Mikhail Prokhorov has plans to purchase Long Island’s Nassau Coliseum from Forest City Ratner, the current minority owner of the Brooklyn Nets, according to Long Island Business News.
Forest City Ratner owns 20 percent of the Nets franchise and 55 percent of Barclays Center, and rumors that Prokhorov will purchase the full share of the team have swirled in the past year.
The Nets have played preseason games the Coliseum in the past, and will do so again in the future. NetsDaily has additionally reported that the building will host the Nets’ yet-to-exist D-League affiliate, which the team plans to introduce for the 2016-17 season. The arena’s renovation construction “has been delayed,” per LIBN:
Construction on the new arena, promised to start in August, has been delayed, though Nassau Events Center, the Forest City Ratner Companies-controlled redevelopment entity, has conducted some environmental testing and other “pre-demolition” activities at the site.
Nassau County spokesman Brian Nevin said construction on the Coliseum would begin “in the near future.” When asked about next week’s scheduled groundbreaking ceremony, Nevin responded: “We cannot confirm that at this time.” He referred questions about the arena’s possible sale to Forest City Ratner officials.
Long Island Business News — Coliseum groundbreaking next week; arena may be sold to Russians
