Yesterday, thousands of Bruce BROOOOOOCE Springsteen fans were blinded by the cold cruel light when they logged onto Ticketmaster to purchase tickets to one of The Boss' five NY/NJ area shows. Instead, they were met point blank with a "Your wait time is 15 minutes" message, left feeling like they were on the outside looking in. It turns out all those fans were kept from getting tickets because of scalpers—and as Springsteen himself once said, "Well, sir, I guess there's just a meanness in this world."
Ticket Avenue Freeze-Out: Bruce Springsteen Fans Frustrated By Scalpers
Bruce Springsteen's 12-Page Food Rider Redacted From Izod Center Documents
For nearly three years, the Star-Ledger has been fighting the New Jersey Sports Authority to release contracts and terms negotiated by the company with performers at the Izod Center and what used to be Giants stadium. Those documents have been released, and we now know that the authority charged around $80,000 to rent out the Izod Center, that the company never lost money on a contract there, and that the venues bring a lot of money into New Jersey. What we still aren't allowed to see? Bruce Springsteen's food and beverage requirements. This was all foreshadowed in "Darkness Along the Edges of 12 Pages Of Legally Binding Documents."
NJ Nets' Meadowlands-To-Newark Deal May Be Dead
The poor, poor NJ Nets. Not only are they 2-24 for the season so far (they lost to the Utah Jazz by 16 points last night) and not only is their mythical Brooklyn home still in progress, now a plan to relieve them from the Meadowlands and move them to more easily accessible Newark has apparently fallen through!
Nets May Move to Newark While Awaiting Mythical Brooklyn Arena
Two preseason games at the Prudential Center in Newark have been so highly attended that the Nets are considering moving there from the Meadowlands while they wait for a new home in Brooklyn. An October 13th preseason game against the Celtics drew 12,790 fans to the Prudential Center, three times the the size of a typical preseason crowd at the Meadowlands' Izod Center. Then, a game against the Knicks drew 15,721. Those are nice numbers, but getting out of their lease could cost Nets owner and Atlantic Yards developer Bruce Ratner millions.
Newark Mayor: If Nets Aren't In Brooklyn, Then Newark
Newark Mayor Cory Booker is not happy with plans to improve the Izod Center at the Meadowlands. According to the Star-Ledger, Booker sent a letter to NJ Governor Jon Corzine, "Should the Nets not build their project in Brooklyn, the Nets' long-term home in New Jersey cannot be Izod. It must be Newark." The NJ Sports and Exposition Authority's CEO says that it has received plans for renovations and said he'd be happy if the Nets remained. However, Booker said in his letter, "This expenditure would clearly cause injury to Newark, further divide our state against itself and undermines current good faith efforts by Newark and the (authority's) leadeship to craft a larger vision for the Meadowlands/Newark region. I urge you to more actively join us in pursuit of such a win-win, NOT to add fuel and fire to the continued cannibalization of New Jersey venues to the detriment of two worthy communities."
Last Night's Action: Ropin' Mavericks
Vince Carter put forth one of his best efforts of the season -- a 29-point, nine-rebound performance. And that was after a nasty elbow sent him to the locker room. But the Nets' defense -- or the Mavericks' poor shooting -- was the story in this one. Dallas made only 36.5 percent of its shots.
Last Night's Action: Brodeur Saves Devils
- Devils 2, Sabres 1 (SO): Aggressive play cost the Devils the win in regulation, but Martin Brodeur, Brian Gionta and Patrik Elias too center stage in the shootout to allow the Devils to continue their home dominance. They have picked up 21 of 22 points at their new Prudential Center in the last 11 games. Things didn't look so rosy when Jason Pominville tied the game with 1:47 to go, but the Devils bounced back. They held out during Buffalo's dominance of the extra session to make use of Brodeur in the shootout.
- Lightning 5, Rangers 3: Spotting the Lightning a three-goal lead didn't seem to be a good move. After Jaromir Jagr opened the scoring, Tampa Bay struck for four straight, and the Rangers couldn't recover.
- Canucks 3, Islanders 2 (SO): The Islanders can't be happy they traveled all the way to the Pacific Northwest only to see that second point disappear after a goal between the legs of Rick DiPietro. But he can't be blamed for this loss. His 43 saves were the only reason the Islanders made it to the extra session and the shootout.
Last Night's Action Is Across The River
Last Night's Action: It Must Be the Holidays
Last Night's Action: No Offense In New Jersey
Clippers 91 Nets 82: The Nets simply couldn’t shoot Tuesday night, finishing a dismal 32% from the field in an ugly loss to the Clippers at the Izod Center. Jason Kidd managed a triple-double and Richard Jefferson had 21 points, but it wasn’t enough to stop LA. Chris Kaman and Tim Thomas each had 18 points while Dan “the Knicks cut me this offseason” Dickau added 11 points off the bench. Carl Pavano isn’t sure...
Last Night's Action: Second-Half Wakeup Call
Grizzlies 110, Nets 103: For whatever reason, the Nets don't do well at home after long road trips. Tuesday's loss was the fourth straight in the first game following a trip of three or more games. Everyone knows the Izod Center isn't the best home court, but the Nets need to do better than 3-6 at home. If the Nets played the entire game like they performed in the second half, they wouldn't be hanging...
Last Night's Action: More Homecooking For The Rangers
Rangers 4 Pittsburgh 2: That’s not a misprint, the Rangers really scored four goals tonight. Scott Gomez got things started for New York with a goal 7:35 into the game. But, Pittsburgh came right back and tied things on a Sergei Gonchar slap shot. But, Sean Avery did what he does best, get under opponents’ skin and he goaded Gary Roberts into a double minor. Roberts should know better and his mistake setup Michal Rozsival’s...
Extra, Extra
Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: Hostages(!) on Geranium and Kissena Blvds. in Queens, a pedestrian struck at Stillwell and Mermaid Aves. in Brooklyn, and a bank robbery on Columbus Ave. and 72nd St. in Manhattan. Knicks coach Isiah Thomas says that the stress of lawsuits are no distraction. He can keep doing what he's doing regardless of legal problems. A boat full of gadget-minded men. There was a stop-off at Liberty Island; and slide...

