YES! The NYT picked up the article.

Does this mean construction can surely begin by January?

It depends on FCE. Stay tuned.

What does this exactly mean?

All we need now is the financing. With Proky’s 200M and Barclay’s 400M, we should be in great shape.

Proky can also save the day if needed.

It is so great to get these lawsuits out of the way.

State is authorizing the bonds in a half hour in a previously scheduled meeting.

This is so great! Brooklyn and Proky, here we come.

NBA approval of Proky should come shortly.

I cannot believe Ratner won since Tal’s legal argument was so convining.

NI – When do the LeBonds get priced, marketed and sold?

Is getting financing the last material hurdle for Ratner?

Hello Brooklyn!!!

The bonds will be authorized this morning by the Brooklyn Arena Land Development Corp., a state agency. The authorization will include details on the interest rate (the Nets did get investment grade on most but not all of the bonds), how much needs to be sold (not quite $700 million), and what will be covered (infrastructure beyond the arena).

They will then be marketed. How tough of a sell? A lot less tough than it was before this ruling.

Prokhorov will have to be approved by the NBA board of governors in the next few weeks. Stern has said the NBA understands that the arena deal cannot close without the NBA approval of Prokhorov as principal owner.

I wonder if this decision would have any influence on this year’s team as far as loosening the purse strings on Thorn with Proky on board. The first thing I would do is dump the coach if we can afford to eat his salary. We need to be competitive to have a future in the FA market. No matter how you slice it, it’s great news.

SNF – It was worth the wait! Great new arena, Proky’s dough and John Wall!

NI, does this up our chances GREATLY of landing LeBron James next offseason?

I gotta believe no major moves until bonds are sold, Proky’s approved and ground is broken.

Then everything changes and I hope firing Frank is first.

Great news. While expected, this is a big step in finally making our way back home to New York and being a perennial contender.

Where is Tal, Trenton, Isaac and Mr. T. NJ lost the Nets but the teams basketball future is very bright.

David, what a ride!

We do I feel like DDDB will file some new lawsuits just to stall everything and prevent meeting the 2009 deadlines?? Is this legal nightmare really over or will there be more surprises to come??

Will YES still show the games when they move to Brooklyn? If so, though it hurts my Jersey pride, it changes nothing for me.

i only go to a couple of game per season…but tickets are soo affordable in NJ…hopefully ticket prices arent crazy like the yankees when nets move to brooklyn..that would stink

@Dirt
The YES contract extends through 2013, so yes. However, the contract contains a provision that in the final year if the Nets believe they are being not getting fair market value, they can go to an arbitrator and ask that he or she set the rate for the final season. The Nets get about $10 million a year from YES, less than half what owners think they should be getting. However, that deal was struck when the team’s old owners, who also are big stockholders in YES, sold the Nets to Ratner. Not a good deal.

Don’t worry – I’m here. I’ll believe this is built when I see it. I have considerable doubts about the final outcome.

@Ram,

All the commentery stated that other lawsuits are a nusance rather than a threat.

DG will be out of his condo soon.

@ Andy,

With an $800 million+ price tag, you can GUARANTEE that people of Proky’s wealth will be the only ones actually able to attend a game. YES Network will be the ony way any of us could afford to see our team.

Mr.T – I am sure that Bruce is concerned about your doubts.

Hope LeBreeze is out of bed to read the news…

HOLLAH!!

@Shawn – James is just waiting for the LeBonds to be issued.

@ David,

Be prepared to be disappointed. There’s no way this project gets seen through to completion. This isn’t emotion speaking – it’s common sense. Don’t say I didn’t give you fair warning.

“Common sense”?

Elaborate for us, please.

DG is already talking about vacating his apartment.

Financing, Proky approval and ground breaking coming to a theatre near you.

Now that ED has gone in FCRCs favor, financing should be simple…Barclays, Goldman, Phrokorov, Viola all on board…

Hello Brooklyn, How ya doin?!?!?

They will begin breaking ground early January, this was the last major hurdle in addition to Proky’s financing, the Nets will be in Brooklyn in 2 years. Lopez will be a top 3 center, etc. Lebrillionaire will take the NY money, book it!

Net fans no longer do we have to suffer from these losses!!!

Well i hope the nets move to Newark for a year or two while the new stadium is being built. It makes me soooo sad to see them leave New Jersey, they were my team. But it was for the best. Perhaps they could have built a new arena in Newark or something. Idk but i root for the Yankees and they are from New York. How far is a train ride from Morristown to Brookyln?

What’s next as far as legal battles? Is this it?

As long as they’re able to sell the bonds and Prokhorov takes control of the team this move is a done deal?

Great news today.

I will believe it when i see it. It has been the same episode for the last 5 years. they always say it will be done then something happens. I hope it doesn’t get built. If it does then i will switch my alliegence to another team. Don’t know which one yet but it will not be THe Nets

@ Sparklespice,

Two things:

1) There is a new arena in Newark – the Prudential Center. It was designed with an NBA team in mind.

2) There is no train service b/t Morristown and Brooklyn. The best you could do from Morristown (if you believe this sham project will got through) is take NJ Transit to NY Penn and transfer to the NYC Subway.

Having said that, I highly doubt this project will be completed, so don’t make your plans for Brooklyn just yet.

@Sparklespice — 25 min from Penn Station to AY. Cost $2.25.
THIS IS GREAT! I’m also looking forward to games at the Rock while Barclay’s rises! Pigdaddy was getting awful sick of the Lincoln Tunnel. Plus PARKING at Izod (don’t get me started) walking witha crowd of fellow suffering fans through that tunnel in the sky from parking lot to parking deck takes so long…always reminds me of when I was a sperm… Goodbye Izod!!! HELLO THERE BROOKLYN NETS!!!

@ MrT

Coming from NJ – the train from Morristown to NYC is what, 45 minutes, an hour tops?

