New Jersey Nets intend to provide NBA fans in Brooklyn with cheaper alternative to New York Knicks

[.infamous]

While the owner of the Knicks is confusing and frustrating his team's supporters, the opposition is gearing up for a run at the city's basketball fan base.

Such is the state of the turf war as an arena rises in Brooklyn, representing the first legitimate threat to the Knicks' territory in 65 years.

The Nets, specifically minority owner Bruce Ratner and CEO Brett Yormark, claim there are enough basketball fans in the city to support two pro teams, professing their respect for the Knicks about a year removed from angering Jim Dolan by hanging a giant billboard above the Garden.

But their words carry less meaning in the context of Mikhail Prokhorov's declaration of war.

"We will turn Knicks fans into Nets fans," the owner said at his introductory press conference.

After exchanging barbs very early into Prokhorov's ownership, the marketing departments of Yormark and Scott O'Neil, the president of the Garden, have come to a public peace.

But there's a reason the Barclays Center was designed to be the Garden's opposite: the Nets want to be the alternative to the Knicks, not their New York City sidekick, and certainly not the same second-class citizen from across the river. There may be a lot of basketball fans in New York, but not as many who will buy tickets and merchandise. And with the Knicks raising their ticket prices about 50% for next season, the Nets are promoting themselves as the cheaper alternative just five miles away.

Yormark's message was transparent on the team website: "Our No. 1 priority in pricing tickets (for Brooklyn) was to ensure Nets games are accessible to everyone."

In many ways, the difference in the architecture of the arenas is a symbol of the opposing public philosophies and directions. The Barclays Center is designed to be contemporary and transparent, with a glass wall that allows pedestrians to see the scoreboard from the sidewalk. The Garden's appeal is about history and prestige, and from the outside it's windowless.

"We wanted to be something very different from (the Garden)," said an architect of the Brookyln arena, Gregg Pasquarelli, likening the Garden to a "giant, impenetrable box."

There's a lot of money being thrown around by both sides of the turf war, and there's a lot of mutual interests. Dolan and Prokhorov went head-to-head for Carmelo Anthony. There may be similar battles upcoming for Dwight Howard and Deron Williams.

It's also interesting that as the Nets are building an arena for around $800 million, the Knicks are upgrading the Garden for around $800 million.

O'Neil said the time line of the Garden's renovation is merely coincidence.

"We don't focus too much on (the Nets)," O'Neil said at a press event last month. "We spend much more time focusing on who we are in our business. I think more people should do that."

Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz, a staunch supporter of the new arena, disagrees.

"The Knicks went on a spending spree for one reason: to blunt the possibility of fans moving to the Brooklyn Nets," he said.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/2011/06/06/2011-06-06_nets_eye_steal_of_garden_fans_with_cheap_tix.html#ixzz1OWSCrUy6

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/2011/06/06/2011-06-06_nets_eye_steal_of_garden_fans_with_cheap_tix.html

looks like its gonna be a battle for new york lol

 

[cruzg24]

lmao, man I love this article. But lets use some common sense for why Nets tickets are cheaper.

1. They are an awful team.
2. They play in Brooklyn, not Manhattan.
3. They need to attract a new fanbase.
4. They have won 0 championships, so there is no prestige when it comes to the Nets.


I dont listen to what Mr.Prokohorov says, last time I checked he said a championship in 3 years. Year 1 is over and they didnt make the playoffs.

 

[VC15]

lmao, man I love this article. But lets use some common sense for why Nets tickets are cheaper.

1. They are an awful team.
2. They play in Brooklyn, not Manhattan.
3. They need to attract a new fanbase.
4. They have won 0 championships, so there is no prestige when it comes to the Nets.
I dont listen to what Mr.Prokohorov says, last time I checked he said a championship in 3 years. Year 1 is over and they didnt make the playoffs.

1. So the Knicks finally don't suck total ass for once, now they're a great team?
2. I don't get where you're going with this.
3. Won't be too hard in Brooklyn. That borough is dying for a team to represent them again.
4. The Knicks haven't won a championship in nearly 40 years, and haven't won a playoff game in a decade. The Knicks are more like the Cubs, than the Yankees.



