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Yesterday, officials welcomed Barclays as the winner in the $400 million naming rights derby for Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards project. The NY Times reports that the Nets looked at various entities to pitch the idea of becoming lucky one to pay lots of money to have its name on the Frank Gehry-designed arena and decided Barclays Bank "needed a game changer, that they don’t have as big a presence or brand recognition here as in the U.K." As they say, a sucker is born every minute!
We wonder how interested American corporations would have been - and how much Ratner was holding out for. Given that there are many lawsuits pending and prickly feelings from the community, anyone considering to be a part of the arena would have to think a few times before committing.
While the deal makes Ratner very rich, Barclays history is being questioned. The Brooklyn Paper notes that London-based Barclays' history "is inextricably linked to some of mankind’s lowest moments," such as the 18th century slave trade, the Holocaust (freezing Jewish customers' bank accounts), South African apartheid (doing business with the government), and the civil war in Congo.
When a Brooklyn Paper reporter asked [Barclays President Robert] Diamond about his company’s historic connection to the slave trade and apartheid, [Mayor] Bloomberg jumped in and, answering for Diamond, said: “Barclays is a great corporation. We could not have picked a better one. Barclays is as good as we could have found.”City Councilwoman Letitia James said,"I am dismayed that Forest City Ratner has chosen to enter into a naming rights contract with Barclays Bank - a corporation with such a checkered past." The Daily News' Bob Raissman gets angry about the deal, writing "It was a day to celebrate greed and the latest money-making device for fat-cat owners."
Barclays, which has no US branches yet, says they will commit $2.5 million to renovating basketball courts and other play areas in Brooklyn. Also, the Barclays Center will host 200 non-basketball events a year. Watch out, MSG.
Top photograph of Nets investor Jay Z, aka Shawn Carter, and architect Frank Gehry and bottom photograph of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, all at the Barclays Center naming announcement at the Brooklyn Museum, by Kathy Willens/AP
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wait, Ratner did a deal with shitty people? Well, I never! I thought he was totally on the level.
Also, someone fucking kick Marty Markowitz in the taint.
Just like Con ED CEO Burke was a great guy, right mr. mayor?
disgusting.
anyway, isn't Diamond a Jewish name? Isn't that like a Jew driving a Benz?
"Barclays' history 'is inextricably linked to some of mankind’s lowest moments,'"...
... and some pretty fucking ugly buildings.
We [heart] Gersh.
And they have a cheesy website up already: http://www.barclayscenter.com/
"Given that there are many lawsuits pending and prickly feelings from the community, anyone considering to be a part of the arena would have to think a few times before committing."
Barclay name will get national exposure while Brooklynites opposing the arena will remain a local issue. Did you hear any opposition to Conseco Fieldhouse, ARCO Arena, American Airlines Center, Pepsi Center, TD Banknorth Garden, Verizon Center, United Center? Nope! Remember... there's no such thing as bad press.
i can't believe they paid $400 million for the naming rights.
From the beginning, when all the EIS reports kept stating that traffic would only be worse on game nights, I kept saying that it would be more than 41 nights a year. How could anyone simply believe that a huge, brand-new space like that would not attract events like concerts, circuses, conventions, etc.
I'm not surprised someone had the story about there being over 200 events a year! The traffic in that area will be bad EVERY night....
right "more money" because eminent domain is of little interest nationwide.
All I want to know is, who's the cutie standing behind Frank?
All I want to know is, who's the cutie standing behind Frank?
Jay-Z doesn't like to be called cutie.
and jay-z doesn't have to wear a nametag.
I like big buts and I cannot lie!
So Barclays is raping one area of Brooklyn and Clear Channel is sodomizing another one.
Methinks there are more than a few 'taints that need kicking!
you dummies never cease to amaze me; how long until the current incarnation of barclay's is considered clean? well then all you yuppies need to line up and habd over 20 -30% weekly to pay reparations to blacks and american indians. It'll cleanse your soul.
this is a win-win-win-win, all around with the added benefit of maybe handing that cocksucker dolan a royal enema, and nyc a respectful basketball team. jay z's a class act so far, good for him.
jay-z looks like a total herb and his music is wack now. i cant believe he hittin' beyonce. damn shame.
That photo shows the sanity of Mr. Markowitz.
He is also nuts in person.
Don't you have some Mets to bash?