Bubble Wrap

Investors urge Ratner to ditch Brooklyn for Newark arena

Spokespeople for the Nets and Bruce Ratner say they are moving forward with the Brooklyn arena, but sources of The Real Deal say discussions about moving the team to Newark have life.

Developer Bruce Ratner has been approached by several New Jersey investors and public officials on a plan to relocate the Nets to the Prudential Center in downtown Newark, according to sources familiar with the talks.

“If they don’t get that arena built in Brooklyn in the next couple of years, I’m doubtful that Ratner would want to keep paying for losses for the Nets,” said Michael Cramer, professor of sports management at New York University. “It would have been good to get the Nets and Devils in the same arena.”