Actually, he said a championship in five years. Please fact-check before posting this nonsense, thank you.

 

[Elite]

Cubs/Knicks is a perfect comparison, never though about it like that lol

 

[bosoxlover12]

Cheap arena for a cheap team that signs cheap players... nice?


The Knicks are increasing the ticket prices, because they actually started to sell more tickets. Why? they started to win games!

The Nets won't win for a long time, so they wont sell tickets. Unless the tickets are REALLY cheap, they still wont sell

 

[VC15]

"We don't focus too much on (the Nets)," O'Neil said at a press event last month. "We spend much more time focusing on who we are in our business. I think more people should do that."

The Carmelo trade basically disproves this statement.

Cheap arena for a cheap team that signs cheap players... nice?

The Knicks are increasing the ticket prices, because they actually started to sell more tickets. Why? they started to win games!


The Nets won't win for a long time, so they wont sell tickets. Unless the tickets are REALLY cheap, they still wont sell

^^^This guy is a joke.^^^

1. I didn't know that a five billion dollar project is considered to be "cheap."

2. The Knicks never had a problem with selling tickets. In fact, they're annually in the top 10 in terms of attendance, despite having the worst record in the league over the last decade.

3. How do you know that? If I were you, I'd be more worried about what's going to happen to the Celtics after the big three retires.

 

[bosoxlover12]

The Carmelo trade basically disproves this statement.

the Knicks had been heavily interested in Melo since the Decision, smh

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Carmelo to the Knicks was a lock from the second Amare went there. It was just a matter of when.

 

[VC15]

Carmelo to the Knicks was a lock from the second Amare went there. It was just a matter of when.

Not according to Carmelo and Donnie Walsh.

http://nysportslive.sportsblognet.com/2011/02/22/carmelo-anthony-thought-he-was-going-to-the-nets-before-he-got-his-wish/


http://www.complex.com/sports/2011/05/carmelo-anthony-thought-he-was-going-to-the-nets

the Knicks had been heavily interested in Melo since the Decision, smh

They (maybe) could've had him for nothing if they waited. They (Dolan) pulled the trigger on that deal just to upstage Proky and co.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Thought he was going to the Nets does NOT equal to anything. The Nuggets wanted to make a move so they would get something in return. Unfortunately for the Nets, Carmelo didn't want to play there, and even if they did, their terrible players were a laughable package for Carmelo.

 

[VC15]

Thought he was going to the Nets does NOT equal to anything. The Nuggets wanted to make a move so they would get something in return. Unfortunately for the Nets, Carmelo didn't want to play there, and even if they did, their terrible players were a laughable package for Carmelo.

The Nuggets took the better package. We ended up with the better player, so I'm just fine with how it turned out.

Carmelo wanted NY, but he wanted the money even more. He would've "settled" here. Denying this is simply foolish (which is certainly not beyond you).

 

[CameronCrazy06]

The Nuggets took the better package. We ended up with the better player, so I'm just fine with how it turned out.

Carmelo wanted NY, but he wanted the money even more. He would've "settled" here. Denying this is simply foolish (which is certainly not beyond you).

The fact that you're admitting the Nets would be "settling" disallows you from ever slandering the Knicks again.

And Melo > Deron, especially considering you have about one more year of him.

 

[cruzg24]

1. So the Knicks finally don't suck total ass for once, now they're a great team?
2. I don't get where you're going with this.
3. Won't be too hard in Brooklyn. That borough is dying for a team to represent them again.
4. The Knicks haven't won a championship in nearly 40 years, and haven't won a playoff game in a decade. The Knicks are more like the Cubs, than the Yankees.



Actually, he said a championship in five years. Please fact-check before posting this nonsense, thank you.

