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Mayor also stated Prudential Center would host concerts in addition to sporting events

BY JOSH CHAPIN

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The word doubt doesn't enter Mayor Cory Booker's mind very often.

Despite reports yesterday in the Newark Star-Ledger claiming that the New Jersey Nets move to the Prudential Center had "all but collapsed," Newark's mayor reopened discussion Thursday afternoon.

"From the perspective of the Prudential Center, we are in a very strong position," Booker said. "I'm very confident. I actually believe the Nets will be playing here very soon."

The proposed deal would release the currently struggling 24-loss Nets from their lease at the IZOD Center at the Meadowlands and allow the team to move to the facility in the heart of Newark. The Nets would then share the arena with the Devils until their planned move to Brooklyn for the 2011-12 season, according to Bloomberg News.

Booker emphasized that the deal will be mutually beneficial. The mayor also dismissed the rumor that the IZOD Center would be the sole concert and entertainment venue while the Prudential Center would be the sports home.

"What was happening was acts were choosing," Booker said. "‘I'm going to do a New York venue and one New Jersey venue and you two were going to compete against one another and basically cannibalize each other in a race to the bottom.' Now we are going to coordinate, share revenue so that that can't happen and in the meantime Newark's arena is still going to be hosting great events, great concerts and great sports. I'm excited by what's happening today."

According to the Star Ledger, Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) had helped the deal along by introducing an "arena truce bill" Monday that would enable the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to enter the agreement, which could mean a $3 surcharge for all events at both arenas. While Gov.-elect Chris Christie said he doesn't approve of the "tax," Booker believes the process is "caught in the rigors" of transitioning from one governor's office to the next.

"The IZOD Center has to find other streams of revenue and if the governor is opposed to a tax, then I look forward to working with him to find some creative means with which to support sports entertainment in the state of New Jersey," Booker added. "The reality is this is a great revenue builder, it's a great job creator for our state and we've got to work collaboratively to make both arenas successful for the sake of our local economy and the sake of the residents of New Jersey."