NBA Draft 2011 to be held in Newark.

[VC15]

by Net Income

NBA Draft is moving...to Newark, reports the Star-Ledger. Newark Mayor Cory Booker, NBA Commissioner David Stern and the ownership of the Devils and Nets will announce that 2011 Draft will be held at the Prudential Center next June 23, moving it from the cozy confines of the Theater at Madison Square Garden to the roomier Rock. The announcement will be made just before the Pistons game.

The Garden, home to the Draft for more than a decade, is undergoing renovations the next three summers, forcing the New York Liberty to move to Prudential Center. The Rock will now be home, either permanently or temporarily, to the Devils, the Nets, the Liberty, Seton Hall basketball and the NBA Draft.

The last Draft held in New Jersey took place at the Continental Airlines Arena in 1996, one of the greatest --if not the greatest-- NBA draft. It featured Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, Marcus Camby, Stephon Marbury, Jermaine O'Neal, Steve Nash and Kerry Kittles.

http://www.netsdaily.com/2010/10/27/1777537/nba-draft-2011-in-newark

NBA Draft will be held in Newark in 2011
Published: Wednesday, October 27, 2010, 11:26 AM
David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger

The NBA Draft, the showcase event on the league's offseason calendar, will be held at the Prudential Center in Newark on June 23, 2011, according to two people with knowledge of the decision.

The people requested anonymity because a formal announcement will be made tonight by NBA Commissioner David Stern before the Nets host the Detroit Pistons.

A statement released by the NBA today said Stern will be joined by Newark mayor Cory Booker and Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek.

The NBA's pending announcement marks a further step in the relationship between the NBA and the city of Newark.

The temporary, two-year stay of the Nets in Newark is expected to draw heavy traffic to the area and, according to people familiar with the relationship, the NBA has been working closely with city officials to help spur economic growth in the downtown area.

For the first time in over 10 years, the draft will be held outside of New York's Madison Square Garden, and it will undoubtedly be a draw for Newark's downtown area which has slowly been making itself into a destination spot for years.

The NBA has held the draft in New Jersey before, most recently in 1996 at Bergen County's Izod Center. However, the 2011 move to the Prudential Center demonstrates the expanding profile of the three-year-old building.

In addition to hosting the Devils, Nets and Seton Hall men's basketball, the Prudential Center next spring will be home to the New York Liberty of the WNBA on a temporary basis.

On March 25 and 27 of next year, the arena will host East regional finals of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

http://www.nj.com/nets/index.ssf/2010/10/nba_draft_will_be_held_in_newa.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

[RipCity32]

The eff?

 

[Bengals1Fan]

Gay

 

[VC15]

What's the problem? The lottery is annually held in Secaucus. The actual draft might as well take place in NJ as well.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Doesn't mean anything. Just instead of annoying desperate Knicks fans, it will be annoying desperate Nets fans.

And that's not a shot at either team. Anywhere the draft is held, the home team is annoying.

 

[elcheato]

I'm guessing that because MSG is going to have a billion dollar overhaul, they are can't hold the draft there.. Or maybe thats not the reason, but that's what I would think is the main reason.

 

[VC15]

It is likely the main reason for the move. It was also stated that the change with the draft's location could be permanent.

 

[footballplaya52]

<Censored> newark

 

[Yankees2772]

The draft has never been at MSG.

 

[VC15]

<Censored> newark

You've probably never been there. Newark is pathetic (outside of the Rock), but Toronto (and Canada as a whole) is much worse.

 

[elcheato]

Well then never mind lol.

 

[VC15]

The draft has never been at MSG.

From the second article:

For the first time in over 10 years, the draft will be held outside of New York's Madison Square Garden,

 

[footballplaya52]

You've probably never been there. Newark is pathetic (outside of the Rock), but Toronto (and Canada as a whole) is much worse.

hmmm nope.

yeah no its definately not.

 

[bestkeptsecret13]

NEWARK, N.J. -- The NBA draft is moving from New York City to Newark, a person familiar with the plans tells The Associated Press.

The person requested anonymity because the league had yet to announce that the annual draft of college players will be held at the Prudential Center in Newark in June. The move is expected to be temporary while Madison Square Garden in New York City is undergoing renovations.

Commissioner David Stern is expected to make the announcement Wednesday night before the New Jersey Nets' season opener against the Detroit Pistons. The Nets will play their home games at the Prudential Center for the next two years before a planned move to Brooklyn, N.Y.

From ESPN.com

It's also in the article above, so really nothing to complain about here... It's only a temporary thing while MSG get's renovated.

 

[Yankees2772]

The draft is held in the theatre at MSG, not on the court. I thought the renovation was adding a skybox?

 

[DJT]

The draft should be held in Vegas, or somewhere without a team.

But hey moving to a roomier location is fine with me.

 

[cruzg24]

Ive been to Newark, its a rough city.

 

[Rios15]

You've probably never been there. Newark is pathetic (outside of the Rock), but Toronto (and Canada as a whole) is much worse.

Your such a hypocrite lol. How do you say you've probably never been there yet you say Toronto is much worse? Toronto is a very convenient city. You'll find anything you need here.

 

[snipezo]

This douche obviously hates Canada.

 

[Mexi]

there was talk it could have been held in L.A.
oh well

i think L.A. may get the NFL draft
lol off topic