want to give the impression that they might be if there wasn't at least a chance? It seems logical that by playing games in Newark they are sort of kicking the tires in case a permanent move there becomes necessary. And based on everything we've heard, it seems very likely that the Brooklyn thing will be much harder to make a reality than Ratner and his people are letting on.
I'm sure we will hear more about this in the coming hours and days, so stay tuned.
AP via USA Today - Nets will play preseason games in Newark, Queens
by Tom Canavan
In a move to expand their fan base, the New Jersey Nets will play their preseason games next fall in Newark and at St. John's in New York instead of their longtime home at the Izod Center in the Meadowlands.
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The Nets hope to move to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in 2011, but construction has not started on the building.
Bob's Blitz - NJ Nets Done with Brooklyn Dreams? New Jersey Opens Preseason in Newark
The New Jersey Nets will open their 2010 preseason in Newark.
Ted Sherman reports that the NJN 'will meet the Celtics on Oct. 13 and the Knicks on Oct. 21, in two preseason games at the Prudential Center, bringing NBA basketball for the first time to the state's largest city.'
Newark Nets sounds better than Brooklyn Nets did anyway...
Posted by steve at March 5, 2009 4:26 AM