Brothers Charles and Bruce Ratner were on hand, congratulating each other while New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, and Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz, were among those helping to cut the ribbon at the Center while Thomas L. Kalaris, Eexecutive chairman of Americas Barclays, brought opening remarks. Protesters also showed up at the ribbon cutting to bring attention to the promise of housing that is yet to come since the focus has been to date only on the arena. Represented in masks by the protestors were Governor Andrew Cuomo, Chairman and CEO of Forest City Companies Bruce Ratner, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn Nets Owner Mikhail Pokhorov New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Former New York Governor George Pataki, Chairman of Forest City Enterprises Charles Ratner, and Former NY Attorney Elliot Spitzer.
Other government officials and community leaders were on hand to mark the official unveiling of Barclays Center, the first building that is part of the Atlantic Yards development in Brooklyn.
The state-of-the art facility, designed by SHoP Architects and AECOM, will open to the public on September 28th with the first of eight sold-out concerts by JAY Z. (Hayden Roger Celestin images)
