Showing posts with label Jay-Z. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jay-Z. Show all posts

Friday, September 28, 2012

Brooklyn Nets: 30 Pictures In 30 Days - Barclays Opens Tonight

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH




 
March 10, 2010
Jay-Z Fields Questions from YES Network
During Groundbreaking Ceremonies*
 
 
BARCLAYS CENTER
 
THE DOORS OPEN TONIGHT
"I got 99 problems but my team ain't one..."
 
 
SERIES: THIRTY PICTURES IN THIRTY DAYS
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thirty one months after groundbreaking,
Kings County's new arena is ready to host its first ever event.
Brooklyn's own Jay-Z kicks open the doors to Barclays Center tonight
with the first of eight concerts.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 





 
 
 
* YES/Jay-Z - BarclaysCenter.com a/o March 2010
Mike.BTB

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Brooklyn Nets: 30 Pictures In 30 Days - Barclays Minus 4 Days

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH




 
BROOKLYN NETS
 
 
 
 
BARCLAYS CENTER
 
T-Minus Four Days
"Walk Towards The Light"
 
 
 
SERIES: THIRTY PICTURES IN THIRTY DAYS
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Welcome to the 100 level, followed by a double layer of suites, capped off by the upper deck seating.  That's quite an incline..., isn't it?  The point of the picture however is to illustrate the rigging, dropped at the moment, which will suspend the light fixtures, and other lighting elements.  Jay-Z kicks off a string of concerts this Friday night.
 
 
 
 
 
Mike.BTB

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Brooklyn Nets: Thirty More Days Till Showtime

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH





September 28, 2012
 
BARCLAYS CENTER:
Thirty More Days Until Jay-Z Blows The Doors Wide Open.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Mike.BTB

Thursday, July 26, 2012

BKN Nets ~ Rivalry Versus Knicks Finally Has a Home in Brooklyn

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH








BROOKLYN NETS:  New York Knicks Scheduled to Cross the River and Help Inaugurate Nets Basketball Inside Barclays Center.


It's on!  Reports have it the first clash of the city's cagers will take place on November 1st inside the Barclays Center.  The Manhattan Knickerbockers will cross over the bridge and visit Brooklyn to open up the 2012-2013 regular season in the borough's brand spanking new arena.


The schedule makers must have found favor with the occasion of Brooklyn's first game and just might feel a lot like many fans in Kings County; excited and filled with anticipation.  I know the denizens of Brooklyn feel that way because I travel the borough extensively on a daily basis and talk to as many folks as I can on the subject of Nets/Knicks.  And so far I'm finding a preponderance of Brooklynites pledging their support for the Nets.  I wholly expect games at Barclays not to get over run by Knicks fans.  What happened in New Jersey over the years will not happen here.  I am overwhelmingly positive the Brooklyn Nets will enjoy a very distinct home-court advantage.  And they won't have to wait much longer.  Once the season is set to start, the rivalry will kick off right away.


The Hello Brooklyn campaign has made it to Broadway in a sense.  Joe Johnson looms large in the above billboard affixed to the M and J train Broadway El overlooking eastbound traffic on the  Brooklyn-Queen Expressway.  And in the pictures below, construction continues on Barclays Center which will stage as part of it's grand opening, a series of concerts held by the team's minority share owner; Jay-Z.


With Dwight Howard long out of the picture till at least January, Brook Lopez and Kris Humphfries are officially re-signed.  And I think the Nets will be bettor off for it.  In some applied news, the D-train subway stop formerly known as Atlantic Avenue/Pacific Street, will now be known simply as Barclays Center.  And another report says the Nets are actually trying to trademark the term - "Brooklyn's Backcourt"- which speaks of the tandem of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson.



Barclays Center ~ July 2012











Mike.BTB

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

NJ/BKN Nets ~ Believe The Hype

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH







N.J./BROOKLYN NETS:
Deron Williams Back Atop Flatbush Avenue.




Jay-Z gets an assisit during Lock-Out.
But Deron Williams is back at the point now.


During the NBA Lock-Out, Deron Williams had to be removed from the billboard campaigns promoting the Nets arrival in Brooklyn due later this year.  Entertainment mogal, team minority share owner, and proud new Papa - Jay-Z - had to step into the role of Flatbush Avenue front-man in his place.  But now the Nets' on-court star is back.  New Jersey's 2011-2012 All-Star Point Guard, Deron Williams, is back on top; on top of Basketball Boulevard, that is.  And this time, we're being told to BELIEVE THE HYPE.

