Coca-Cola Inks Multi-Million Dollar Deal With Barclays Center


Despite the ongoing work stoppage in the NBA, the New Jersey Nets are tirelessly working on their relocation to Brooklyn, which is contingent upon the opening of the Barclays Center. With the arena slated to open in September 2012, the Nets have taken another step in reaching their target date: The Barclays Center and Coca-Cola have cut a multimillion-dollar deal to make the soda giant the exclusive soft-drink provider at the Nets’ new NBA arena. Via the New York Post: “Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark said the arena and the Nets chose Coke because of its longstanding historical ties to Brooklyn, where it once was the official soda of the Dodgers at Ebbets Field. Nets fans and Brooklynites lobbied for Coke products after arena officials in 2007 initially selected little-known Jones Soda. The arena has settled its contract with Jones. ‘Our goal is making this arena all about Brooklyn — even the food and drink — and one thing that became clear to me is Brooklyn’s a Coke town,’ Yormark said. Yormark declined to disclose the deal’s terms, which will be announced today. But sources said it’s similar to the seven-year, $1.7 million per-year pact the arena had cut with Jones Soda. As part of the Coke deal, Nets fans could be treated to special Brooklyn-themed flavored beverages, along with the company’s trademark soft drinks and juices. Coke will also partner with the Nets in providing community health-and-wellness services. Jones Soda had planned to run a café at the arena. Yormark said a new operator would be selected for the café. As for next season, Nets fans will have to continue drinking Pepsi during the club’s final season at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Nets officials pointed out that the club is a tenant at the Newark arena, so it has no say in its beverages. Dori Silverman, an assistant vice president for Coca-Cola, said the firm is ‘pleased that it will be providing’ the Nets and Barclays Center ‘our great –tasting beverages.'”