Barclays Center

Brooklyn's home for the Nets, Liberty, and world-class events.

Barclays Center is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Brooklyn in the United States. It is home to the New York Liberty of the WNBA and the Brooklyn Nets of the NBA. The arena also hosts concerts, conventions and other sporting and entertainment events. It is part of the Pacific Park complex at Atlantic Avenue, next to the Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center subway station and directly above the LIRR's Atlantic Terminal. The arena opened on September 28, 2012 and its naming rights are held by Barclays. It is owned by the State of New York's Empire State Development authority through a public entity named the Brooklyn Arena Local Development Corporation. It is leased and managed by entities controlled by Brooklyn Nets owner Joseph Tsai.

Quick Facts

Address: 620 Atlantic Avenue
Location: Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Groundbreaking: March 11, 2010
Opened: 21 September 2012
Owner: Empire State Development (State of New York) via Brooklyn Arena Local Development Corporation
Operator: BSE Global; ASM Global
Architect: AECOM (Ellerbe Becket); SHoP Architects
Project manager: Forest City Realty Trust

Lore & Background

The arena was conceived by Bruce Ratner via his company, Forest City Realty Trust. He acquired the New Jersey Nets in 2004 for $300 million to move them to the Pacific Park development. The arena experienced significant hurdles during its development, including community resistance, lawsuits over eminent domain, and financing issues due to the Great Recession. Groundbreaking occurred on March 11, 2010, and the arena opened on September 21, 2012, with some 200 protesters attending. The first event was a sold-out Jay-Z concert on September 28, 2012.

Reader's Guide

The arena is located at Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, next to the Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center subway station and above the LIRR's Atlantic Terminal. It hosts Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty games, as well as concerts and other events. For hockey, capacity is 15,795 with asymmetrical seating. The arena passed Madison Square Garden as the highest-grossing US venue for concerts and family shows (November 2012–May 2013).

Did You Know?

The arena's naming rights were originally agreed at $400 million for 20 years in 2007, then renegotiated to $200 million due to the economic slump.
The New York Islanders announced in October 2012 they would move to Barclays Center in 2015, but the arena was built mainly for basketball.
On February 24, 2015, an ironworker was killed when four joists fell on him while helping install the arena's green roof.
Joe Tsai completed full acquisition of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center on September 18, 2019.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do the Brooklyn Nets play their home games?

The Brooklyn Nets call Barclays Center their home court, located in the borough of Brooklyn within New York City. This multi-purpose arena officially opened its doors on September 21, 2012, marking a new era for the franchise away from New Jersey.

What happens at Barclays Center besides basketball?

Beyond NBA games, the facility frequently hosts major concerts, conventions, and various entertainment productions. Its inaugural event was actually a performance by Jay-Z on September 28, 2012, shortly after opening.

How do fans travel to Barclays Center?

The arena sits within the Pacific Park complex directly over the Long Island Rail Road’s Atlantic Terminal. Fans can also access it easily via the adjacent Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center subway station.

Do other teams play at Barclays Center?

While primarily known as the Nets' home, it also serves as the arena for the WNBA’s New York Liberty team. Both franchises have shared this venue since its debut in late 2012.