The lawsuits have come and gone–35 to be exact–and now it’s full speed ahead for the Barclays Center. Bruce Ratner’s grand plan has finally come to fruition, as Brooklyn will be able to call itself home to a major professional sports franchise for the first time since the Dodgers left the borough in 1957. The opposition was strong. Truth be told, there is still opposition. But once the doors open on Sept. 28, 2012, many will forget about the legal wrangling that went on for almost seven years.
This is more than just a basketball project. The Nets hope to attract everything from hockey and high school and college basketball to concerts. In fact, Golden Boy Promotions has already inked a deal with the Barclays Center for a monthly boxing series, while a deal is in place to bring Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus to Brooklyn. The Barclays Center expects to host more than 200 events annually.
Fans hoping to see the inside of the arena without having to take out a second mortgage will be happy to know 2,000 tickets will be priced at $15 and under.
All of the positive aspects notwithstanding, opinions have been mixed on how much the arena will help an already-thriving area of Brooklyn. As loud as the critics have been, no one can deny a large project is bound to bring tax revenue, jobs and, hopefully, a winning basketball team to the borough.