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BROOKLYN WELCOMES THE BARCLAYS CENTERA3SEPTEMBER 21–27, 2012Photo by Stefano GiovanniniWELCOMEAnd now … here’s your Barclays Center!Community NewspaperGroup is proud to raisean egg cream to the biggestachievement to hitthe borough of churches sinceDem Bums made their debut in1890 as the “Bridegrooms,” andthe Brooklyn Academy of Musicopened its doors to the public 18years later — the opening of theBarclays Center at Flatbush andAtlantic avenues.We’re celebrating this excitingand historic time with aspecial pull-out section packedwith informative reports, schedules,and tidbits about the thrillingconcerts and events headingyour way, starting on Sept. 28.The stellar lineup includes adozen boxing events promotedby ring great Oscar De La Hoya,a Disney ice extravaganza, anda blockbuster fall season loadedwith must-see bands, includingthe Who, Journey, Rush, and theSmashing Pumpkins, who are setBreaking down the Barclays CenterFun facts about Brooklyn’s biggest entertainment destinationDid you know that the BarclaysCenter contains more than18,000 seats, four bars, threeclubs, and 54 restrooms? Hereare some other fun facts aboutBrooklyn’s newest, and biggest,entertainment destination.The arena:• Has 18,200 seats split betweenan upper and lower bowl.• There are 4,400 club seats.• It has 101 suites named“Brownstone,” “Loft,” and“Vault” suites, with four partysuites and two conference suites.• Has 54 restrooms.• Located below street level,so elephants will have to takeelevators to get to it when thecircus is in town.Retail• There will be eight streetaccessibleretail stores, includingthe Nets Team Shop.• Three novelty merchandiseoutlets can be found throughoutthe arena — two fixed standson the main concourse and oneportable location on the upperconcourse.Exterior• The weathering steel facadeof the arena is made up of 12,000steel panels.• More than 600 tons of steelsheets were used to create theseunique panels.• Approximately 1,900 lightemittingdiodes are installedwithin the panels to illuminatethe facade at night.• There is a 360-degree marqueeon the “oculous,” or eye atthe entrance to the arena.Concessions,restaurants, and bars• There are 23 concessionstands and 27 concession cartspeppered throughout the stadium.• There will be four bars,four lounges, three clubs, and arestaurant.to seize the stage for a spooktacularHalloween howl-fest.It’s astounding that it’s beennine years, one month, and 20days since developer Bruce Ratnerannounced that he was consideringbuying the Nets andrelocating them to Brooklyn aspart of a larger revitalizationproject.That was back on Aug. 3, 2003,and despite the obstacles — let’sface it, there have been enoughof them to fill a basketball court!— the spectacular vision for aBrooklyn sports team to play ina Brooklyn arena, complementedby world-class entertainment, refusedto waver or diminish.We invite you now, our faithfulreaders without whom ourhard work would cease to matter,to enjoy the read as much aswe enjoyed writing it, and join usin extending a hearty Brooklyncheer to our newest collective asset— the Barclays Center.