Barclays Center
The western entrance of Barclays Center, taken from the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue. | |
Location |
620 Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11217 United States |
---|---|
Coordinates | 40°40′57.58″N 73°58′30.81″W / 40.6826611°N 73.9752250°W |
Public transit | |
Owner |
Brooklyn Arena Local Development Corporation,[1] (owned in essence by Brooklyn Events Center, LLC (joint venture between Forest City Enterprises and ONEXIM Sports & Entertainment)) |
Operator | AEG |
Capacity |
Basketball: 17,732 Ice hockey: 15,795 Concert: 19,000[2] |
Construction | |
Broke ground | March 11, 2010[3] |
Opened |
September 21, 2012 (NBA) September 21, 2015 (NHL) |
Construction cost |
$1 billion[2] ($1.03 billion dollars[4] in 2015) |
Architect |
AECOM (Ellerbe Becket) SHoP Architects |
Project manager | Forest City Ratner Companies |
Structural engineer | Thornton Tomasetti |
Services engineer | WSP Flack + Kurtz |
General contractor | Hunt Construction Group[5] |
Tenants | |
Brooklyn Nets (NBA) (2012–present) New York Islanders (NHL) (2015–present) Long Island Nets (NBA D-League) (2016-2017) | |
Website | |
Official website |
Barclays Center is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Brooklyn, New York City. It sits partially on a platform over the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)-owned Vanderbilt Yards rail yard at Atlantic Avenue for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). It is part of a $4.9 billion future business and residential complex now known as Pacific Park.[6]
The site is located adjacent to the renamed Atlantic Avenue – Barclays Center MTA subway station (2 3 4 5 B D N Q R trains) and the LIRR’s Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn. The arena is currently home to the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association and the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League.[7][8] The arena also hosts concerts, conventions and other sporting and entertainment events. The arena competes with other facilities in the New York metropolitan area, including Madison Square Garden in Manhattan and Prudential Center in Newark. The arena and the Brooklyn Nets are owned by Mikhail Prokhorov's American holdings.
The arena, initially proposed in 2004 when real estate developer Bruce Ratner purchased the Nets for $300 million as the first step of the process to build a new home for the team,[9] experienced significant hurdles during its development. Its use of eminent domain and its potential environmental impact[10] stirred up community resistance, especially as residential buildings and businesses such as the Ward Bakery were to be demolished and large amounts of public subsidies were used, which led to multiple lawsuits. The global recession of 2009 also caused financing for the project to dry up. As a result, the start of construction was delayed until 2010, with no secure funding for the project having been allotted. Groundbreaking for construction occurred on March 11, 2010, and the arena opened to the public on September 21, 2012, which was also attended by some 200 protesters.[3] It held its first event with a Jay-Z concert on September 28, 2012.[3][11]
History
The arena was conceived by Bruce Ratner of real estate developer Forest City Ratner Companies, the New York division of Forest City Enterprises that Ratner founded. He acquired the New Jersey Nets basketball team in 2004 for $300 million[10] (he has since sold most of his shares to continue funding the project) with the purpose of moving them to the Pacific Park development on Brooklyn's Prospect Heights play in the arena that would be the centerpiece of the Pacific Park commercial and residential redevelopment project.[9] The move had marked the return of major league sports to Brooklyn, which had been absent since the departure of the Dodgers to Los Angeles in 1957. Coincidentally, the original proposal for a domed stadium for the Brooklyn Dodgers was just north of the Pacific Park Brooklyn site, where the Atlantic Terminal Mall, also owned by Forest City Ratner Companies, is currently located.
The arena was initially projected to open in 2006, with the rest of the Pacific Park Brooklyn complex to follow. However, controversies involving local residents, the use of eminent domain, potential environmental impact, lack of continued public financing, as well as a major economic downturn delayed the project.[13] Due to these legal and financial troubles, the development deal seemed headed towards failure or collapse.[14] Frank Gehry, an architect involved in the project's initial designs said, in March 2009, "I don't think it is going to happen,"[10] and Ratner at one point explored selling the team.[15] The New York Supreme Court ruled in favor of Ratner on May 16, 2009. Opponents appealed the court decision. A hearing for the appeal was scheduled for October 14, 2009, with a decision to be issued no sooner than November 25.[16]
On September 23, 2009, Russian businessman Mikhail Prokhorov agreed to a $200 million deal to become a principal owner of the Nets and a key investor in the Brooklyn arena.