From Penn Station, you can take the 2,3,B,D,N,Q,R to the Barclays Center – which doesn’t take more than 20-25 minutes…

Not a bad trip via mass-transit to come to some games from NJ

PLus the LIRR I forgot…

@ Hex,

Exactly! Add to that the fact an $800 million+ arena will NEVER turn a profit, is a major security risk at its’ current planned location, has no tax benefit to NYC, is being largely funded by taxpayers and lastly, considering there’s a better use for that site than a SPORTS ARENA, and there’s no doubt this project makes no sense. Six years of delays, whether prompted by lawsuits, poor funding or an ill economy are not an accident. It means the plan is fundamentally flawed. But you can’t tell some people anything. Especially on this site.

@MrT

Do You have something personal against Brooklyn? honestly what did Brooklyn do to you?

@ Smart,

The poster asked about train service b/t Morristown and Brooklyn. There is no direct service. However, I did supply an alternative, assuming she would actually need it.

mikee21,

I have nothing against Brooklyn. In fact, I would venture to say that I like Brooklyn when I’ve visited, so no one on this site should take my comments as a slight against the borough or it’s people. My problem is with AY (and, specifically, Barclays Center). The KNICKS belong in Brooklyn, and if that were being proposed, everyone here would say moving the Nets there is preposterous. As for Barclays, it see it joining other ill-fated projects in NYC such as Westway and the Jets Football Stadium on Manhattan’s Far West Side. 11 years of following the Nets’ move has taught me to question this latest outcome, because things change form moment to moment.

Still another lawsuit pending is there?

BROOKLYN NETS!!!! This will make losing so bad this season somewhat palpable.

@MrT
Please if you are going to list all these issues of concern to you, cite studies or something, anything, to help us determine if they are your opinion or something more substantive.

And by the way, does it matter one iota if the arena loses money if the guy who controls half of it is worth more money than all but 30 or so people living on this planet?

MrT -

“Exactly! Add to that the fact an $800 million+ arena will NEVER turn a profit, is a major security risk at its’ current planned location, has no tax benefit to NYC, is being largely funded by taxpayers and lastly, considering there’s a better use for that site than a SPORTS ARENA, and there’s no doubt this project makes no sense. Six years of delays, whether prompted by lawsuits, poor funding or an ill economy are not an accident. It means the plan is fundamentally flawed. But you can’t tell some people anything. Especially on this site.”

From FCRC press-release…

The courts have ruled consistently in favor of the development. Mr. Ratner explained as well that the arena and larger development are expected to create 16,924 union construction jobs and over 8,000 permanent jobs. The tax revenues that will be generated for the City and State during the construction period are expected to exceed $240 million and after construction reach approximately $70 million a year.

This is a blog, not a peer review session. And yes, it does matter if the facility loses money when NYC taxpayers are footing the bill. That’s what’s going on now in the Meadowlands. Izod has been in debt for 30 years, amd didn’t cost anywhere near $800 million to build!

I love the Nets, always have and always will. I hate Bruce Ratner, always have and always will. I love New Jersey, always have and always will.

I have no problems with Brooklyn, but I am concerned at the overall cost of the arena. They are renovating Madison Square Garden for $500 million and everyone seems to think that price is exorbitant. MSG makes more money than probably 99% of the world’s arenas, yet AY will cost over $800 million. With only one tenant and competition for concerts and events from MSG, the Rock, Nassau, IZOD and all the other stadiums, it will be very difficult to fill it every night, especially at the price points most people can afford. I just hope they have contingency plans and that Barclay’s doesn’t become the Staples Center where the bottom bowl is only rich millionaires and the fans are forced to sit in the upper level because they can’t afford anything else.

If it makes the Nets better and more competitive, I will have to let go of my selfish desire for them to play at the Rock, but I am still a little worried and skeptical.

With regard to pending lawsuits…there are four…note this: three of the justices, including the chief judge criticized the plaintiffs in the case for using the law to delay the project.

Here is what Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman wrote:

"What has happened in this case is precisely the result that the Legislature sought to prevent when it enacted the Eminent Domain Procedure Law—the sidelining of a public project on account of prolonged litigation."

Two other judges, Susan Phillips Read and Eugene F. Pigott Jr. concurred in the majority ruling, but noted in strong terms that the critics shouldn’t have even been permitted to get this far because plaintiffs had violated the Eminent Domain Procedure Law that required they come before the state courts within 30 days after the condemnation finding.

Both of those, but particulary the written opinion of the chief judge of the state’s highest court, will no doubt affect the lower courts’ view of all these lawsuits.

http://fort-greene.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/24/top-court-upholds-eminent-domain-for-ay/

Has anyone contacted ESPN with the news?

Since a move to Brooklyn has direct impact on the LeBron sweepstakes, they should be interested.

The Nets may be the laughing stock of the NBA right now, but they are now sure to have the Last Laugh!!!

Now we just have to get everyone healthy -especially Keyon Dooling – and we can start talking trades.

@Sparklespice
It makes me soooo sad to see them leave New Jersey, they were my team.

come on better things are hopefully to come in the future…

@MrT
Your personal attacks are getting to the point where you need to take a breather. I resent your comments and would ask they be removed.

This isn’t a peer review session, but I would suggest to you that if you want to have your opinion be RESPECTED, you should at the very least cite something. If you won’t—or can’t—then they will be disrespected or discounted.

So after years of griping about how Ratner’s in it for the money, people are now against the project because they think it will lose Ratner money.

Yeah, ok, that makes perfect sense.

YEAH! NO WINS TILL BROOKLYN!

@JT
How very Beastie Boy of you.

GO BROOKLYN NETS! GO BROOKLYN NETS! GO BROOKLYN NETS!

