New york times reports that nj nets...

[Brian in Boston]

... have been sold to Bruce Ratner for $300 million. As we all know, Ratner wants to move the Nets to a brand new arena-anchored development in Brooklyn once the franchise's lease in the Meadowlands has run out in 2008.

A last minute proposal from Charles Kushner, who had pledged to keep the team in New Jersey, wasn't even considered down the stretch. Apparently those involved in the negotiations felt that it came "too late".

So... while there's no telling whether the Brooklyn arena project will be successful, the New Jersey Nets' sale to the arena's biggest proponent is apparently a "done deal".

Brian in Boston

[NJTank]

Well we will see what happens there appears to be many hurddles ahewad for Brooklyn, as apparently they will be evecting several people from their homes, and there are already people vowing to fight.

So with all this politicings tarting I suspect there are many issues to be worked out.

[Brian in Boston]

Granted. There always are when development deals are being negotiated. The Brooklyn arena development isn't going to be a "slam dunk" (the pun, most definitely, intended) by any stretch of the imagination.

However, given that Ratner is the driving force behind the development, and that the project is pointless without a tenant for the arena, the Nets are certainly a step closer to being moved than they would have been with Mr. Kushner as an owner.

Bottom line: If Mr. Ratner wants to complete this deal on his preferred schedule, he has 68 months (a bit more than five-and-a-half years) to get his ducks in a row.

Brian in Boston

[mrfab]

Why CAN'T a sports facility/team development project include

the present residents for once?!  Especially in an urban environment, what inna heck can't the residents present & future be a community part of a sports complex?  If present housing is lost to facility construction, why CAN'T new/replacement housing be a part of any sports development?  Why do we see it as an "either/or" proposition?

Isn't it about time pro sports teams & their facility needs for once include a sense of social responsibility?  I know, next I'll be ranting that big government & corporations have a social responsibility... still the Inner Sportsgeek exclaims "GO Brooklyn Americans NBA!!"  ???

[STL FANATIC]

I don't like this simply because I think it's best when there is NBA and NHL in the same arena, and I don't wanna see the Devils move with em. I dunno why the NBA always has to go elsewhere.

[NJTank]

This all stems form teh Newark Arena deal falling apart. People here are to stuborn to realize when they have a good thing. People whined about trafic, and housing cost in Newark.

Newark needed that arena, now it will continue to have problems. The county of Essex is so dumb it aint funny, they throw so much money away, and all the policticans are corrupt espiecally Newark Mayor Sharpe James, it trully is amazing.

Its almsot like you have to know somebody here just to get by to. All the corruption that is reported on here is just the tip of the iceberg I trully beleive that it is the most corrupt county in the USA.

The Sopranos has nothing on real life. THe policticans are more honest on that show.