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Another two-arena situation: economic issues with New Jersey arenas

The New Jersey Nets are playing two preseason "home" games at Prudential Center next season, leading many to wonder if a move to Newark — even on a temporary basis — is inevitable.

The New Jersey Nets are playing two preseason "home" games at Prudential Center next season, leading many to wonder if a move to Newark — even on a temporary basis — is inevitable.

The rule of thumb is that there’s no major market that can support two major arenas. In the cities where there are dueling facilities — Minneapolis-St. Paul, New Jersey, Miami, Phoenix — neither facility thrives.

Which seems to be the case in New Jersey, where Izod Center and Prudentual Center are involved in a struggle for fans and acts. Though the folks running the Izod Center in the Meadowlands say they are turning a profit — a cool million last year, although much of that can be attributed to bookkeeping — Prudentual Center officials say the competition leads promoters to play the both off each other. Of course, some acts actually play both venues in the same tour, despite there being only eight miles between the venues.

Still, you have to wonder if the Nets will stay at Izod Center if the Prudential Center exhibitions wow the front office. And while everyone assumes the Nets will end up in Brooklyn in 2012 or 2013, a new arena is not a sure thing.

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