In October 2009, the Nets played two preseason games at the Prudential Center.[17] The two preseason games were successful, and a deal that would have the Nets play at the Prudential Center for the 2010–11 and 2011–12 NBA seasons became more likely. Negotiations nearly fell apart, when the New Jersey Sports and Exhibition Authority refused to release the Nets from their lease at Izod.[18] Negotiations resumed, and on February 18, 2010, the Nets finalized a deal that would move them to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey until Barclays Center opened.
On November 24, 2009, the New York Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the state using eminent domain for the project. Empire State Development Corporation Vice President Warner Johnston indicated that the agency is committed to seeing the project completed and said "we can now move forward with development."[19]
Another potential roadblock to this development resulted from the Appellate Court's negative decision regarding a similar eminent domain case, brought against Columbia University.[20] This landmark case could have given new life to the case being brought by the community group Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn (DDDB).
However, on March 1, 2010, Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Abraham Gerges struck down a challenge by property owners, regarding the state's use of eminent domain, which allowed the private property to be condemned. Groundbreaking for the project occurred on March 11, 2010.[3]
On June 29, 2010, the first concrete was poured into Barclays Center's foundation.[21] The arena began vertical construction on November 23, 2010, with the erection of the first steel piece.[22] The arena topped out on January 12, 2012, and was opened to the public on September 21, 2012.
On October 24, 2012, the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL) announced that the franchise will be moving to the Barclays Center in 2015, following the expiration of their lease of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, which the team has called home since its inception in 1972. The deal didn't require the involvement of the New York Rangers, as the Islanders' agreement with the Rangers to share the New York area allows them to relocate anywhere on Long Island, including Brooklyn and Queens.[23] While Barclays Center was originally conceived as a multipurpose arena that could easily accommodate both the Nets and an NHL team, it was ultimately built mainly for basketball use. While it can nevertheless accommodate an NHL-size rink, the scoreboard will be off-centered above the blue line that is located closer to the southeast end of the arena. It will have a seating capacity of 15,795, which will make it the second-smallest in the league (behind Winnipeg's MTS Centre). The seating arrangement for hockey is asymmetrical. There are only three rows of permanent seating on the northwest end of the arena, and at least 416 seats won't be sold at all due to poor sight lines.[24] As a result of the signing of the lease, the two KHL games that were scheduled to be played in the arena on January 20 and 21, 2013 between Dynamo Moscow and SKA St. Petersburg were moved back to their teams' home venues. As part of the deal, the management of the Barclays Center will take over running the business side of the team once the Islanders move to the Barclays Center, though Charles Wang will remain owner and run the sports side of the team.[25]
According to Billboard Magazine, Barclays Center passed Madison Square Garden as the highest-grossing venue in the US for concerts and family shows, not counting sports events. That statistic was based on ticket sales between November 1, 2012, and May 31, 2013.[26] On February 24, 2015, an ironworker was killed when four joists fell on him as he was helping to install the arena's green roof.[27]
Financing
The arena is formally owned by the Brooklyn Arena Local Development Corporation, a public entity. It is leased to private entity Brooklyn Events Center, LLC for $1.00.[1][28] Being publicly owned, the financing of the stadium was eligible for tax-exempt bonds, which were issued in 2009 for a total of $510,999,996.50.[29]
Design
Barclays Center is designed by the architect firm SHoP Architects. Ellerbe Becket/AECOM served as the project Architect of record.
Initial concepts for the area were designed by Frank Gehry, whose design proposed a rooftop park (open only to residents of the Atlantic Yards complex) ringed by an open-air running track and capable of doubling as an ice skating rink in winter with panoramic, year-round views of Manhattan.[2] The famed architect's tallest tower, called Miss Brooklyn at 620 feet, was also part of this plan.[10] Gehry's plans carried a projected cost of $1 billion.[2] Forest City Ratner unveiled a scaled back version of the project on February 2008 reducing Miss Brooklyn's size 40%, and making it 109 feet shorter.[10] Another redesign unveiled just over two months later scrapped Miss Brooklyn entirely, and in January 2009, the developer started "value engineering" the arena design, cutting its budget even more. In September 2009 the Becket/SHoP proposal with a projected cost (initially) of $800 million (ultimately itself revised to $1 billion) was unveiled.[10]
Externally, the arena's shape features three articulated bands with features a glass curtain wall covered by a "latticework" composed of 12,000 preweathered steel panels engineered and constructed by ASI Limited/SHoP Construction[30] meant to evoke the image of Brooklyn's brownstones.[31] A 117-by-56-foot (36 by 17 m) oculus extends over a 5,660-square-foot (526 m2) section of the plaza outside of the main arena entrance with an irregularly shaped display screen looping the interior face of the oculus.[32] The arena floor's location below grade allows people in the plaza to view the scoreboard.[32]
Unlike most other urban venues in the US, Barclays Center has no dedicated parking yet; however, it is easily accessible by subway, bus, and railroad.[33] To accommodate entry to the facility, the arena's 38,885-square-foot (3,613 m2) entrance plaza features a $76 million transit connection hub[34] that serves as the plaza's focal point. The transit structure connects with the renovated Atlantic Avenue – Barclays Center subway station, designed by New York City firm Stantec.
