Devils Still Want To Host Nets Games At Prudential Center
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Jeff Vanderbeek Upset With How Nets-Devils
Negotiations Have Been Portrayed In The Media |
Devils Owner Jeff Vanderbeek in a letter to the Nets said that he had "every intention of making a proposal to host Nets preseason games at the Prudential Center and was surprised that the team abruptly stopped negotiations," according to Steve Politi of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. Vanderbeek in the letter said, "Let me clearly state that nothing would please the Devils' organization and the Prudential Center more than hosting several Nets preseason games next year and more into the future." Vanderbeek also noted that the Nets "wanted the Devils to guarantee regular-season gate for the three preseason games, even though the Nets would not bill its season-ticket holders." Nets Sports & Entertainment President & CEO Brett Yormark, who Tuesday dismissed talk of the team playing games in Newark, yesterday said that he was "willing to reopen negotiations -- but to a point." Yormark: "As someone said earlier, if we can reduce the burden to our season-ticket holders, I shouldn't be responsible for selling tickets at another person's building. And if the Prudential Center is viable for all sporting events and concerts, they should have the wherewithal to sell tickets and put on a great show for fans in Newark." A Devils exec indicated that Vanderbeek was "angered at the way the negotiations with the Nets were portrayed because he had not spoken directly to Yormark in over a year and a half." The Devils exec said that he believed that the Nets were "trying to back the Devils into a corner to accept a deal that did not make sense financially" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 1/15).
STUCK IN THE ATLANTIC: Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz said that the Nets' planned Barclays Center, part of the Atlantic Yards project in the city, now is "likely to be merely 'functional.'" Markowitz implored Nets Owner and Forest City Ratner CEO Bruce Ratner to "eliminate the costly flourishes and glassy facade" of the arena "in the face of an economic meltdown." Markowitz: "We don't have to be rocket scientists to know that the awe-inspiring arena project designed by Frank Gehry [is] just not doable. To create an arena that's in-your-face and may become an icon of the world is just not realistic anymore." Markowitz insisted that all 16 planned towers of the $4B Atlantic Yards development, plus the arena, "would still be built," but he added that "more traditional, less costly designs would be more appropriate for the area." Forest City Ratner spokesperson Joe DePlasco declined to comment on whether the company would "take Markowitz's advice" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/15).
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