Yormark: Arena Can Host NHL, MMA

Brett Yormark echoed Bruce Ratner's recent comments on the NHL (read: Islanders) coming to the Barclays Center and volunteered that if New York ever legalizes Mixed Martial Arts, he's ready for that, too.

"Let me just say that we can convert it to a hockey venue and have a great destination for professional hockey," Yormark told The Big Lead. "And although it is not legalized in New York State, we can handle MMA when and if it is legalized."

Yormark also spoke about arena retail space and let TBL hint that "an international athletic footwear company would open its first U.S. retail store at Barclays Center." (Two Chinese companies, PEAK, a long time Nets sponsor, and Li Ning, are about to launch in the U.S.)

As for the Nets, Yormark spoke about having some part of the arena set aside for a heritage display and noted that the team continues to push a globalization agenda, starting with Russia. "We look at ourselves as the home team in Russia."

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