The original plan promised indoor room for bicycles but the plan was scrapped before the arena's opening with outdoor racks for 400 bicycles, which were eventually taken away. The Empire State Development corporation also promised spots for 550 cars eventually, next to the arena.[35]
Naming rights
On January 18, 2007, it was announced that the arena would be called Barclays Center, after London-based banking group Barclays. It was reported that banking and financial services company agreed to pay the team $400 million over the next 20 years for the naming rights of their Brooklyn home,[36] eclipsing the previous record for naming rights to an American indoor arena, set by Royal Philips Electronics in 1999, for $185 million over 20 years for Philips Arena in Atlanta. However, the rights were renegotiated by the end of 2009, and are somewhat more than $200 million.[37][38] Barclays does not have any retail banks in the US and does not have its own ATMs in the arena.[39]
Accessibility and transportation
Barclays Center is located next to Atlantic Terminal, which services the Long Island Rail Road's Atlantic Branch. Barclays Center is also accessible via the New York City Subway, via the 2 3 4 5 B D N Q R trains, which stop at Atlantic Avenue – Barclays Center.
Notable events
Basketball
The first NBA basketball game played at the new arena was an NBA preseason game between the Nets and the Washington Wizards on October 15, 2012.[40]
The first regular season NBA game at the Barclays Center took place on November 3, 2012, when the Nets beat the visiting Toronto Raptors 107–100. The originally scheduled season opener home game was supposed to take place on November 1 against now-cross town rivals the New York Knicks, in what was planned to be a historic event; however, the game was canceled by NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg due to mass transportation outages and a shortage of available police caused by Hurricane Sandy.[41]
The venue hosted the 2013 NBA Draft on June 27, 2013[42] and the 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend festivities on February 13–14, 2015.
College basketball
Since its opening, the center has hosted a number of college basketball events. Kentucky and Maryland signed multi-year agreements to play games at the arena after competing head-to-head in 2012.[43] The arena currently hosts three early-season basketball tournaments: Barclays Center Classic, Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, and Legends Classic.
The Atlantic 10 Conference announced that Barclays Center will be the new home of the conference's men's basketball tournament beginning in 2013.[44] The Atlantic Coast Conference has announced that the 2017 and 2018 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament will be hosted at the Barclays Center. This is a break of tradition from being hosted at the "unofficial" home of the tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC where it is usually held.[45] As part of a three-way agreement with Barclays and the ACC, the A-10 will return its men's basketball championship to Barclays Center in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Hockey
The Islanders played the first NHL hockey game at Barclays Center in a preseason game on September 21, 2013, losing to the New Jersey Devils 3–0 in front of a crowd of 14,689. The first goal in the arena's history was scored by Jacob Josefson of the New Jersey Devils. An Islanders game was scheduled for the previous preseason but was cancelled due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout. The Islanders and Devils played again on September 26, 2014. This time, the Islanders defeated New Jersey 3-2 in a shootout. The first goal in Islander Brooklyn history was scored in the first period on a power play (and a delayed penalty call) by defenseman Ryan Pulock. Neither goalie that started for the Islanders in the 2013 and 2014 preseason games remain with the club.
The first regular season game was played on October 9, 2015 against the 2015 Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks; the Blackhawks won that game 3-2 in overtime. This was the sixth NHL game at Barclays Center, following five total preseason contests (three in 2015), and one Islander rookie scrimmage. The first NHL regular season goal scored in the Barclays Center was a shorthanded goal that was scored by Artem Anisimov for the Blackhawks at 13:28 of the first period. While John Tavares and Marek Zidlicky scored the first two Islander regular season goals in the venue during the second and third periods, Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane scored two goals, including the overtime winner.