Congratulations to Mr. Viola, Mr. Prokhorov, Mr. Carter and Mr. Ratner. To all the people whom were not in support for this project. Don’t worry you are all welcome to come to the new place. Why? Because this group of owners intentions are to make this a spectacular home for all of Brooklyn and the Tri-State area. Wow! Everybody involved in the struggle with the appeals take a break and celebrate. As soon as that shovel proudly goes into the ground change the name immediately to BROOKLYN from New Jersey on everything you see including with the NBA. Mr. Stern you are welcome to sit first game in my future courtside seats as a proud Brooklyn NBA fan. This is also not to offend New Jersey fans. Remember this ownership group wants the whole Tri-State to be part of this team and not just Brooklyn.
GO BROOKLYN NETS! GO BROOKLYN NETS! GO BROOKLYN NETS!

Nice to see the judges rip DG a new one. I would not be surprised to him end up with $510,000 when he could have recieved $1 million.

And those on the board concerned about the cost of the arena should keep in mind that Proky is 45% owner and worth over $10 billion. I am sure that he will be okay.

If you add up his $200M purchase price, about $180M in debt and $120 in Nets losses that he agreed to cover, he has taken ownerhip of what will soon be one of the most valuable NBA franchises and 45% of a beautiful new arena for $500M. Pretty good deal if you ask me.

And you have to give Ratner a ton of credit for holding AY together with all the obstacles. How many others could have got it done?

@Anthony
Ratner AND the other investors in the Nets/Barclays, etc. will control 55% of the arena through New Jersey Sports & Entertainment. There are about 100 of them. The remaining 45% will be controlled by Onexim, the personal investment vehicle of one Mikhail Prokhorov. He can afford whatever losses MrT is predicting.

Anthony – Every critic on this board (all five of them) simply wants the Nets to stay in NJ and will say anything to rationalize their biased position.

I am still waiting for a single critic to admit that the franchise’s basketball future is better in NJ than Newark. If they need reminding, just read any article written in the national press since Proky bought the team.

A good day to be a Nets fan; a bad day to be a citizen. I live in NY state and will be happy to see the Nets return. I live in NY state and am not at all sure the citizens of NY benefit from this ruling as concerns this specific project but, more to the point, do not care for the legal precedent it sets. Meanwhile, I don’t expect to be able to afford to attend games at this new arena as I am sure the price of ticets will skyrocket if the economy recovers.

MH yeah i fear not being able to attend any games…oh well

MH – Bloomberg has the proper perspective. Mega development projects are what has and will continue to make NYC one of the greatest cities in the world.

15 people must not be able to stop progress. Did you read how many jobs will be created through AY? DG was offered $1 million dollars after paying under $600k for his apartment one year earlier.

Allowing stubborn individuals to stop progress is much more scary than having Barclay’s built. The judges that know a lot more about the law than anyone on this board commented directly on this issue.

^how can any deny that going to brooklyn is not best for the team?

@jerry25

lebrons not playing for the nets. give it up. he’s not spending two seasons in nj.

@David

You are absolutely correct.

Worth repeating:

MH – Bloomberg has the proper perspective. Mega development projects are what has and will continue to make NYC one of the greatest cities in the world.

15 people must not be able to stop progress. Did you read how many jobs will be created through AY? DG was offered $1 million dollars after paying under $600k for his apartment one year earlier.

Allowing stubborn individuals to stop progress is much more scary than having Barclay’s built. The judges that know a lot more about the law than anyone on this board commented directly on this issue.

Finally! 6 – 1. Hmm, it’s over. Endgame. This will be a great thing for Brooklyn and a great thing for those out of work or under employed. Watch out Knicks!

I have to admit that I’ve never been to Brooklyn before. Heck, I’ve never even been to Hoboken.

As I hold on to the last years of my 20’s, my beard, my brightly colored sneakers as well my dying hipster within, I wonder when I will make the journey.

I,m happy we’re finally moving forward. But I feel for the people who have to move. Hopefully they will get paid nicely. Forget LeBron, He’s not coming. He wants to win a Championship ASAP. He would have to start from scratch, plus we can’t pay him as much as Cleveland can.

If Frank does not make it back from the West Coast trip. Who are some good Coaching Candidates,…Fratello, Byron Scott(lol) or maybe they’ll bring in the Russian Coach

GO BROOKYN NETS !!!

Let me repeat, since I just deleted a few comments…

Feel free to discuss the issue or express joy or frustration about the judgement, but please do not bait, taunt or attack your fellow commenters. I’ve been editing the comments so far, but I will begin deleting them entirely if the personal stuff continues.

Thanks.

Funny to see Net Income telling MrT to cite something to back up his opinion, yet when asked to back up his claims about Seattle Investors lining up to buy the Nets if Brooklyn fell through, he becomes quiet.

Pot. Kettle. Black.

You can’t be serious Netsdaily. Deleting comments of those that are heartbroken by this absolutely despicable ruling is equally as pathetic. Your site is a total prop for Ratner, not a NEW JERSEY Nets fan site.

NetsDaily —
We need you, like a kindergarten needs a teacher. We’re sports fans. We are not always polite. Thanks for the shovel work.

And I thank you NetsDaily for the editing despite the fact that you once deleted a very funny attack on BrooklynJohnny I posted. So that shows I’m sincere.

@NetsDaily Says:

Do not have to repeat yourself about removal of comments. Just remind everybody to know what the ownership groups intentions are. Their intentions is to make this project a success for all of the Tri-State area.
 
GO BROOOKLYN NETS! GO BROOKLYN NETS! GO BROOKLYN NETS!

Right now I’m giddy!

13 losses and 1 big win…

Mr. Dollar Bills
As you know, I don’t become quiet. I cite “Nets Insiders”. I would like to say more, but I can’t. Nor can I reveal specifics, but they have a pretty good track record…and I have cited them in blog entries as well as in comments, so I am on the record.

