Nets looking to offer fans an inexpensive alternative to New York Knicks in Brooklyn – NBA Update
The New York Knicks are passing through a phase of uncertainty these days. With a lockout looming large and the decision regarding the selection of their new General Manager still pending, the Madison Square Garden (MSG) franchise
has come across another new problem.
New Jersey Nets, the franchise which had long been operating at New Jersey, is gearing up to launch a new arena near the Knicks turf. This arena, named Barclays Centre, is the first genuine threat to the Knicks in 65 years as far
as their territory is concerned.
With the construction of arena in Brooklyn, the Nets are looking to challenge the Knicks not only on the court, but they are vying to form a newer, more lucrative and most importantly a more inexpensive base for the New York basketball
fans.
The Nets have are however trying to downplay the situation and their minority owner Bruce Ratner and CEO Brett Yormark have said that the city have enough basketball admirers, who can provide support to both NBA teams.
This new approach from the Nets is drastically different from their previous stance, considering how bitter things were between the two franchises just a year ago. Nets Russian owner, billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov had made his
intentions very clear in his first press conference "We will turn Knicks fans into Nets fans."
Prokhorov then made a pretty aggressive move last year when he put a promotional ad on a huge billboard, right in front of the Madison Square Garden. The mural that had Jay-Z and the Nets owner Prokhorov in it was erected right
outside Knicks’ owner Jim Dolan’s office window. According to the sources, Jim was so mad at the mural, that he called Jay-Z and told him that the ad was "intimidating to his employees."
Dolan had the last hurrah though when he snatched Carmelo Anthony from the grasps of Prokhorov in the mid season trade.
However, the situation has calmed down a bit after Yormark, the marketing partners of the Nets, and the President of the Garden Scott O’Neil met.
Nevertheless, the Nets arrival in Brooklyn is a worrisome prospect for the Knicks. Nets wants to become the Alpha team in New York and they are willing to go to any length to achieve their motive. The first move they have made
is the reduction of their arena ticket prices by about 50 percent for the next season. The Nets are looking to form a fan base by providing them a much cheaper entertainment just few miles away from the exclusive MSG.
The Barclay Centre design is also very modern and the glass wall will allow walking fans to clearly view the score board. Garden on the other hand, has pretty historic look and its exterior has not got any windows.
Both the parties have spent lot of money in this turf war. The Nets have spent nearly $800 million for the construction of Barclay Centre while Dolan has spent approximately the same amount in the up gradation of MSG.
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