Nets turn to Red Hook in practice facility search

Brooklyn Nets officials are giving Red Hook a once over, as they scout locations for a new practice facility, Crain’s reported. For over a year the team has been hunting for a Brooklyn site, but at least through the next season, practice will continue at the Nets Center in East Rutherford, N.J, which they lease through that time frame.

The Nets have said they hope to have a practice facility in the borough for the start of the 2013-2014 season. Their complex in New Jersey has two basketball courts, a treatment center, a workout facility, a locker room, a video theater and 32,000 square feet of offices.

On Wednesday Nets representatives toured the former Revere Sugar Refinery, located at 280 Richards Street, between Ikea and Fairway market in Red Hook. The 660,000-square-foot parcel is owned by Joseph Sitt’s Thor Equities, which recently said it may bring an outlet mall to the site. Thor purchased the land in 2008 for $24 million.

However, Nets officials refused to comment on their interest in Red Hook. “Yes, we are looking for a practice facility location, but we will not comment on any specific site,” a Nets spokesperson said. “We are evaluating all options and we will do what’s best for the team.” [Crain’s] – Christopher Cameron