You can run a search on the blog for “Nets Insiders”.

NetsDaily deleted my comment yesterday and earlier today and that is fine – he is right – I should not attack any other members of this community…BUUUUUT

I cannot express how excited I am that DG is finally going to take the wrecking ball and this arena is going to happen!

JOBS JOBS JOBS

@Dirt
You’ve never been to Brooklyn or Hoboken and you consider yourself a “hipster”?

“Their intentions is to make this project a success for all of the Tri-State area.”
Explain how this would be a success for the ENTIRE tri-state area? What does NJ get out of it? CT? Even NY with the financial mess they’re in right now?

@ Jack

Nets ARE most certainly the LEADER in the Lebron sweepstakes, besides staying in Cleveland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’ll bet JayZ has already awoken Lebron with the great news, since ESPN hasn’t carried it yet!

However, Nets DO need to get another quality PF type player (like Boozer or David Lee) before he would agree. They could try to trade for that player before the trade deadline, or wait until free agency starts.

Yes Lebron would put up with the New arena in Newark for 1.5 to 2 years and call himself “The Air Apparent King of Brooklyn” waiting to take his Throne.

I don’t think its done yet. I think there are other lawsuits pending. Basicaly these guys (the opponents) plan on delaying by litigating past the end of this year so Ratner loses his tax exmpt status.

@ Net Income…
No, I do not consider myself a full fledged hipster, though I feel there is a hipster inside of me. Sans 20 pounds and a stronger proclivity for tight clothes and taking the train an hour and a half north, and I would be well on my way to hipsterdom.

I also feel there is a soulful old black man inside of me as well but I digress. My Dissociative Identity Disorder is neither here nor there.

Even If I did considered myself a full blown hipster, as far as I know you are allowed to be a Muslim without partaking in the Hajj.

Hey, I hang out in Asbury Park. Can’t hipsters root for a comeback in a small town a few hours away from NYC?

I wonder now if the Knicks will attempt to re-sign David Lee to a multiyear deal now that there is NO chance they will get Lebron.

If Knicks don’t hold onto their best player, they may lose him to their rival, Brooklyn Nets.

I hope Tal, Trenton, Isaac and Mr. T., and all the other posters who wanted the Nets to stay in N.J., will still follow the Nets, even though things didn’t go their way, or so it seems. We can use fans like them, if and when we relocate to Brooklyn.

Still no headline news at ESPN.

However, if there would be a headline, it should read:

“BREAKING NEWS: NYS Court Decision paves way for NETS move to Brooklyn, pending financing and approval of billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov by NBA.”

@Mike:

I wonder how many of the Brooklyn detractors were unique individuals? Also how many were real Nets fans or just friends of Goldstein?

Im happy for the franchise. I love NJ and always will but I respect managments decesion to move for the better of it. I just hope they still have preseason games @ the ROCK and hopefully next season there. Thanks for the memories!

@NI

I’m not worried about Proky or Ratner or anyone involved losing money in the least, I just thought it was humorous that project critics will cling to anything they can to try and reason why the project can’t/shouldn’t go forward. Now I just want the other shoe to drop so we can find out if the Nets will be playing in Newark in the interim so I can stop making the trudge to Izod using that bus connection from Secaucus Junction.

i am happy about this… the nets are 0-13 and now we got approval, its one more step towards brooklyn. and maybe a season at the rock, where i recently work at newark?!?! :o

so let us pray that prok gets approve sooner than later, then we can win a few games on this west coast swing, and in the draft we get john wall :o

A liitle advice for Daniel:
US Supreme Court.
Only a thought.

Marv95 – It has already been decided that the US Supreme Court will not take the case.

There are no more delays. NYS has already begun the eviction process. Financing is all we need and I am sure that Proky will make sure that the financing occurs.

And remember, the Nets already have $400M to $500M income through the arena sponsorships plus Proky’s $200M as collateral against the LeBonds.

If you read John Brennan’s article it states that Goldstein could potentially be granted until the beginning of summer 2010 to move out of his condo, which would in turn delay any significant construction until that time.

His apartment isn’t over the railyards – very important for them to be clear first to start work on the platform

at Mike:

“I hope Tal, Trenton, Isaac and Mr. T., and all the other posters who wanted the Nets to stay in N.J., will still follow the Nets”

You can be assured I will not be fan of this team if it moves from New Jersey. This whole situation has been an utter disgrace and I could not possibly in good consicience root for this team if Ratner gets his way.

As for Jerry – accusing me of being “friends with Goldstein” and not a Nets fan is completely 100 percent false. If you have read any of my posts you would realize I go back over 20 years with this team and that i’m a diehard fan of the NEW JERSEY Nets. I have no affiliation whatsoever with Goldstein although I support everything he has done and admire his courage as a human being.

@Marv95 Says:

Explanation of Tri-State.
When the Jets/Giants came to NJ did people really object to the move?
They pack the stadium every home game with NJ Fans, Brooklyn Fans, Connecticut Fans, Long Island Fans and Manhattan Fans.
The NJ following of fans is a very small group so they still can come to Brooklyn if they are loyal. The rest will come from Broooklyn, Long Island and Manhattan.
If they loose the small amount of fan support in NJ it won’t matter. Do to the fact the populous in Brooklyn, Long Island and Manhattan will be waiting to take up the remaining support from NJ.
That is why this is the explanation of Tri-State
GO BROOKLYN NETS! GO BROOKLYN NETS! GO BROOKLYN NETS!

File under “God works in mysterious ways”

Isn’t it ironic that Mr. Ratner, might of ended up being the best thing that ever happened for Nets basketball.

Of course some people might think I should file this under, “Devil works in mysterious ways”.

I personally, would file it under the first suggestion.