On the court, there is some good news to report.  Brook Lopez is practicing again and is closer to making a return.  The Nets have also signed forward Andre Emmett from the D-League to a ten day contract.  He was second in the D-League in scoring this season.  To make room, Keith Bogans was waived by the team after having foot surgery.

Off the court, I'm sure you've heard by now, the New Jersey Devils will play the New York Islanders in an exhibition game at Barclays Center prior to the start of the 2012-2013 season.  It's only one game, but it seems like the possibilities are endless (?); that is if you can find a place to park.  The saga continues.


BARCLAYS CENTER:  February 2012


Atlantic Avenue



Rear View from Pacific Street



Dean Street Side






Mike.BTB

Sunday, October 16, 2011

BKN Nets ~ Twenty Months of Construction Later...

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH





BROOKLYN NETS  ~ Twenty Months After Ground-Breaking Day and a Change in Majority Ownership, Jay-Z Still Rules the Brooklyn Scene Since Day One.


After six years of planning and legal wrangling, Barclays Center is now in it's second Autumn of construction.  Twenty months ago, Ground Breaking Day 2010 officially kicked off the long fought, and long delayed project to build Brooklyn's new arena.  The brunch time ceremonies were conducted inside a prepared white tent where Bruce Ratner finally enjoyed a triumphant day before the Media.








It was more Bruce's show then.  He owned the team that was going to play in his new arena on this site he acquired.  This was all part of his greater plan to build Atlantic Yards.  Buying the team and announcing his intentions to move them to Brooklyn was one matter however.  How he was able to acquire the site was another.  And while he's still accountable for the greater Atlantic Yards portion of the project, as you know, the Nets have a new majority owner now; Mikhail Prokhorov.




But on this day back in March of 2010, Bruce Ratner and his minority-share partner in the New Jersey Nets; Jay-Z; were finally able to announce construction on the home for the first professional sports franchise in Brooklyn since the Dodgers left town, was actually beginning.




Flatbush Avenue ~ March 2010




Construction of the arena now fills a ground level void which existed because this is the site of the LIRR train yards below.  It's the same location once desired by Walter O'Malley for his Dodgers.  The location remained as just a big hole in downtown Brooklyn since the day O'Malley was denied and has served to do nothing but separate three neighborhoods from each other.  And that's something I think Jay-Z, Brooklyn's Marcy Housing native, can attest to.  What we also know in hindsight, is that O'Malley didn't necessarily have the neighborhoods' best interest in mind so much as him being able to have the new "Long Islander" have access to his club.  Where as Jay-Z comes from one of these very neighborhoods.








As was the case on Ground Breaking Day, with Jay-Z comes incredible mass appeal.  An appearance by Beyonce never hurts either.  Today, the officially soon to be Brooklyn Nets are tapping into their Partner, local and global resource, as best they can.  The Welcome To Brooklyn campaign is done.  The new thing is all about ACCESS now.  And so the billboards have been modified accordingly.  This billboard pictured features Jay-Z high atop Flatbush Avenue directly across the street from Barclays Center off Dean Street.



I was also pleased once we learned Jay-Z was the primary instigator for naming the team - Brooklyn Nets.  Promotional and marketing wise speaking, if he says it is good; then it is good!  But I also think the name is very appropriate.



His other request was to open the arena with a concert; perhaps multiple.  And why not?  He's been there since "Day One."





BARCLAYS CENTER:   at Flatbush Avenue, Dean Street, and 5th Avenue.




















Mike.BTB

Monday, September 26, 2011

The Hoops of Flatbush; THE BROOKLYN NETS



Kings County Cagers; thine name is: 
BROOKLYN NETS



And since today was unofficially declared Name Day, if you're not familiar already, the Nets portion of TheBrooklynTrolleyBlogger; 

..is titled:
THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH





In a little over one year from today, the Kings County Cagers will open the doors to begin
 Basketball at Barclays; and they will officially do so, as

THE BROOKLYN NETS. 


Photographed with permission;
Brooklyn Nets Jersey - Junior's Cafe at Flatbush Avenue



Get your Sharpies ready to mark your calendars.  The one year countdown has officially begun.  And as he begins to take on a more prominent role in the team's marketing and transitional stage, minority-share team owner Jay-Z made the announcement this morning himself.  After much speculation; scuttlebutt; and waste paper basket scavenger hunting for records of trade-mark filings..., the debate has been settled.  The team will brand it's Brooklyn home, and keep the organization's traditional name.  It's also now understood, the name was requested by Jay-Z himself.



