Brooklyn Nets Arena No Longer Appears to Be a $1B Project

Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards project continues to be a bumpy ride with today's reports that there are plans to scale back the arena designed for the "Brooklyn Nets." A source close to the developer says that Ratner simply won't be able to build an arena for the proposed $1 billion. He tells the News that raising that much is "probably not going to happen. It can't be built if that's the price tag." And despite recent rumors that architect Frank Gehry had been fired, a spokesman for the developer says, “Frank Gehry has not been removed from the project. We are continuing to speak with many arena experts and working hard to find ways to build a world class venue in an incredibly difficult economic environment.” (The News runs that quote yet its headline reads "Star architect Frank Gehry may go".) All of this is certainly not going to quiet the ongoing whispers that when all is said and done, the team may become the Newark Nets.

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By Billy Parker in News on January 8, 2009 7:40 PM

Comments [rss]

whitecastlerock

There is an arena in Uniondale Long Island that used to be home for the A.B. A. champion New York Nets. The New Jersey Nets could move out there next season. It is home to another shitty franchise, the New York Islanders. All that dump needs is a coat of paint, some new seats and voíla, a new home!

NannyState

And another added plus: victory parades in the parking lot!

Spirit of 76

It would be very interesting if the project was completed and the Nets went to Jersey anyway. An arena without a team. "If you build it, they won't come."

Gehry has enough designs in NYC. Let him go "enrich" some other cities.

Brooklynbobby

I lived in St. Petersburg 20 years ago when they were building Tropicana Field. At the time, the public didn't want it either and it sat vacant for years until the Tampa Bay Devilrays came along. It would indeed be interesting if the Nets decided to stay in Jersey.

yg

No chance, since Ratner and his company owns both, the stadium and the team.

Toby von Meistersinger

A couple of U-Hauls to go to Newark would be much cheaper.

longacre

How does a 20,000 seat arena cost $1 billion? The new Yankee Stadium cost that much and it's over twice the size of an indoor arena, and Citifield cost under $1 billion.

NannyState

If he built this garbage in Las Vegas, he wouldn't have to "scale down" a thing. In fact, with all the slots revenue, he could even add another shitty 60 story tower.