Ratner in NO WAY, SHAPE OR FORM has been good for the New Jersey Nets. He inherited a team that went to back to back NBA FINALS and promptly returned it to the garbage can because he could care less about basketball and even less about the fans of “his team”. It is sickening that anyone on here would support this vile excuse for a person.

Chris2 – At worst, the delay won’t affect the financing or year-end ground breaking.

DG also sounded resigned to having to leave his apartment.

Atheistic beliefs also work in mysterious ways, though Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

At the end of the day, Ratner will have found the Nets an owner among the top 30 richest men in the world, given the team a brand new arena and moved them to the biggest sports city in America.

And yet you complain?

@ NetsBall4Real

I think it would be really classy if they decided to play a few preseason games at the Rock in Newark. It makes a lot of sense.

I think this is for the good of the franchise, and that’s really what I’m interested in. I grew up going to see the Nets at Continental Airlines Arena, since the days of Kerry Kittles, Sam Cassell, Keith Van Horn and even Shawn Bradley. Going to games now is just depressing, they need to get out of the swamp. This would make my favorite team a global icon.

I think it would be cool if they worked it out with NJ Transit and MTA to make an efficient way for NJ fans to make it to Brooklyn as quick as possible.

YEEEEEAAAA!! This is the first time I’ve been exhilarated by Nets news since Misha ponied up! Go Brooklyn Nets! (btw, an aside about the Truehoop tidbit of the other day concerning the idiomatic use of the word “go” here… I think it’s short for “go the distance,” and we’re on our way!)

brooklyn or not, we ain’t getting Lebron… Lebron will wind up a laker some way some how, you watch. Think about it – he is a prima dona already. There are probably only 2 or 3 coaches in the NBA he would consider playing for, and the Nets won’t have any of them next year. All roads lead to a Lebron-Phil Jackson union (Sam Smith of the Chi tribune already hinted at this a few months ago in an article, look it up). The only other coaches Lebron would play for are Pop or Riley, and neither of them is Nets bound. That’s ok though – screw Lebron, I’d rather watch a team rise from the bottom up. Give me this group plus John Wall and Rudy Gay via free agency and we can watch them grow like the Magic or Hawks have done the past few years. More rewarding that way anyway. Do we really want all the fake bandwagon people that will jump on the Lebrandwagon, but aren’t here for the 0-28 tough times?? I think not!!

Remember Kelo v. New London. That’s all that needs to be said.

@Isaac;
   If you read my remarks closely, I was not supporting Ratner… I’m just glad you were not a Brooklyn Dodgers fan in the late fifties. You probably would of fallen on your sword, literally. I have to admit though, I wouldn’t mind you arguing on my behalf, if I was in a jam.

I’m already getting sick and tired every time LeBron James name gets mentioned. If he wants to play for us great, if not, the world will still keep spinning. At least my world will.

The only mention we have of this on espn.com is a blurb on the rumors page… Anybody an espn insider? It’s crap, if this were any other team, this would be on the front page. NO RESPECT!

@Marv95
It’s not that the Supreme Court can’t take the case. It already reviewed it, almost two years ago, and declined to even hear it. The critics went to the federal courts first, exhausted all the remedies there, then went to the state court. Only one judge in all those proceedings sided with them—the lone dissent to today’s Court of Appeals ruling. The previous rulings were unanimous.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I want to see Goldstein get his 510 below market value and dont let the door hit him on the way out. 4 years worth of his BS slowed down 1000s of jobs and progress.

Can i please be the guy to knock on his door and tell him that he has to go. Brooklyn Nets Baby.

Dziedzic
Don’t compare the NBA to the NFL. Only 8 regular season games to 41. By far the most popular sport in the country compared to the Association. Comapring to Nets to the Giants and Jets? lol, nobody outside of NJ gives a damn about the Nets. You honestly think NJ fans are gonna trek over to Brooklyn after being screwed over by Ratner? Esp. 41 times a year? And the last I checked they will be right in the middle of Knick country. So once again, how does this arena benefit the “entire” tri-state?

If MSG can’t(and won’t) get anything worked out between the MTA and NJT, what makes you think the Nets will? They couldn’t even get NJT rail service to the dump.

And LeBron ain’t coming. he wants to win in the near future.

What doesn’t get posted on the site is how much work the nets and Barclay’s is already doing in brooklyn with the local sports and schools in the area. they have there own local basketball event that has happen for the past couple of years. they are helping fix schools gyms and schoolyards already. Lets go Brooklyn Nets. im going to be buying season tickets.

@ Issac Says:

Get off Mr. Ratner’s back already. The support of NJ fans was so bad over the years. Even when they went to the finals it was easy to get tickets. He purchased this team with debt already. How many people would do that to keep it going. So don’t beat him down because fans like yourself went to a game or two. By the way he will only own 10% of the team once everything settles with Prokhorov, Viola and Carter. Mr. Ratner is more then welcome to sit with me anytime at my future Brooklyn court side seats. I am sure he will have his own suite by then. Going to be a beautiful arena for all.
GO BROOKLYN NETS! GO BROOKLYN NETS! GO BROOKLYN NETS!

@Chris2:

If it is true that DG has until June to vacate, then a second chance to accept a contribution from FCE to vacate ASAP would be in order.

I just hope this isn’t as bad a deal for the NY taxpayers as the INDEPENDENT budget office of NY said it was going to be. Basically, everyone loses here except the rich investors and the people who can afford to take their family to a $400 night at the Barclays center.

This is my perspective. If Brooklyn does happen (and that’s a big if) Ratner better hope and pray Lebron comes to Brooklyn because i can’t see any other way the Brooklyn Nets will be able to compete with the New York Knicks.This whole thought of the nets being a tri-state team is just sounds very funny to me.It will no doubt be Brooklyn’s team but it will be known as Ney York’s other team.

With one month to go and all the pending litigation if this project Does happen all it will show is how corrupt our system really is.

that comment will most likely be deleted but this is just my opinion i can really care less if another man makes more money than me.

