bball

[jerseydevil]

Well now that Ratner has the team and sees how pissed New Jersey is at losing the Nets - it seems as if he's afraid of losing the fans from New Jersey , especially during the next two years they remain here.

Developer to court Nets fans

Brooklyn's Ratner offers to play some games here

Saturday, January 24, 2004

BY GEORGE E. JORDAN
Star-Ledger Staff

Even after the Nets move to Brooklyn, the team could still call New Jersey home -- at least 10 times a year.

On a day when New York celebrated its newest favorite son, Bruce Ratner, the developer who is bringing the Nets to Brooklyn declared he was now the team's No. 1 fan and owner-in-waiting and soon would be rooting from courtside at the Meadowlands.

At the same time, he was quietly telling the team's current owners that long after the team moves to Brooklyn, he will send them back 10 times a season to play "home" games in their old stomping grounds.

"I look forward to joining the New Jersey fans to cheer on the team," Ratner told reporters yesterday after formally signing contracts to buy the Nets for $300 million. "Our goal is to keep the fans. They are the Nets' fans. They're the most important thing in a business like this."

Ratner is walking a fine line.

On one hand, he is doing everything he can not to alienate the people he needs to fill the seats at the Continental Airlines Arena until his own $600 million development is ready. The team already is facing a projected $40 million in losses during the next two seasons.

But he also has to rally Brooklyn. For that audience, he hosted a pep rally yesterday and unveiled jerseys emblazoned with "Brooklyn Nets" in the script used by the old Dodgers.

"It's a proud day for Brooklyn," said Jay-Z, the rap artist, who is a partner with Ratner in the deal to buy the team. "I never got a chance to experience the Dodgers. This is the new Dodgers -- the Nets."

George Zoffinger, New Jersey's sport czar, could not be reached for comment. But on Thursday, both Zoffinger and Gov. James E. McGreevey said the state would be open to the Nets remaining as long as possible at the team's current home in the Meadowlands.

Raymond Chambers, a Nets' principal owner, said Ratner vowed the Nets would maintain a New Jersey presence -- possibly at a new downtown Newark arena for the Devils.

"We understand that the Nets intend to play 10 home games a year at a new arena in Newark, if and when it's completed," Chambers said. He called the gesture "a result of current ownership's appreciation of the fans, players, coaching staff and management."

The city of Newark and Chambers' team of lawyers and financiers are discussing another attempt to revive the long-stymied Newark arena deal, this time as a home to the Devils, which are controlled by Chambers. It is unclear if the project will go forward.

YankeeNets, the sports company that owns the Nets , voted yesterday to seek NBA approval of Ratner's purchase of the team and his plan to move the team to Brooklyn.

Ed Stier, chairman of Community Youth Organization, the nonprofit that controls the Nets, also said Ratner pledged to bring the Nets back several times a season.

"I spoke to him about it," Stier said. "He wants to do it as a way to preserve the team's New Jersey connection."

Ratner won the bidding war Wednesday for the Nets by beating out the partnership of developer Charles Kushner and Sen. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.), who promised to keep the team in New Jersey.

The Brooklyn arena is the centerpiece of an enormous complex of residences, office towers, shops and restaurants planned by Ratner that faces stiff opposition from neighborhood residents and small businesses. He must still secure land, financing and zoning approval from New York City and the Metropolitan Transit Authority.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Gov. George Pataki and Mayor Michael Bloomberg attended the Ratner pep rally at the Brooklyn Academy of Music to lend their support to the project, along with Ratner's partners, who include Nets' legend Bernard King.

Bloomberg said only "a handful" of neighborhood residents and small businesses would be displaced, and those being relocated would be compensated well.

"You have almost 100 percent support," the mayor said, motioning toward the city and state leaders with him on stage. "This will go through."

George E. Jordan can be reached at gjordan@starledger.com or (973) 392-1801.