To a friendly YES network interviewer, Clara Wu Tsai talks up Brooklyn Nets, social justice, and "Belong Brooklyn" art installation

ICYMI, check out my essay in The Indypendent, "Art or Advertising? The Contradictions of 'You/We Belong Here' Neon Signage at Barclays Center".

And check out this recent softball interview with Clara Wu Tsai by Michael Grady of the YES network, which broadcasts Brooklyn Nets games. And I'll add a few comments.

Clara Wu Tsai, Co-owner of the Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty, and Barclays Center spoke with @Grady about her role and responsibilities in the Nets' franchise.#NETSonYES pic.twitter.com/7TB9eIpyiL

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) November 25, 2021

Michael Grady: Clara, thank you so much for joining me. You're such an active part of what this franchise is all about. What is your role with the Brooklyn Nets? 

Beyond the enthusiastic welcome, Grady's grin and the gauzy soundtrack signal that this is not going to put the interviewee on the spot. The Brooklyn Nets are a "sports entertainment corporation," in the piquant phrase of subsidy skeptic Bettina Damiani, but here they're portrayed as a civic bulwark.

Clara Wu Tsai: Joe [Tsai] and I are partners and you know, we basically have aspirations to be a championship level team. We want to run a good business, and we want to stay connected to fans and the community. So, there's a lot to do. So we complement each other well. 

It's worth noting that Clara Wu Tsai, who is not a co-founder of Alibaba like her husband (but whose wealth, of course, rests on the company), is less likely to be asked about the company's business practices in China or its support for the country's regime.

MG: Let's talk about the relationship and the genesis of a power couple and family. How did you and Joe meet? 

CWT: Actually, we met on a blind date in New York City. And we went to Raoul's and Fanelli.

MG: Tell me more about your background, where you're from and what led you to New York.

CWT: I've lived a lot of places in the U.S. I grew up in Kansas, but I went to college in the Bay Area of California. I lived in DC, Boston, and then, ultimately, after business school, you know, I moved to New York and after law school, Joe moved to New York as well. It was really good for us as a couple, but we were also really happy here independently. And so we both have, you know, our own independent relationship with New York as well as one of us as a couple.

MG: In the wake of the massive protests not only around the country, but around the globe following George Floyd's murder, the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation announced a major, major commitment to fighting for social justice in Brooklyn. With that, what's been keeping you busy with that since then?

Well, it's certainly more significant than anything the arena operators have previously done. But it doesn't make up for the unfulfilled promises of the larger Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park project, and $5 million a year is not only a charitable deduction--so less costly to donors than simply spending the money--but represents a fraction of the Nets' new revenues, such as a reported $30 million a year jersey patch deal with Webull.

CWT: Okay, so yes, we did announce a $50 million commitment over 10 years, to benefit BIPOC, especially Black businesses, with a focus on Brooklyn. And our first initiative was a loan program which we introduced last June. And it's really focused on helping businesses particularly BIPOC and Black businesses recover. Black businesses were disproportionately hurt by the pandemic, and many really lack access to capital in many cases because of low credit scores. So the loans we're offering are low- and no-interest rate loans, and they're really based on character references rather than credit scores. And so far, we've given 43 loans and disbursed $1.2 million in loans.

It's part of an announced $2.5 million loan commitment. 

MG: Kyrie Irving is known for his dazzling play and mesmerizing play on the basketball court and also for his work off the court and the numerous causes that he gets behind. What's your view on him not being with the team right now? 

CWT: Well, first, I have to say I mean, you know, your point bears repeating, which is Kyrie has done really great philanthropic work, both locally and globally. And he cares so much about humanity. He and I have had several conversations over the years about issues that we care about, namely social justice, and also empowering women and women of the WNBA. These are things that he really cares about, and we've really connected over over that. I mean, I have to say I really miss seeing Kyrie on the court and you know, I really, I really look forward to having him rejoin us.

That's a very diplomatic answer--lead with appreciation for his philanthropic work, and soft-pedal his vaccine resistance.

MG: Opening week, you debuted a new and beautiful piece of public art outside Barclays Center. How did that idea and your vision for it come about?

Yes, "new." Yes, "striking." But "beautiful"--that's in the eye of the (unpaid) beholder.

CWT: We unveiled two neon sculptures we're calling it "Belong Brooklyn," and they have messages "You belong here" and "We belong here." The point of it is really to commemorate the protests and the protesters who organically came to the plaza in the wake of George Floyd's death. And you know, we we we put it up because we actually wanted to commemorate those events of 2020. And we also thought that it could be really healing for some of the protesters who were there, but overall, you know, we really want to inspire people who just come into contact with it to have their own dialogue with the words and what it means to belong. And why it's important. And it's especially important to me because belonging is sort of the anthem of all our social justice work. It's a way to really point out that equity is such an important part of people feeling as if they belong.

Except they had none of the protesters at the unveiling ceremony. And, as I've pointed out, it's hard to separate the artistic message from an advertising one: "You belong here" at the arena, as a paying customer.

MG: What's the biggest impact that you hope to have with the Nets, the Liberty and Barclays Center? 

CWT: Ultimately, I really hope that that the Nets, the Liberty and Barclays really do connect with the community. And that we are we're definitely a part and parcel of the community. And I view Barclays Center as a civic institution--a cultural institution and a civic institution. I think that sports and culture together really foster civic connection. So you know, that's what I'd like to do is maybe add or continue to do some cultural programming, like the art installation, like the one that we just did. They really will be a part of growing the society and the community.

Sheez--those of us with long memories recall arena builder Bruce Ratner calling himself a "civic developer" and talking about "civic" projects. If the Barclays Center is such a "civic institution," what happened to the 2,000 tickets a game at $15 each? That promise didn't last.