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September 26, 2006
Nets thinking Queens?
The Brooklyn Papers, which won a National Newspaper Association award for its coverage of the Brooklyn Nets arena controversy despite a reporting staff that consists of two people and a squirrel with a manual typewriter, has unearthed another doozy: When Nets owner Bruce Ratner signed an option to extend his current lease at the New Jersey Meadowlands through 2013, he not only included an out clause that would let him move to Brooklyn before then, but one that would allow him to move to Queens as well.
Could there be a secret Plan B to relocate the Nets to Queens if Ratner's contentious Atlantic Yards plan falls through? (The Papers' Gersh Kuntzman speculates that the Sunnyside Yards near Long Island City could be an option.) Or could this just be a way of putting the heat on Brooklyn pols by making them think that they have a competitor for the Nets' affections? I'm inclined to believe the latter, but then, I'm the one who didn't believe the crazy rumors that Ratner would really try to demolish buildings and streets to move them to Brooklyn in the first place.
The nets moving to queens would be a great idea. The jets could have had the sunnyside rail yardsbesides flushing meadow park which was offered to him. Iknow ratner really wants out of jersey
Posted by dan on September 26, 2006 04:34 PM
The New Jersey Devils have said the door is open for the Nets to play at Newark Arena.
Posted by Daniel F. on September 27, 2006 05:30 PM
The nets want there own place. Its either going to be queens or brooklyn not newark.
Posted by dan on September 28, 2006 01:47 AM
Why not built a retractable roof over the Arthur Ashe Stadium in a joint venture with the US Tennis Assocciation? No more rain delays at the US Open, a good venue with luxury suites and a big capacity for the nets. They can sell naming rights as well for financing the roof, although this would be a very hard decision, if you recall what Artur Ashe has accomplished in his career for Tennis and the Afroamerican community. Would be also funny, if the Jersey deal fall through and the Jets built their stadium also in Queens. Mets, Nets and Jets on one location. But we all know that Ratner is focused on development and in my opinion the Nets Arena is just a tool for getting his way more easily in Brooklyn.
Posted by Felix on September 28, 2006 05:57 AM
The jets will get feed up with the giants .That partnership will end up in a divorce. It's not a 99 year lease as everyone says it is. The jets will be in ny when woody sells the team. As for the nets they will end somewhere in ny. The knicks are awful and the nets can pounce on that.
Posted by dan on September 28, 2006 01:11 PM
I'm a little insulted.
Our squirrel uses an iMac, not a typewriter.
Posted by Vince on October 6, 2006 09:30 AM