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June 22, 2012
Hello, Brooklyn! A Conversation with Nets CEO Brett Yormark
The Sportsfan Journal
by J. Clinkscales
There are few more entertaining works of fiction than a softball interview with Nets CEO Brett Yormark.
TSFJ: Could you speak a bit on the community initiatives the Nets have taken on since arriving in Brooklyn in April?
Yormark: From my perspective, our move to Brooklyn is really all about the community. When we went through our brand transformation about a month and a half ago, that first week was all about the Brooklyn Nets and the community. Supporting wellness, supporting education, community development.
...TSFJ: Now on that note, you’re coming into an already established NBA market, even though Brooklynites have known about the Nets for years. Outside of the insiders and media, how have the actual fans received the Nets, in terms of community service, rebranding and the like?
Yormark: I think it’s truly exceeded our expectations. Our fans have had a chance to vote, and they voted “yes” for the Nets, and the rebranding efforts. We sold a lot of season seats, much more than we ever anticipated this far out from the beginning of the (2012-13) season. People are wearing our merchandise; they’re wearing our caps, wearing out t-shirts, and they voted “yes” for the Brooklyn Nets.
Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to "vote" on the billion-plus dollars in subsidies and tax breaks being lavished on the Atlantic Yards project, or the abuse of eminent domain on which it relies.
Ooh, better grab your hankies...
TSFJ: In terms of community service, what has been the effort you have personally been most proud of, whether it’s been in the first few weeks in Brooklyn or this whole five-year process?
Yormark: During our “Brooklyn Nets in the Community,” we were at a YMCA in Prospect Park. It was a wonderful day for me personally. There were 600 kids there; they were all wearing black and white. It was two days after we launched our brand, and for me, it was a very proud moment. I knew that kids would ultimately vote “yes” for the Brooklyn Nets, and I knew they would take the moment to embrace their own home team. Until you get there and experience it firsthand, you never know, but to have 600 kids cheer on the Nets, work with our executive team that was out there hosting clinics for the day; to me, it was a big-time moment.
Last year, my kids and I fed the hungry in Brooklyn, and we will continue to do that as a family this year. Even on Sept. 28 when we plan to open our building, I’ll be doing outreach.
NoLandGrab: Sniffle. We can't help, however, being reminded of this classic scene from the 1987 film Broadcast News.
Posted by eric at June 22, 2012 12:10 PM