Report: New Jersey to host next year's NBA Draft
The Prudential Center will host next year’s annual NBA Draft, according to two people with knowledge of the plans.
The arena, located in Newark, New Jersey, is the temporary home of the New Jersey Nets for the next two years before their 2012 move to the Barclays Center, currently under construction,
in Brooklyn, New York.
The annual draft of college players, the biggest off-season event for the league which will take place 23 June 2011, has been held at Madison Square Garden in New York City since 2001.
But all signs point to a site change for next year.
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because NBA commissioner David Stern is expected to make a formal announcement regarding the venue change before the Nets regular season opener
tonight against the Detroit Pistons at the Prudential Center.
The League released a statement today saying that Stern, who participated in the NBA championship ring ceremony last night for the Los Angeles Lakers, will be joined by Newark mayor Cory
Booker and New Jersey Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek tonight in Newark.
The Devils and the Nets share the arena.
The announcement marks the continuation of a close relationship between the NBA and the city of Newark. The NBA and Newark have been working together to try and spur economic growth in
the city, according to people familiar with the situation.
The last time the Nets hosted the draft was in 1996 at the Izod Center, their previous arena from 1981 up until last year. But tonight’s expected announcement demonstrates the growing
reputation of the three-year-old Prudential Center as well as the city of Newark.
In addition to the NHL and NBA, the arena will host the WNBA’s New York Liberty next season on a temporary basis. And next March, the arena will play host to the East regional finals of
the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
After playing almost 30 years at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the Nets will play their first full season at the Prudential Center this year. Newark represents New Jersey’s
largest city.
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