Hex

Ratner will own 10% of the team in Brooklyn – he won’t give 2 iotas if Lebron is there or not…that will be Mikhail’s issue

With regards to the “pending litigation” you reference…the only person who thinks that will stop or delay this project is Brinkerhoff and Goldstein (and a few people on this board who if I had to guess don’t have legal degrees)

This project IS HAPPENING and it will be a great thing for the City, State and the entire tri-state area

Great news!

This is not the final hurdle though. I will hold my excitement when the NBA approves the new owner.

I was at a meeting of the Fort Greene Association last week. A couple of hundred people listened enthusiastically to a Develop Dont Destroy rep talk about the terrible development. So it’s not just a few people who fought AY. Some are afraid that values will go up and the area will become unaffordable. They are anti-gentrification. (I personally think gentrification has been really really good for the area so far) Some like the brownstone flavor of the area and fear AY will make things too urban. Personally, I think that corridor along Atlantic Ave is cold and forbidding, not a charming brownstone area right at AY, and it could use some urban life. Brooklyn has several places where quiet and charming brownstone neighborhoods exist close to high energy urban places. I’d sure like to see most of the fans arrive by subway and LIRR rather than Brooklyn streets. Thats MY opinion but its not like DG was the only foe. Lots of folks are frightened by this mega development (largest in Brooklyn’s history, folks) We all got to live together…

@SmartNetsFan

I’m not your “homeboy” so don’t ever refer to me as that.This team without Lebron James will have a very hard time competeing aganist the Knicks. It will and always be known as New York’s other team.

Even if the Nets are 2nd to the Knicks (think Mets/Yankees here) – they become one of the most profitable franchises in the NBA based on merchandising alone.

Brooklyn, being the hot bed of arts and entertainment culture that is is and now having a venue to support concerts that can house 15K-20K becomes an automatic winner.

For the last 10 years the Nets have done better (record wise) than the Knicks…Lebron James will not make or break the Nets in Brooklyn.

@SmartNetsFan
Your second paragraph is EXACTLY what an team insider told me is the plan. They know they are not going to topple the Knicks as the dominant team in the region. There is too much history to battle…but if they can become a profitable #2 team, the Nets will be a very valuable franchise. They hope to feed off that same Mets base: Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn and fans who just hate the #1 team.

Despite the ruling, it’s not over yet. There are still other lawsuits pending that have not been ruled yet alone reviewed on yet. Showing this ruling is just another example of how one can win just by having friends in high places. If Goldstien is still in his apartment after the ball drops in Times Square, the project will not proceed. Let’s not forget how many thought the Yankees were going to sweep the Red Sox in the 2004 ALCS when they were just win one win away. If there is no groudbreaking by then, it’s pretty much dead.

Tal -

That is NOT TRUE

Goldstein may very well be in his apartment after 12/31 at midnight…

FCRC can commence a ground breaking while he is still at home…

They can begin construction (as has been going on) while he is still at home…

If the Bonds are sold before 12/31 there is nothing that can stop this project from happening

As long as the bonds are sold and a “groundbreaking” either fluff, ceremonial or not happens before or on 12/31 this project happens…and again I say, DG may very well be home when that happens.

NetIncome -

I’m glad I could help…it’s amazing what happens when rational and realistic thoughts pops into my head

@ SmartNetsFan
 I don’t think you can compare the Mets to the Nets. The Mets filled the hole left by the Dodgers and Giants that’s why they were accepted. The Nets are going to a tough sell now. When Ranter bought the Nets your statement was %100 correct. The Nets had the momentum to come into NYC and win the hearts and minds of the fair-weather Knicks fans looking for change But I feel they’ve lost that momentum with all that’s happened to the team

“If they loose the small amount of fan support in NJ it won’t matter. Do to the fact the populous in Brooklyn, Long Island and Manhattan will be waiting to take up the remaining support from NJ.”

Yep………….. They stop caring about NJ fans from this point on. They are NY’s team now, not mine.
Lets go Devils!!!!!

RD -

I think its still there – especially when you think about how bad the Knicks are. The young talent on the Nets is much better than the Knicks…

If the Knicks don’t make a crazy splash in free-agency – well – even if they do, and we do also, I think the NY market is dying to get another team…creates great rivalry, competition…

This could really be a great thing

Let’s say the Knicks have 2.5 million fans and the Nets have 1 million fans (just counting NYC). That is a lot better than NJ!

Proky is the one that can make this all happen. If he wants to step up and either buy some of the bonds or secure some of the bonds, the deal is 100% done. Even without him, the bonds will likely sell.

@ SmartNetsFan
 People are assuming that Knicks are going to be horrible forever will just walk into Brooklyn and win over the people. I highly doubt that Nets have clout they had 6 years ago. The Knicks still are #1 in terms revenue despite losing seasons. That says a lot right there in what the Nets are faced with.

@RD – Do you believe the Nets finances and ability to attact FAs will be better in Newark or Brooklyn? Every national sportswriter thinks Brooklyn. What do you think?

Expect condemnation proceedings to begin tomorrow or Monday. The Brooklyn Eagle reported today they could begin as early as tomorrow. The ESDC has had consultants and lawyers working on this for weeks. It’s not weeks away. It’s days away.

The property owners can contest the fair value they will receive in return for their homes/businesses, but there is no chance they will be able to stop the project. The law is quite clear: you can contest the money but not the eviction. And note this: several of the original plaintiffs in the suit dropped out and made deals with the state. That could happen again, outside the condemnation proceedings. Might be too late, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see some try. There are anywhere from 15 to 62 people living in the Atlantic Yards footprint, but not all within Barclays Center footprint. I don’t know if they will stage this as the project moves forward, no doubt at a snail’s pace. Some people may stay. Goldstein’s condo, however, sits at center court of Barclays Center.

