Results tagged “njnets”

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."

Hey, New York Magazine's words "If you like Downtown Brooklyn you'll love Newark" are true when it comes to the NJ Nets. The team, which was supposed to move to Brooklyn for the 2009-2010 way back when, has been negotiating with the NJ Devils to play three pre-season games, according to the Star-Ledger. Nets CEO Brett Yormark only said, "We're exploring many different options, continue to regionalize the franchise. Preseason games afford us the opportunity to do this." An anonymous Nets official adds, "With Brooklyn still up in the air, the question is whether they're warming to the idea of moving to Newark, even though it's clear that getting to Brooklyn is best for the long-term health of the franchise." Over the weekend, City Councilwoman Letitia James told the Daily News the Atlantic Yards project was on its "last legs, and the wicked witch is almost dead" (she opposes the plan), but we bet Bruce Ratner loves zombies.

While the (now) NJ Nets act like they are headed to Brooklyn, what with new player Yi Jianlian visiting the Chinatown YMCA--and meeting Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver--earlier this week, there has been no shortage of news suggesting the Nets won't be NYC-bound any time soon.

A rendering of Brooklyn's proposed City Tech Tower, designed by Renzo Piano, at Tillary and and Jay Street sent some into speculation mode, especially since its height seemed to be up to 1,000 feet tall. Which would make just about twice the height of the 512-foot tall Williamsburgh Savings Bank, currently the tallest building the Brooklyn. However, the rendering of the building is apparently old. A representative at Forest City Ratner, the development company which...

Gothamist would expect Chicago area sports teams to wear special green uniforms just because it's a city that dumps green dye into their river (our rivers can be greenish, thanks to other factors). But when we were checking out the Knicks' website, we learned that the Knicks will wear green uniforms for the first time, thanks to special sponsor, Tourism Island. And while Gothamist thinks this is lame, we understand why the Knicks undertook the sponsorship, beacuse if they ever needed the luck of the Irish, it's tonight, as they will be playing the first place Detroit Pistons. There will be other Irish tie-ins, like the entertainment, food specials (corned beef?), and giveaways, but we're pretty sure that most fans will be drowning their sorrows in beer so they forget the loss.

The Detroit Free-Press' Mitch Albom marvels at Veal, calling him a "big, chunky redheaded bench player"; the Times notes that Scalabrine, though unlikely hero, isn't the best defensive player. Plus, the Star-Ledger on Scalabrine's hot hand. And the Gothamist-Whatevs bet on this series. Game 6 is tomorrow night in East Rutherford.

ESPN on some of Frank's challenges. A Q & A with Lawrence Frank. And vote on what you think the Nets should be named at NY1.

Brooklyn would rather have either an new hotel, sports complex (if NYC gets the 2012 Olympics) or an indoor water park. Well, who wouldn't a year round water park? Which reminds us that there's no word on the progress of the Randall's Island Aquatic Surfpark.

Other bids to purchase Nets are from NJ developer Charles Kushner and NJ Sen. Jon Corzine (bid: $267.5 million) and NY investor Stuart Feldman ($257.5 million), who have said the Nets would stay in NJ. Ratner's bid is for $275 million. And as it's the only bid to bring the Nets to NYC, Mayor Bloomberg will be at today's ceremony, along with Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz.

- And, yes, it's true, we're looking for advertisers AND having another happy hour.