New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill wants the Brooklyn Nets to return to their former home state. While she pushes to bring the franchise back to the Prudential Center, the NBA has firmly shut down any immediate plans for a relocation.
The Nets traded New Jersey for the lucrative Brooklyn market back in 2012. Now, off-court business maneuvers are also making waves. Sherrill is openly campaigning to reverse that historic move.
“I mean, would I support it? I ask about it all the time,” Sherrill said.
The governor remains highly optimistic about Newark’s arena hosting professional basketball again. She sees a clear opportunity to revitalize the local sports scene.
“I love the idea. So, I have been pressing for that. I haven’t made a lot of headway yet; you know, maybe in my second 100 days. But I do think there is some work being done for some — I don’t know if I’m allowed to say too much about it — but some people are working on some different sports coming into the Rock.”
Securing an NBA franchise involves massive financial hurdles. Brooklyn provides a massive television audience that ownership relies on for maximum revenue. Relocating would require surrendering prime market share, a move few billionaires will entertain in the modern era. The league quickly rejected the proposal to protect that investment.
“They’re perfectly happy in Brooklyn…There have been no conversations with (Nets) ownership or leadership and the governor or her administration,” a highly-placed league source confirmed.
The same insider made the league’s stance entirely clear, noting that “[They] have no plans to bring the Brooklyn Nets back to New Jersey.”
The Nets remain strictly a New York commodity. New Jersey fans must simply watch the current playoff brackets unfold from across the Hudson River.
