No NYC State of Mind, says Chris
NYC Should Not Get Nets
Some are shouting "Don't believe the hype!" while others are waxing poetic about the heartbreak of 1957 when the beloved Brooklyn Dodgers packed their bags, turned their backs on millions of blue-collar, die-hard baseball fanatics, and headed to sunny California.
But it would be outrageous if the National Basketball Association (NBA) allowed the Ratner Group to actually purchase the New Jersey Nets -- a plan that would bring a professional sports team to Brooklyn while at the same time displace thousands of residents. Moreover, the Supreme Court should not rule to uphold a residency forceout law, especially amidst the cries of New York City protest groups who are strong in voice and number about how Ratner's proposed arena and landscape makeover would shamelessly evict at least 1,000 people.
Outspoken residents are well aware of the city's already ridiculous debt. And many taxpayers are sick of tax and transit hikes, which have been escalating for years. Yet the much-criticized Bloomberg administration is poised to float loans to the New York developer to build an arena above the Long Island Railroad hub in downtown Brooklyn.
On the flip side, the New Jersey bidders (see Kushner & Corzine purchasing group) have offered an immediate cash payment for the team -- a whopping $300 million amount that equals the Ratner bid but does not rely on heavy borrowing. Should that be dismissed so easily? It's hard to fathom this offer is also generously combined with a brilliant turn-key plan to keep the Nets where they belong.
The NJ Sports and Exposition Association has already blueprinted a $121 million renovation of the existing Contiental Airlines Arena as well as a multi-million dollar, state-of-the art entertainment center called Xanadu that includes plans for improved mass transit to the same land that may soon host the Superbowl (see dome structure plans for Giants Stadium). NJ Transit train lines from Newark and Bergen would run direct to the Meadowlands Sports Complex, where the Nets share the arena with their hockey roommates the Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils.
What an incredible boon that would be for two highly successful teams that have been busy courting area fans but not without hearing complaints about access to the E. Rutherford complex. Can you envision the impact various travel options would have? It would mean no longer could frigid or inclement winter weather deter large, appreciative crowds because they could easily ride the rails to the venue. Finally, sellouts would be commonplace for these elite champions. Even weeknight games against the league's weaker teams would be played to packed houses. Part of the excitement would be a newly built restaurant row on the grounds where patrons could enjoy nightlife both before and after the event. And by the way, did someone mention corporate luxury boxes?
Standing in the way of the deal is the NBA. League teams will be required to vote on the sale approval and then hold a separate vote to green light a move across the river (25 and 15 franchise votes respectively). How could they in good conscience allow the Ratner deal to go through, especially with the first-place Nets getting primed for another run at the Finals?
A quarter-century of professional sports history would be squashed in an instant proving that NJ Gov. McGreevey was making empty promises all along. He would surely be dubbed a "miserable failure" by many, although the polls show he already has a head start down that road. If he wants to save face, he better have his fingers crossed that the NBA uses common sense.
Bottom line: it would be more than a just a shame. It would be an absolute debacle if this sale to Ratner happens. It is truly unimaginable.
- Chris Suswal
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