City officials said they saw the proposal put forward by the Nets owners, including the philanthropist Raymond Chambers, as the next jewel in Newark's crown.

Raymond Chambers and Lewis Katz took over the Nets in late October for $150 million.

Before that, Mr. Ganis said, it was Raymond Chambers, a board member and philanthropist with a drive to rebuild Newark, who had dominated the talks.

Steinbrenner had apparently fallen for the more civic-minded business approach of those would-be princes of Newark, Raymond Chambers and Louis Katz.

Kushner has been working with Raymond Chambers, another owner of the Nets, who is committed to moving the team to Newark.

Mr. Piscopo said he was inspired to do charity work by Raymond Chambers, a New Jersey business executive and philanthropist.

Randy Levine, the Yankee president, represents Steinbrenner on the Devils board, whose chairman is Raymond Chambers.

Quadrangle was the choice of Raymond Chambers, an owner of the Nets.

Stier said that the Nets' ownership, led by Raymond Chambers and Lewis Katz, has concluded that selling the team is "the proper thing to do."

The publicity-averse, enigmatic group led by Raymond Chambers could not make a deal in Newark.