Billboard; Flatbush Ave at Dean Street

 


 


Jay-Z made the official naming announcement this morning, while also unveiling the organization's plans to steal away some of the Knickerbocker fan base.  If you didn't catch page three of today's New York Post, do yourself a favor and go to NetsDaily.com for more comprehensive details of the Nets' plan to conquer not only on-the-fence Knick fans, but Wall Street also.  NetsDaily has been a good neighbor to me and has this ALL covered.  Check em out.









I offer you this.  -  Obviously, the Lock-Out has changed everything across the NBA landscape; even down to what signs the Nets have been posting around town.  The billboard pictured above featuring Jay-Z was rolled out a little prematurely by the Nets because due to the Lock-Out, teams were no longer allowed to use player representations in a team capacity.  Hence, the Deron Williams campaign was shelved.








Now, high above Flatbush Avenue, positioned directly across the street from Barclays Center between 5th Avenue and Pacific Street, is a glimpse into the next stage of Nets' marketing.  The new signage is a radical departure from the last ad-campaign featuring Deron Williams, and Jay-Z, with an artist rendering of a completed Barclays Center in the background.



You know what they say; black is never out of style.  And so, boldly, with big white all-cap lettering, WELCOME TO BROOKLYN remains the theme.  But now the question is asked:

WANT ALL ACCESS?





Vague; isn't it?  The bottom line gives their netsbasketball  tumblr/facebook/twitter accounts.



So I'll quote Rich Calder's article from today's N.Y. Post pictured above:
Net CEO Bret Yormark said:  "Jay-Z will be the face of the team's fourth-quarter campaign" to sell 4,400 "All Access" premium seats at the rapidly rising 18,000 seat arena.

There ya go.  Want All Access?  I'm sure it will cost a pretty penny.  No wonder they're trying to attract the Wall Street types.  And if that's sarcasm you sense, that's because I sense it too.  I digress.  For me, things of that nature are for another day.  I will consider the ramifications to my disposable income when I come to that proverbial (Brooklyn) bridge some time in the near future.  But not now; not today.


All things are well in this respect; I think we (area fans and interested Brooklynites alike) are on the ground floor of history.  And with every development; any development really; that brings closer the day Brooklyn makes it's return to major league sports, I'm contented.  I've said many times in this blog, if you're a big fan, don't wait around for someone else to write this story for you.  It's here; you're here; it's happening; get close to it and write your own story.  Then..., pass it down.  That's how you start a tradition....(again).



I've also said, the Brooklyn brand; and now that's it's official; the Brooklyn Nets brand and jersey, will soon be one of the hottest selling items with respect to NBA properties.  Period!  And with the right player; Theee Hottest.  I stand by that.  And you may not get the sense now.  But I assure you, players will want to play here.  They will come and speak of the Borough and the jersey in that order.  You will see.  And I stand by that also.


Speaking of being on the ground floor, I had good fortune (and reason) to be inside the footprint of Barclays Center construction site last week.  While there, I managed to snap a few shots of the on-going construction of the Brooklyn Nets' new home.





















As far as the Lock-Out, the two parties are supposed to meet again Tuesday.  The NBA Office has already cancelled a portion of the exhibition schedule.  And the consensus says, there's no deal in sight.



...Just another day in the neighborhood.





Mike.BTB

Thursday, July 14, 2011

BKN/NJ NETS ~ Jay-Z Takes His Place Over Flatbush


From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

 
 
BROOKLYN NETS:  "H.O.V.A" Playing a More Prominent Role For Nets At Barclays Center.

Over the last year, Nets' guard, Deron Williams, has been featured most prominently around downtown Brooklyn in the team's signage campaign.  It now seems as if the Nets are entering a new phase in their billboard blitz.

In now, the second summer of construction on Barclays Center; which officially puts Barclays' opening at one year away as the arena is scheduled to hold events in the Summer of 2012; - the team's minority share owner, Jay-Z, is taking on a more visible role in his team's transition to Brooklyn; ....a much more visible role.



POST SCRIPT ~ NetsDaily.com via Twitter, told me the reson why Deron Williams was pulled from the billboard campaign was due to the Lock-Out.  And added...,

"....Jay-Z was ideal and necessary."


Above Dean Street and Flatbush Avenue, and across the street from the construction site of the Nets' future home, Jigga Man himself now sounds the call...,



WELCOME TO BROOKLYN









BARCLAYS CENTER
July 14, 2011


Views from Flatbush Avenue.






Looking towards 6th Avenue and Atlantic Avenue from Dean Street.





View from 6th Avenue.



Mike.BTB