Brooklyn Nets (Hockey Related)

[Matt in the Hat]

With the Nets' potential move to Flatbush and Atlantic, what does this say about the future of the Devils in the Garden State? Can they hold down the CAA on their own? Or are they going to be Quebec City's replacement club.

[Frieslander]

The Islanders have been able to go it alone but I'm definately worried about it. Maybe the Xanadu project will help the Devils out a bit.

What Devils owners need is patience. They entered a market 20 years ago that was full of Ranger fans. They further compounded their problem by spending almost 15 years on premium cable while the Rangers were on basic cable. I'm part of the first generation that doesn't remember life before the Devils. Most of my hockey-loving friends are Ranger fans. But the kids younger than me are mostly Devils fans. If the owners can have the patience the fan base will continue to grow and the will notice a rise in attendence. Leaving would just throw away two decades of hard work.

[Matt in the Hat]

I really hope you are right.

[DevilDave]

I hate the thought of the Devils leaving Jersey without any pro sports teams (that are not named "New York").

But if the Newark & Hoboken arena ideas are well and truly dead, I would not be surprised at all if Steinbrenner, Katz et al. decided to sell the Devils as well as the Nets.

11,000-12,000 fans is an improvement over the 6,000-8,000 not uncommmon in the '80s, but it still does not bode well for a team that's the defending Stanley Cup champion and is supposed to be a contender. The problem is, because of the Meadowlands' location, people don't want to slog out there for so many regular season games. I've heard ticket prices are also an issue.

I would know exactly what Nordiques fans felt if a Stanley Cup contender were packaged and shipped to another city.

[DevilDave]

Originally posted by Frieslander
The Islanders have been able to go it alone but I'm definately worried about it. Maybe the Xanadu project will help the Devils out a bit.

What Devils owners need is patience. They entered a market 20 years ago that was full of Ranger fans. They further compounded their problem by spending almost 15 years on premium cable while the Rangers were on basic cable. I'm part of the first generation that doesn't remember life before the Devils. Most of my hockey-loving friends are Ranger fans. But the kids younger than me are mostly Devils fans. If the owners can have the patience the fan base will continue to grow and the will notice a rise in attendence. Leaving would just throw away two decades of hard work.

I've been a Devils fan since their great playoff run in '88... but I only listened to those games on the radio. Growing up in Jersey, I listened to Yankee games on WABC, which then was the Devils flagship as well.

But I learned the finer points of the game by watching the occasional Ranger game... which, once upon a time, were occasionally shown on Channel 9.

[Frieslander]

Originally posted by DevilDave
IBut if the Newark & Hoboken arena ideas are well and truly dead, I would not be surprised at all if Steinbrenner, Katz et al. decided to sell the Devils as well as the Nets.


A Newark arena would still be the best place for the Nets and Devils. With the recent completion of Secaucus Junction every train line in North Jersey (the 2nd largest local train system in the country) is connected giving easy access to downtown Newark.

[Matt in the Hat]

Originally posted by Frieslander
A Newark arena would still be the best place for the Nets and Devils. With the recent completion of Secaucus Junction every train line in North Jersey (the 2nd largest local train system in the country) is connected giving easy access to downtown Newark.

I don't know man. The Bklyn arena would be located on top of the largest transfer point of the NYC subway (Atlantic Av./Pacific St.) and a major terminal of the largest commuter train system in the country.

I also don't think that hockey could survive on its own in Newark. Not really the regional sport of choice there.

[Frieslander]

Originally posted by Matt in the Hat
I don't know man. The Bklyn arena would be located on top of the largest transfer point of the NYC subway (Atlantic Av./Pacific St.) and a major terminal of the largest commuter train system in the country.

oh, I'm not arguing with you there. I'm just thinking as opposed to the Meadowlands. I'm definately thinking from a Jersey perspective. I think the Nets could work in Brooklyn. I just don't want them too (and only because it hurts the Devils.)

[Khansingh]

Matt, since you're an Islanders fan, what would you think about the Isles moving to Brooklyn? Does the Islander fan grimace at the thought? I Isle fans complaining about the Coliseum almost as often as Devil and Net fans complain about CAA. By extension, would this arena be designed with basketball in mind or hockey? A hockey arena is better because the configuration is more serviceable and can host more sports and events.

[DevilDave]

As the more successful franchise, there would be more outcry if the Devils moved (again) as opposed to the Nets becoming a New York team again. Obviously the Devils would not follow the Nets to Brooklyn...

