A Barclays state of mind
As I sat in the Barclays Center on April 11 for Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitzs State of the Borough Address, I marveled at how just two years earlier it had been nothing but a hole in the ground. For all the good my former boss did for Brooklyn over the past 12 years, Barclays will certainly be one of his biggest legacies.
It is hard to believe that its only been eight months since Barclays opened. The arena has become such an integral part of borough life that it seems as if it has always been here. I am a frequent visitor, thanks to the fact that I am a Nets season-ticket holder and have attended numerous concerts, including Jay-Z, Barbra Streisand and Andrea Bocelli.
Barclays has given Brooklynites as well as those living on Staten Island and Long Island the chance to attend world-class sporting and entertainment events without having to travel into Manhattan. When the arena opened in September, I hailed it as an incredible day for the Brooklyn business community. My friends at Forest City Ratner and the Nets have done a great job promoting local businesses and being a good neighbor.