One other thing: as you can see from the numerous links to this item, this story has attracted a lot of attention, both local and national. During the afternoon, the Times story was the second piece on its website. This may not be the end of the story. The financing still has to be resolved. But in the minds of many, it will sure look that way and perception counts.

The NYT may be covering this story, but ESPN isn’t!
The only mention on the main ESPN-NBA site is a link to an AP story.

On Pardon The Interruption, Wilbon led in the show with the Nets – That is would the losing streak continue in Denver? He predicted 0-18.

I know people will rant and rave still on this website about the Nets going to Brooklyn. In the end, Proky wouldn’t invest if he didn’t think it wasn’t good for business. Arenas like this do generate tax money back to the state. The Barclays Center could over-take MSG as the premiere destination for major concerts and events.

Overall, I don’t like how much the taxpayers have to foot in the bill but from a 20 years from now stand-point. The Brooklyn Nets and the Barclays Center could be HUGE in the United States in that point in time. I mean Staples Center is 10 years old now with expansion of the L.A. Live district and has turned Downtown Los Angeles into a place people want to go. It’s HUGE!

The business’ at L.A. Live make TONS of CASH! TONS! I rarely go their but when I have it’s always crackin’ and restaurants and clubs PACKED. It’s amazing and the L.A. Live part is only 2 years old. I can’t wait to see it 10 years from now. Downtown is slowly being redeveloped which is nice to see.

Also at the end of the day, I won’t be surprised if Newark ends up with an NBA team like the Sacramento Kings or Milwaukee Bucks. 4 NBA teams have terrible arenas to generate revenue and the NBA is watching it closely, they’ll in the end for a move if they need it for their business.

Look at Seattle, great fan-base but had an arena that drained profits. The KeyArena just didn’t work. Those 4 NBA teams with terrible arenas like KeyArena are the Nets, Kings, Bucks & Timberwolves in that order. With the new CBA coming up soon and revenue sharing being a real thing coming up (The NBA Players Association wants the owners to have revenue sharing.)

The owners will not allow the Nets, Kings, Bucks & Timberwolves to play in those arenas. You bet that Newark, San Jose, Anaheim, Kansas City, St. Paul & Vancouver will be foaming at the mouth to get into one of those state of the art arenas.

@NI – The financing will be interesting. Goldman Sachs is by far the best and Barclay’s has a vested interest and global reach. Then you’ve got Proky’s monetary power.

I am betting on getting the financing although I wish it was more than a month.

It’s the toughest hurdle to get over. You won’t find me posting anywhere that this is a done deal because I don’t believe it is. I am not going to offer negative predictions like Tal, but until that December 31 deadline is met, I’ll wait.

I expect you will see in the next few DAYS the start of condemnation proceedings; the marketing of the bonds—including word on whether they got desirable interest rates; something from the NBA on when to expect a vote on Prokhorov by the board of governors; and a hearing or two on the other lawsuits. You might even see Prokhorov descend on New York again.

Finally, NBATV analysts, at 7PM mentioned the Nets move to Brooklyn and today’s ruling.

Aldrich and Issola (sp) and the host were mostly talking about the Nets being better than their record – they all believe Harris is the key.

Aldrich said it is an understatement to say Prokhorov is only worth $10 billion. They said to expect TWO expensive additions by the off season as Proky likes to spend!

The way NBATV is, by Friday they should have the Court Decision as a news flash.

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
BROOKLYN WE GO HARDDDDDDDDDDDD

Daniel Goldstein….GOOODBYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEe

Can’t say it enough:

1) of all the NBA teams, the KNICKS belong in Brooklyn

2) remember Kelo v. New London

where’s my comments ??

And so Delay Don’t Develop Brooklyn has lost and now jobs, jobs, jobs, and what we as a people do best: build, build, build. Sorry for the Brooklyn 15 that stopped all this for so long, but happy to know people will work — Wow, imagine you are unemployed or only working now and then and two solid years of work is offered to you. I am sure they will appreciate the work and I am sure the 15 will be compensated: maybe not market value, whatever that is in this economy. And then there is keeping the Nets around. Great news.

Well apparently, these bonds are going to sell fast prompting a groundbreaking by the end of december. i just hope everything falls into place, i can;t wait for this whole thing 2 go now. But in the meantime, lets try 2 pull the upset of the year and beat denver tonight.

@Joe

Daniel Goldstein plans to fight on with the other lawsuits.
I don’t know if he has any basis to delay.

As long as the financing is completed, there is probably not much else that needs to be done at this time.

Earlier today, it was mentioned that Goldstein was going to accept the decision and prepare to leave.
Then it was mentioned that he can stay until next June.

Maybe he is holding out for a higher cash settlement.

@ David
 I wholeheartedly believe that Newark is a better option both financial and in the ability to attract FA’s.I hate to beat the same beat drum over and over, but I have to look at the LA Clippers. You think with all the perks of LA, they be a lot more successful. I think we’re treading on similar ground in Brooklyn. Brooklyn looks good on paper. Does anyone remember when Sport writers wrote who crazy it was that the Mets didn’t sign Barry Zito. What’s Barry Zito doing now? just because sports writers thinks go, doesn’t meant they’re right.

This is awesome! Does this mean Nets will finally win a Championship in the next 10 years! Love to see the Nets associated with the Lakers and Celtics!!

NetDaily wat do u mean adding nothing to the conversation? nets fans aren’t allowed their express our feelings on the matter weather negative or positive? I noticed u deleted two comments (including mine, which wasn’t all negative at all) that actually had negative things to say about Brooklyn, and kept all the positive Brooklyn comments

Well the comment before mine seemed good to me but ok I understand thanks for explaining

“RD Says:
November 24th, 2009 at 10:22 pm

@ David
I wholeheartedly believe that Newark is a better option both financial and in the ability to attract FA’s.I hate to beat the same beat drum over and over, but I have to look at the LA Clippers. You think with all the perks of LA, they be a lot more successful."

