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October 23, 2009
NBA seems OK with Nets playing in Newark for now
AP via Yahoo! Sports
by Brian Mahoney
The NBA doesn’t seem likely to stand in the way if the New Jersey Nets decide to move their home games to Newark.
The Star-Ledger reported Thursday that the Nets were considering playing regular-season games at the Prudential Center while an arena is being built in Brooklyn, as long as they don’t have to pay an $8 million penalty to get out of their lease at the Meadowlands.
“Where they play is their decision, subject to approval, but there’s no reason why we wouldn’t approve them playing games in a beautiful new arena,” NBA commissioner David Stern said.
...Stern said he hasn’t had any direct conversation with the Nets, but was aware of the report of a potential move.
“It’s theirs to decide where, as they get ready to move to Brooklyn, where they play,” Stern said. “We don’t have a preference, it would be guided by their preference.”
...Stern said NBA owners could vote to approve the sale by the end of the year. Even if the Nets play in Newark and are successful there, Stern is still convinced they will end up in Brooklyn, saying Prokhorov “intends to be an owner of the Brooklyn Nets and nothing else.”
Posted by eric at October 23, 2009 11:20 AM