Other sports
Several boxing matches have taken place in the arena, including Danny Garcia v Zab Judah and Ruslan Provodnikov v Chris Algieri. The arena has also hosted many wrestling events, including WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs (2012) and several WWE Monday Night Raw events. Following the success of three consecutive sold out nights in the arena for Monday Night Raw, NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, and SummerSlam August 22-24, 2015, it was announced on September 28, 2015 that WWE would return for three consecutive nights for Monday Night Raw, NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, and SummerSlam in 2016 and 2017.[46]
Music
In addition to many concerts from a variety of musical acts, the center hosted the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards on August 25, 2013, bringing the show to a New York City borough other than Manhattan for the first time.[47]
Issues
Legal actions
During its building, the center was the source of a number of controversies involving local residents, the use of eminent domain, potential environmental impact, lack of continued public financing, as well as a major economic downturn delayed the project.[13] The New York Supreme Court ruled in favor of Ratner on May 16, 2009. Opponents appealed the court decision, and a hearing for the appeal was scheduled for October 14, 2009, with a decision to be issued no sooner than November 25.[16]
On November 24, 2009, the New York Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the state using eminent domain for the project. Empire State Development Corporation Vice President Warner Johnston indicated that the agency is committed to seeing the project completed and said "we can now move forward with development."[19]
The Barclays Center has also been accused of mistreating luxury box holders who are African-American. Three employees of Ludwig’s Pharmacy in Prospect Heights claimed in a lawsuit, filed in October 2013, that they were singled out for bad treatment at the arena just because they are black. They are suing for $4 million.[48]
Labor issues
A group of 120 part-time construction workers who work to convert the arena from concert hall to sports venue unsuccessfully tried to switch unions in February 2013. The pay for part-time work is structured differently than that of the same work at Madison Square Garden, workers have complained about not being able to make a living on one-day-a-month work at $14/hour, and being barred from collecting unemployment.[49]
Obstructed view seats
Since the Islanders moved to the Barclays Center, there have been numerous complaints about obstructed view seats, due to the fact that the arena was not built with ice hockey in mind.[50] Business Insider has called sections 201 to 204 and 228 to 231, "the worst seat in American professional sports".[51] In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark acknowldged the issue, but insisted nothing can be done: "There’s really nothing we’re going to do from a capital improvement standpoint. You can watch the game on your mobile device. The game is on the scoreboard."[52]
References
- 1 2 "Current management seen as continuing at Barclays Center (operating company), though not clear how long; why is Ratner selling for seeming low price?". Atlantic Yards Report. October 21, 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 "The NBA Comes to Brooklyn". Construction Digital. August 1, 2011. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 Durkin, Erin; Hutchinson, Bill (March 11, 2010). "Atlantic Yards Ground-Breaking Event Marked By Politicians, Pop Star and Protests". Daily News (New York). Archived from the original on March 14, 2010. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
- ↑ Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Hunt awarded construction contract for the Barclays Center". huntconstructiongroup.com. November 26, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
- ↑ "About Atlantic Yards". Empire State Development Corporation.
- ↑ Hunt, Christopher (September 26, 2011). "Jay-Z: Team to be Brooklyn Nets". ESPN. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
- ↑ Honan, Edith (October 24, 2012). "New York Islanders to move to Brooklyn in 2015". Reuters Canada. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
- 1 2 Sandomir, Richard; Bagli, Charles V. (January 21, 2004). "Brooklyn Developer Reaches Deal to Buy New Jersey Nets". The New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Intelligencer: Atlantic Yards, Inch by Inch". New York magazine. March 29, 2009.
- ↑ "Barclay’s Center Opens In Brooklyn". nymn.com. September 28, 2012. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
- ↑ "Barclay’s Center". Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
- 1 2 "Nets Say Brooklyn Move May Be Delayed Further". The New York Times. Associated Press. January 4, 2008. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
- ↑ Leitch, Will (November 2, 2008). "No Red Dawn for Ratner". New York Magazine.
- ↑ Isola, Frank; Lawrence, Mitch (October 27, 2008). "Bruce Ratner Explored Nets Sale". Daily News (New York).
- 1 2 Thompson, Ryan (July 9, 2009). "The Court Date Is Set for Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
- ↑ "Prudential Center To Host New Jersey Nets Pre-Season Basketball". Prudential Center's Official Website. March 4, 2009. Archived from the original on March 15, 2009. Retrieved March 19, 2009.
- ↑ Sherman, Ted (December 16, 2009). "Deal to Move NJ Nets to Newark's Prudential Center Falls Apart". The Star-Ledger (Newark). Retrieved December 19, 2009.
