This may not be the best time to talk about the future, with the present so ugly, but Thursday the Nets will introduce ""The Vault at Barclays Center,", the 11 Jay-Z designed party suites that will retail for $550,000 a year. Previously known as the "Event-Level Suites", they will be courtside and the place where they hope the "who's who of New York" would congregate.

It's all part of the Nets' increasing promotion of Jay-Z's role with arena and team. Brett Yormark described his contributions to the Wall Street Journal, saying he's involved in the logo ("He's refreshed it"); designing new uniforms ("His fingerprints are all over it"); and coming up with a new color scheme ("A bold redirection"). The Journal reports the team plans to unveil all this spring.

• Jay-Z Determined to Make the Nets Stylish - Scott Cacciola - Wall Street Journal
• Suite life at B’klyn arena sure is sweet - Erin Durkin - New York Daily News
  
• A Sneak Peek Inside Barclays Center (Video) - Patch.com
  
• Barclays Center - The Vault - BarclaysCenter.com
• Jay-Z Won't Settle For Anything Less Than The Best Champagne And Forks - Deadspin