1. I never said they were a great team. I hate that ticket prices have gone up so much.
2. I wouldnt expect you to, property taxes are a lot higher in Manhattan than in Brooklyn. Therefore, meaning that its cheaper to live in Brooklyn. Thus correlating to cheaper tickets.
3. Brooklyn isnt dying for a team, they have the Yankees Rangers and Knicks. Takes 20 minutes to get to MSG.
4. The Lakers and Celtics can make ticket prices whatever they want because of their championships. So obviously the Nets can charge whatever they want because they dont have any significant history, except for Dr. J but he was smart and left.

Im am sooooo sorry, 5 years. LMAO, Ill remember that so that in 4 years I can remind you how much bullshit Mikhail was talking about.

 

[VC15]

The fact that you're admitting the Nets would be "settling" disallows you from ever slandering the Knicks again.

And Melo > Deron, especially considering you have about one more year of him.

Dwight is more likely to leave than Deron.

Deron averaged 20/10 with a bad wrist. Melo is an inefficient chucker who does not excel at anything else.

At least the Nets aren't in CAP hell with no way out, unlike the Knicks and Magic.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Lol if the Knicks had gotten Deron and the Nets had gotten Melo I would LOVE to see you argue the complete opposite side. Just face it. The Nets are a joke of a franchise, always have been.

 

[VC15]

1. I never said they were a great team. I hate that ticket prices have gone up so much.
2. I wouldnt expect you to, property taxes are a lot higher in Manhattan than in Brooklyn. Therefore, meaning that its cheaper to live in Brooklyn. Thus correlating to cheaper tickets.
3. Brooklyn isnt dying for a team, they have the Yankees Rangers and Knicks. Takes 20 minutes to get to MSG.
4. The Lakers and Celtics can make ticket prices whatever they want because of their championships. So obviously the Nets can charge whatever they want because they dont have any significant history, except for Dr. J but he was smart and left.

Im am sooooo sorry, 5 years. LMAO, Ill remember that so that in 4 years I can remind you how much bullshit Mikhail was talking about.

1. While the Nets haven't been good in four years, and the Knicks are respectable again, things will likely change. The Nets showed signs of brilliance after the D-Will trade. So who knows? Most Knick fans I've talked to are pissed with the 50% increase in ticket prices.

2. I'm not familiar with NYC, so thanks for clearing that up. Either way, who would want to play more money, especially with this economy?

3. None of those teams mainly represent Brooklyn. The "Brooklyn Nets" will be the only team in NY doing so. From what I hear, people who live in Brooklyn take great pride in anyone/thing representing it.

4. LOL what? Dr. J only "left" because we couldn't afford to give him a raise to a bullshit rule.

However, the New York Knicks threw a monkey wrench into the Nets' plans when they demanded that the Nets pay them $4.8 million for "invading" the Knicks' NBA territory. Coming on the heels of the fees the Nets had to pay for joining the NBA, owner Roy Boe reneged on a promise to raise Erving's salary. Erving refused to play under these conditions and held out in training camp. Boe had little choice but to sell Erving's contract to the Philadelphia 76ers for 3 million dollars.

 

[VC15]

Lol if the Knicks had gotten Deron and the Nets had gotten Melo I would LOVE to see you argue the complete opposite side. Just face it. The Nets are a joke of a franchise, always have been.

I'd rather have a PG who makes his teammates better, than a chucker who plays no defense and would have killed any flexibility we could've had for the foreseeable future.

Hell, getting Deron has us as a favorite to win the "Fight for Dwight". This would not even be remotely possible if we ended up with Melo.

If the Nets are a joke, then what are the Magic? No championships. They lost one franchise center to LA and will likely lose another one to them.

 

[bosoxlover12]

The Magic are a playoff team

 

[cruzg24]

Actually if you look at Melo and Deron, their career averages are very close. Difference being Deron is a better 3 point shooter and more assists than Melo, and Melo obviously being a better rebounder and higher ppg.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

A) Hell, getting Deron has us as a favorite to win the "Fight for Dwight". This would not even be remotely possible if we ended up with Melo.

B) If the Nets are a joke, then what are the Magic? No championships. They lost one franchise center to LA and will likely lose another one to them.

A) Your dreams
B) Semi-truth.

If Dwight goes anywhere it's LA, but it's most likely he stays in Orlando.