At the groundbreaking for the Nets’ new Brooklyn arena today, Gov. Paterson got some closure for what he says was one of the darkest times of his youth — the Nets’ trade of Julius Erving to Philadelphia in 1976.
Dr. J’s departure was “one of the worst days of my life — before I became governor,” Paterson cracked at the groundbreaking for the Nets’ new arena in Brooklyn.
The line got a big roar of applause and a standing ovation from the crowd — no doubt a lift for a governor whose approval rating hit 21 percent in a recent Quinnipiac poll.
Paterson’s woes were also the basis of a sly dig by Mayor Bloomberg at the groundbreaking for the $1 billion project that will return professional sports to Brooklyn for the first time in 53 years.
“I want to buy tickets,” Bloomberg cracked — drawing a laugh from Paterson himself.
Work began several weeks ago on the arena, to be called the Barclays Center, after the British bank that owns the naming rights. It’s part of the larger $4.9 billion Atlantic Yards project, which will bring 16 commercial and residential high rises to Prospect Heights.
Today’s groundbreaking was a celebration for developer Bruce Ratner, who has pushed ahead despite a poor economy, a change in architects and 34 lawsuits seeking to shut down the entire project.
Citing estimates of the project’s economic impact — the arena alone is expected to bring the city $400 million in tax revenue over the next 30 years — Bloomberg said the delays won’t matter in the long term.
“No one will remember how long it took — only that it made a difference,” Bloomberg said.
The arena, he said, “is the first piece of what will be one of the largest private investments and job generators in Brooklyn’s history.”
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz claimed a big helping of credit for the project, which he said “began as a dream I had of bringing major league sports back to Brooklyn, which lost those bums, the Dodgers, 53 years ago.”
“We are thrilled to be getting not only the Barclays Center and the Nets, but affordable housing, union jobs and the economic development,” said Markowitz.
The sleek, clamshell-shaped arena, designed by architects Ellerbe Becket and SHoP, Architects, is about 200,000 square feet smaller than the original design by starchitect Frank Gehry, who was fired last year to cut costs.
Despite having to shift away from Gehry’s design, Ratner seems to like the new design — he called it “cool, gorgeous and spectacular.”
It’ll seat 19,000 people for concerts and 18,000 for basketball — and includes 104 luxury suites that’ll sell for an average $265,000 a year. Nets co-owner Jay-Z has already bought one of the pricier suites, which go for $540,000.
Jay-Z, who appeared at the event with his wife Beyonce, said he was “very proud” to be bringing a team to Brooklyn.
Barclays Center is to be ready for the Nets’ 2012 season.
Protesters are still hoping to stall the arena and the rest of the project, and about a hundred of them gathered a few blocks from yesterday’s ceremony.
They wore masks meant to depict some of the public officials attending the groundbreaking. One protestor, playing Markowitz, presented a proclamation declaring March 11, 2010 as “The Destruction of Brooklyn’s Soul Day in Brooklyn USA.”