I knew that the prices would rise as soon as construction workers finished installation of the locker rooms at the Prudential Center.  Did I expect them to double in price? Absolutely not.  How can you blame me, when the New York Metropolitan Area Sports has not constructed a new arena in nearly 30 years?  And then in a span of approximately five years, several professional organizations are following suit.

When the New Jersey Devils completed the $375 million project, The Rock," they essentially eliminated Middle America from every attending another home game in the current downtown Newark arena.  I do not think that team owner Jeff Vanderbeek had this in mind when he decided to relocate the organization, but they have forced corporate America into these leather-coated, high-priced seats.

Knowing this information will definitely help the New Jersey Nets corporate office when it eventually moves the team to Brooklyn.  The truth is that the Nets, Devils, Mets, and Yankees are all building new stadiums in the next few years, starting with the Devils, who opened a few months earlier, on Oct. 27.  I did not know that construction in New York was like a fashion trend in “The Devil Wears Prada.”

Then I read this,

“New York sports facilities will have a total of more than 900 luxury boxes, some of which could go for more than $500,000 annually, according to experts.”

And it all made sense to me.  Instead of caring about success and the fans that actually, care about the professional sports teams, the owners are more concerned with dollars and sense.

Earlier this afternoon, I listened to WFAN 660AM’s talk show hosted by Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts.  I heard them speaking about the situation with the New York Knicks.  Someone, I don’t recall who, was defending James Dolan, Chairman of Cablevision Corp. and parent company of Madison Square Garden, which includes the Knicks and Rangers.  The conversation became heated and I wondered if he were intoxicated or under the influence of illegal drugs.

How in the world can you support the worst basketball owner, according to a Sports Illustrated players poll?  What have the Dolans brought to New York City other than stir unnecessary controversy and continue the Knicks’ losing ways.  From the recent “Isaiah Thomas Sexual Harassment” to the Knicks-Nuggets brawl, the team is a disaster since trading Patrick Ewing to Seattle on Sept. 20, 2000.  Maybe, he should learn from these mistakes and others like overpaid contracts and hire a coach with less baggage and more success.

Maybe even move the team? just kidding.

Thank goodness, Dolan did not hire a developer to redesign the 39-year-old Garden, which remains the World’s Most Famous Arena.

We all know that Continental Airlines Arena was a piece of shit and needed an upgrade (sorry about the pun).

I almost forgot to read the rest of the story.

“The facilities have already delivered sizable sponsorships. Prudential Financial bought the naming rights to the Devils' stadium for more than $105 million, Citigroup will pay $400 million over 20 years to stamp its brand on the Mets' ballpark, and Barclays Bank will spend more than $300 million over the same period to plaster its name on the Nets' arena.”

Now, it all makes sense.  But, if the teams ala the Mets signed massive sponsorships, why do they continue to raise ticket prices? 

Simply put, because they can.  Luxury boxes will beef up revenues like Kobe Bryant’s emotions and skill level when he plays in New York.

Like Michael Jordan during the postseason.

And finally like Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur two nights ago, when he earned his 95th career regular season shutout at Calgary to move into sole possession of second place.

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