Heat President of Business Operations Jay Cross has
resigned from his post to join the Jets as President of a
subsidiary responsible for stadium development. Cross
joined the Heat in early '96 as a consultant on the team's
pursuit of a new arena. Prior to joining the Heat, Cross
led a similar arena-building effort for the Raptors (Heat).
In Miami, Juan Rodriguez writes that Cross was the "driving
force behind the controversial campaign that defeated a
referendum" in '96, "clearing the way for construction" of
AmericanAirlines Arena (MIAMI HERALD, 7/26). In Ft.
Lauderdale, Sarah Talalay writes that Cross "helped the Heat
develop its plan for revitalizing downtown Miami with not
only the arena ... but also with surrounding developments
that include Bongos Cuban Cafe and plans for other
restaurants and retail stores. Cross also oversaw the Heat
Group's partnership with Terremark, which plans to build a
telecommunications center on Heat-owned land near the arena"
(Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 7/26). By hiring Cross, the
Jets have officially "begun the search" for a new stadium
and have set up a N.Y. office. Jets Owner Robert Wood
Johnson "would consider" N.Y., NJ and Westchester County for
a new stadium (N.Y. TIMES, 7/26). Johnson said in a
statement, "When we bought the club, we stated that one of
our goals would be to obtain a separate stadium for the Jets
so that they could enjoy a true home-field advantage that
all the other NFL teams have" (NEWSDAY, 7/26).