- 1 2 "New York Court of Appeals Rules State Can Use Eminent Domain to Take Land for Atlantic Yards Arena Project". The Star-Ledger (Newark). Associated Press. November 24, 2009. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ Martinez, Jose; Lombardi, Frank (December 4, 2009). "No Eminent Domain for Columbia University Expansion: Court". Daily News (New York). Retrieved February 6, 2010.
- ↑ Brennan, Josh (June 29, 2010). "Work Begins on Concrete Foundation for Nets new Brooklyn Home". The Record. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
- ↑ "Steel for the Barclays Center in Brooklyn Begins to go Vertical". New Jersey Nets News. November 23, 2010. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- ↑ Sheets, Connor Adams (May 20, 2010). "New York Islanders Ponder Move to Willets Point". Astoria Times. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
- ↑ "Everything You Need to Know About Barclays Center’s Hockey Configuration". New York Magazine. Sep 13, 2013. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
- ↑ Kosman, Josh (2013-04-25). "Islanders may change team colors with move to Brooklyn". New York Post. Retrieved 2013-08-13.
- ↑ Li, David K. "Garden wilting at No. 2 as Barclays Center named highest-grossing venue in US". NY Post. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ↑ Burke, Kerry (25 February 2015). "Iron worker at Barclays Center crushed to death by steel beams: police". NY Daily News.
- ↑ "Atlantic Yards Land Use Improvement and Civic Project Modified General Project Plan" (PDF). June 23, 2009.
- ↑ "Brooklyn Arena Local Development Corporation PILOT Revenue Bonds, Series 2009 (Barclays Center Project)" (PDF). December 16, 2009.
- ↑ "Architectural Record: Barclays Center".
- ↑ "Barclays Center". SHoP Construction. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- 1 2 "Plaza at Barclays Center to Include New Transit Entrance with Green Roof, Landscaping and Open Space for Community Programming" (Press release). Barclays Center. September 28, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ↑ "6 ways to maximize home-field advantage in sports venue design". Building Design + Construction, Jon Niemuth, September 26, 2013.
- ↑ Bagli, Charles V. (March 17, 2011). "With Federal Case and Modular Building Plan, New Attention for Atlantic Yards Project". The New York Times.
- ↑ "No Indoor Bike Parking for Barclays Center Opening". DNAinfo.com. May 7, 2012.
- ↑ "Nets' New Arena Reportedly To Be Called "Barclays Center"". NY1. January 17, 2007. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
- ↑ Bagli, Charles V. (December 12, 2009). "Nets Arena in Brooklyn Atlantic Yards Fends Off Challenge". The New York Times. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ↑ "Barclays Center Project POS". p. 80. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ↑ Decambre, Mark (September 20, 2012). "Barclays Has No Game Despite Its $400M Arena Deal". New York Post. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
- ↑ "Nets Schedule". Brooklyn Nets. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
- ↑ "Nets Dunked By Sandy". New York Observer. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
- ↑ "2013 NBA Draft will be held in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
- ↑ Brennan, Sean location=New York. "Kentucky and Maryland agree to multi-year agreements to play games at Barclays Center in Brooklyn". Daily News.
- ↑ Katz, Andy (September 27, 2011). "A-10 to hold tourney at Barclays". Retrieved September 27, 2011.
- ↑ http://www.wralsportsfan.com/acc-postseason-tourney-headed-to-brooklyn-in-2017-2018/13513212/
- ↑ "WWE SummerSlam returns to Barclays Center in 2016 and 2017". WWE. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
- ↑ "Barclays Center To Host 2013 MTV Video Music Awards". NY1. Archived from the original on May 25, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
- ↑ "Luxury Box Holders Accuse Barclays Center Of Racism, File $4 Million Lawsuit". Gothamist. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ↑ Bragg, Chris (Feb 28, 2013). "Barclays Workers Fail to Break From Union". Crain's.
- ↑ Raskin, Alex (October 2, 2015). "The Good Views and Bad Views About Barclays Center". Wall Street Journal.
- ↑ Garber, Jonathan (October 12, 2015). "Brooklyn's Barclays Center might have the worst seat in American professional sports". Business Insider.
- ↑ Fuchs, Jeremy (February 3, 2016). "Islanders tackling many challenges during first season in Brooklyn". Sports Illustrated.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barclays Center. |
Preceded by Prudential Center |
Home of the Brooklyn Nets 2012–present |
Succeeded by current |
Preceded by Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
Home of the New York Islanders 2015–present |
Succeeded by current |
Preceded by Staples Center |
MTV Video Music Awards 2013 |
Succeeded by The Forum |
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Coordinates: 40°40′57.54″N 73°58′28.88″W / 40.6826500°N 73.9746889°W