A view from the model luxury suite at the Nets' Midtown showroom. (Matthew Schuerman/WNYC)

NEW YORK, NY May 15, 2008 —The Nets begin selling luxury boxes to their arena at Atlantic Yards tonight, and they are hitting the Brooklyn connection hard. They created a promotional video that will be shown to about 130 business executives who get to see a model suite at an open house tonight.

The team says it has already sold 20 percent of the 130 suites that the arena will hold to investors and other insiders.

Nets President Brett Yormark says the amenities are be a big draw.

YORMARK: Cork floors, induction burners. No more chafing dishes with fire underneath. So a little bit of technology there. Frank Gehry designed lighting fixtures.

REPORTER: The Nets are guaranteeing that the arena will open in the fall of 2010, even though their parent company does not yet own all of the property in the arena footprint. Forest City Ratner Companies says it will begin construction later this year.