If I recall correctly, the long-scrapped plans for an arena on the Hoboken waterfront were primarily for the Devils only... this was before John McMullen sold the team to YankeeNets, I think.

Could a building primarily for hockey and then other events survive? It's possible, if it were located in an appropriate area. There are more than a few arenas in the NHL (and I'm not just talking about Canada) where the sole major sports tenant is an NHL team that seem to be doing well.

[Matt in the Hat]

Originally posted by Khansingh
Matt, since you're an Islanders fan, what would you think about the Isles moving to Brooklyn? Does the Islander fan grimace at the thought? I Isle fans complaining about the Coliseum almost as often as Devil and Net fans complain about CAA. By extension, would this arena be designed with basketball in mind or hockey? A hockey arena is better because the configuration is more serviceable and can host more sports and events.

Tough Call.

Personally, I would love it because it is a bastard and a half to get to the barn by public transportation. Being in Jersey City, it would obviously make my time and any NYC commuter's time easier to get to Brooklyn. However, like NJ, Long Island is addicted to the automobile and you may end up losing most of your Suffolk County fans in the process. Most of them work on the island while Nassau is more like a bedroom county.

Personally, I love the Coliseum. It is small and loud and every seet is a good one. You also dont lose your breath trying to climb stairs like you do when you sit in the corners at CAA. I think it would be wise for the designers to have hockey in mind when building this arena. Disney on Ice and Stars on Ice make mad loot. Since MSG is always booked with something, this would be an ideal place for either of these tours.

Honest assessment, I think it would be a wash on +/- new and old fans. The only thing that hurts is that my boys may change their name if a move to Bklyn happened. Brooklyites hate to be reminded that they actually live on Long Island.

[dfb547490]

Who would you Devs fans cheer for if the Devils moved to QC?? Would you be completely turned off to the league or would you adopt another team (I'm guessing the Islanders for most people, since hatred of the Flyers and Rangers is too ingrained)? These are questions the league needs to be asking itself.

[Matt in the Hat]

Originally posted by dfb547490
Who would you Devs fans cheer for if the Devils moved to QC?? Would you be completely turned off to the league or would you adopt another team (I'm guessing the Islanders for most people, since hatred of the Flyers and Rangers is too ingrained)? These are questions the league needs to be asking itself.

We will welcome you with open arms and orange sweaters.

[Frieslander]

Originally posted by dfb547490
Who would you Devs fans cheer for if the Devils moved to QC?? Would you be completely turned off to the league or would you adopt another team (I'm guessing the Islanders for most people, since hatred of the Flyers and Rangers is too ingrained)? These are questions the league needs to be asking itself.

I would have to be an Icelander fan. No doubt about it. I prefer to root for a local team and the Rangers and Flyers aren't in consideration. That said, Lamoriello thinks he can get a Newark arena without the Nets. I got my fingers crossed.

[Matt in the Hat]

Originally posted by Frieslander
I would have to be an Icelander fan. No doubt about it. I prefer to root for a local team and the Rangers and Flyers aren't in consideration. That said, Lamoriello thinks he can get a Newark arena without the Nets. I got my fingers crossed.

Hell, we might as well just combine both clubs and move them to Brooklyn if this is going to happen. Imagine this:

Lineup for your Brooklyn Dodgers:

Goalies - Martin Brodeur, Rick DiPietro

Defense - Scott Neidermeyer, Scott Stevens, Brian Rafalski, Colin White, Adrian Acouin, Roman Hamrlik, Kenny Jonsson, Radek Martinek

Right Wing - Jamie Langenbrunner, Brian Gionta, Mark Parrish, Mariusz Czerkawski

Center - Scott Gomez, John Madden, Michael Peca, Alexi Yashin

Left Wing - Patrik Elias, Jay Pandolfo, Jason Balke, Oleg Kvasha

Owner - Charlie Wang

GM - Lou Lamoriello

Coach - Pat Burns, Asst. Steve Stirling

Think we can win a cup with this team? or five?

[Frieslander]

now you're talking!

with Hunter, Friesen, etc. getting set down to the Westchester Sound Rats/River Tigers are farm team would be phenominal too.

[DevilDave]

If the Devils somehow remained in the Tri-State Area, I would root for them...

But if they went to Quebec or Hartford or Milwaukee... then I would probably fall back to my current local team, the Sharks.