Nets Unveil Luxurious Training Facility At Industry City, Pledging Community Inclusion
It wasn’t Dorothy and Toto who were ascending the podium. But if they had, Dorothy surely would have looked down and said, “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in New Jersey anymore.”
That’s because — until now — the Brooklyn Nets had still been practicing at their East Rutherford, New Jersey facility even after relocating to their Barclays Center address in 2012.
Mikhail Prokhorov, the billionaire owner of the team, stood at the podium and looked out at the gleaming, highest-of-high-tech new training home of the Brooklyn Nets. “At last this day has come,” Prokhorov said. “The Nets are 100 percent a part of Brooklyn.”
The unveiling of the Hospital For Special Surgery Training Center for the Brooklyn Nets came on February 17, 2016, almost exactly 104 years to the date of this once-industrial behemoth of a building which opened back on February 16, 1912.
“The only thing that was here was a space,” said Irina Pavlova, President of Onexim Sports and Entertainment, the company through which Prokhorov owns the Nets and Barclays Center.
But now, the 8th floor boasts video games and arcade machines for the players (no quarters required), a cryogenic chamber, a movie theatre, and one of the most stunning views of New York City available.
Nets Center Brook Lopez peered out the massive windows. “Look at that view. You have to love the view,” he said. “Hopefully it doesn’t distract us that much from practice.”
The Nets organization hopes the new training facility in Brooklyn will provide a reason for the players to live in Brooklyn. Most players still live in New Jersey due to the proximity of their now former facility. Nets player Willie Reed — who has a 2-year-old son and a 5-day-old son — doesn’t seem ready to relocate as of yet. “Right now, my family is going to stay put.”
Nets Medical Director Dr. Riley Williams — a sports medical surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) — spoke of his and HSS’ core beliefs: “performance, recovery, and prevention.” And with that, there will be staff on hand 24/7 to prepare meals for the players.
“In Russia, it would be a shot of vodka chased down by a boiled potato,” said Prokhorov, speaking of how the facility’s opening would have been marked in his home country. But instead, the event was celebrated with smoothies, fennel-encrusted salmon, and other healthy victuals. “Instead, I raise a glass of green apple juice to you,” he said.
Through all the pomp and circumstance, speakers highlighted the importance of community outreach and job creation that the facility will house and provide.
According to the Nets, 200 union jobs were created for the construction of the facility.
Mayor Bill de Blasio joked that he now questions if politics was the right choice for his career instead of basketball — responding to Nets announcer Ian Eagle’s comments about de Blasio’s wing span.
But de Blasio stressed that 40 new jobs have been created to run and maintain the facility. He also used the opportunity to tout the reasoning for plans to create the Brooklyn-Queens Connector, a streetcar that would begin its route in Sunset Park and pass throughout north Brooklyn into Queens. In addition, Prokhorov asserted the importance of “jobs, job training, internships, and the local community.”
The Nets brass hopes the facility will enliven the Nets, who are in desperate need of it during this very troubling 2015-16 NBA season. Their record is 15-40 as of Sunday, and Prokhorov recently cleaned house by firing coach Lionel Hollins and re-assigning General Manager Billy King. Assistant coach Tony Brown is now serving as the interim head coach, and Sean Marks was hired by as the new GM the day after the opening of the facility.
The New York Times reported that “Prokhorov was terse when asked about reports that the Nets had offered the job to Sean Marks, the assistant general manager for the San Antonio Spurs. ‘I have never heard this name before,'” Prokhorov said after the press conference. It was a tall tale by a tall owner.
The question that remains — which can only be answered with time — is whether the Nets will really make good on their commitment to community outreach. With the jaw-dropping transformation that is happening in Sunset Park — chiefly because of Industry City — many continue to fear being left behind due to all the development.
The conference was attended by that tall owner, the tall mayor, and many tall players. That said, community outreach and support will hopefully not be derailed by tall tales.