Jay-Z Holds Inaugural Concert of the Barclays Center
The rapper kicks off a series of
eight inaugural shows at
the new venue in Brooklyn.
Jay-Z was the first concert artist to ever perform and hold a show at the newest mega venue in New York, the Barclays Center. The sold-out show, held last October 5, kicked off the series of planned concerts by different artists to be held in the new performance arena. The lineup includes Barbara Streisand and Bob Dylan. The rapper’s show was able to fully pack the venue, which can hold up to 18,200 people.
Jay-Z is a native of Brooklyn. He opened his show by defining it a as a ‘celebration of the borough,’ which he says he also hails from. He welcomed everyone to what he calls ‘his house.’ It was an opening note for the beginning of the artist’s set.
The Barclays Center is an addition to the huge venues for concerts and sports events in the city like Madison Square. The rust-colored arena has been facing years of protests prior to its construction at the heart of Brooklyn. The opening event was not spared from protests. Aside from Jay-Z’s fans, a number of activists also gathered in front of the venue prior to the scheduled gig.
The Barclays Center will also be the new home for the Nets, the NBA basketball team. This is expected to bring major American team sports to the area for the first time since 1957, when the popular baseball team Brooklyn Dodgers opted to go to southern California.
The first ever game in the state-of-the-art edifice is scheduled on November 1. It will be between the Nets and the New York Knicks. The anticipated sports event will put an end to a sports drought that has hit Brooklyn for more than 50 years.
Billions of dollars was spent to construct the arena. It will be the first phase of a planned massive development of Atlantic Yards. Protesters note that the development will be heavily subsidized with government money. It will also be the biggest construction project in Brooklyn. Some critics are afraid the development may possibly destroy the vibrant local community.
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