I’m from Los Angeles and a Clippers fan actually. They’re a very successful franchise as a business. They turn a nice profit every year and built a $200 million dollar practice facility in Playa Vista, CA in the Culver City area of Los Angeles. They are here for a LONG time. You have to develop a winning culture to attract Free Agents when you’re playing second fiddle the Lakers.

The Nets have a much better advantage because they’ll be in Brooklyn, NY with their own state-of-the-art arena and the Knicks have been so terrible that if the Nets produce a winner they can attract more fans. The Nets could be doing good things right now. The Clippers, they have to wait and see how the core of Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Chris Kaman do in a couple years.

@kombayn
 The Sterling family that owns the Clippers may be successful (though crooks), but the team hasn’t been. A 200 million dollar practice facility doesn’t mean that the Clippers are a success, it just means that Sterling’s spent the money on it. Forbes ranked the LA Clippers 25th in the Nets came in 26th(http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/32/nba08_NBA-Team-Valuations_Revenue.html). In terms of revenue the clipper made 1 million dollars more that the Nets. Last season the Clippers ranked 22nd(16,170) in terms of attendance and the Nets 25th(15,147), it’s difference of 1,023 people. This season the Clippers are currently 22nd and the Nets 27th. When you think about it those #‘s aren’t that far off from each other and the Nets are playing Jersey in the IZOD. While the the Clippers play in a state of the art arena along with the Lakers, so what’s the benefit? Newark has a state of the art arena near mass transit that could bring fans from as far as Boston and DC on Amtrak alone through Newark-Penn station, not to mention NJ transit, PATH trains that connects to NYC and the surrounding communities.
Yes the Knicks have been terrible for years, but the are still #1 revenue and were 7th in attendance last season. That’s how much of a legacy they have in NYC. Too many people are assuming that the Knicks are going to be terrible forever, but I think there going to be out of it sooner than we will.

   I agree with your point about developing a winning culture. The Nets do have a lot going for them and so do the Clippers

Regarding the Clippers, I live 3 miles from Staples as well and will always think of it as a joke that the Clippers play in someone else’s building. It’s one thing to share with the NHL. That’s fine. But sharing with another NBA team is a joke and they know it. Sterling should’ve put his money towards building a new arena with a practice facility built inside.

@Netsdaily

 why have you erased my comments?? i didn’t say anything bad. What i did say was that you are editing people’s comments that better support your position. I lost total respect for you sir

Keep in mind that not all rulings are correct. I have been hearing about the courthouse where OJ Simpson was aquitted has been rethinking that they might have ruled it wrong. The only reason why OJ was aquitted for murdering his ex-wife and a waiter was because of two things. The first one was that his great team of lawyers were able to have the trial go without him ever taking the stand even once. It’s been said that if he took the stand, he would have been guilty right away. The second thing is that they got the court to actually throw out evidence that prooved he committed the murder. He only won because of friends in high places. How this relates to this topic is that it shows when you have friends in high places, you can get away with just about anything especially with abusing a process that is only meant for public use, which is known as eminent domain.

Uh, No, OJ got off because the jury, made up mostly of African Americans, didn’t trust the LAPD which had a horrible record of treating African-American men.

Please.

And contrasting the OJ verdict, by a jury in a criminal court, with the Court of Appeals ruling, by a panel of judges, is like comparing apples and oranges.

Lets say that the Nets do move to Brooklyn. What are the chances of New Jersey landing a team? What team would be available? I believe that the next two years are essential of New Jersey proving that it deserves a team be it that it moves the Newark of course.

None

David Stern when asked that question two years ago said, “New Jersey’s had its chance”.

“Hex Says:
November 25th, 2009 at 6:37 pm

Lets say that the Nets do move to Brooklyn. What are the chances of New Jersey landing a team? What team would be available? I believe that the next two years are essential of New Jersey proving that it deserves a team be it that it moves the Newark of course."

Don’t listen to Net Income on that one. If the NBA will allow a team to play in San Jose, CA or Anaheim, CA they will certainly allow a team to play in Newark, NJ if that’s the best option for the NBA. Nets, Kings, Bucks & Timberwolves are all in serious consideration for relocation in the next 5 years. Nets and Kings in a couple years and possibly the Bucks as well. I give the Timberwolves 5 years to turn a winning product, if it fails then I think they leave the Target Center. You just have to look at Arenas.

@Kombayn

Anaheim would be the LA metro area equivalent of a 3rd team in the tri state area being at Newark. That’s why I want the Clippers to play in Anaheim so much. A 3rd NBA team while there is no NFL team is a joke.

However, San Jose would be just a 2nd team in the bay area. The Kings going to San Jose is a very real possibility if Sac doesn’t get it’s act together. They have a ton of money down in the south bay and there’s no reason why the NBA can’t support 2 teams. They have supported 2 MLB teams as well as 2 NFL teams for the longest.

I have to agree with NI on this one. It’s hypocritical for the Brooklyn supporters to talk up a 3rd NBA tri state team in Newark when they’ve been saying that Jersey can’t even support the Nets now. How are they going to support a new Newark team if they have to go against the Knicks in Manhattan and the Nets in Brooklyn if the Nets can’t be supported enough with just the Knicks as their local competition? If anything, it would just be worse than the support for the Nets.

^^^

I meant that there’s no reason that the “bay area can’t support 2 NBA teams……..”

netsdaily is just antijersey. Have you seen the turnout for the preseason games at the rock?? How are you going to ignore that? New Jersey has a good fanbase and it is a basketball state. Its just the Izod center sucks. I wouldn’t mind the Kings coming on over. Tyreke Evans looks like a future star.