New Jersey governor renews call for Nets’ return
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New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said she is actively pushing to bring the Brooklyn Nets back to the Garden State, reviving speculation about a relocation more than a decade after the franchise left for New York.
“I love the idea,” Sherrill told an audience at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, adding that she has “been pressing for that” since taking office. The Nets played 35 seasons in New Jersey before moving to Brooklyn for the 2012-13 campaign.
The franchise’s New Jersey tenure included its only two NBA Finals appearances, led by Jason Kidd in 2002 and 2003. Despite that history, a return appears remote. A league source informed the New York Post that there have been no discussions between Nets ownership and the governor’s office, stating the team is “perfectly happy in Brooklyn.”
The financial landscape supports that stance. Before relocating, the Nets reportedly ranked 21st among NBA franchises in value; NBC Sports now lists the organization at roughly $6 billion, placing it inside the league’s top 10. A lucrative YES Network television agreement and strong attendance—more than 17,000 fans per game this season with near-nightly sellouts—have bolstered Brooklyn’s position.
Sherrill nonetheless hinted that New Jersey officials are pursuing other professional sports opportunities for Newark’s Prudential Center, commonly known as “the Rock.” “I do think there is some work being done,” she said. “Some people are working on some different sports coming into the Rock.”
No timeline or formal proposal for luring the Nets—or any other team—has been presented.
Source: Hoops Wire
