Barclays Center

My first visit to the Barclays Center was this past Wednesday to see Muse/​X-​Ambassadors. This arena is so easy to get to! What a pleasure to have this place around.
The best way to get here is obviously the NUMEROUS mass transit options. You have the 2,3,B, D, N, R, Q, LIRR, etc, etc. All you have to do is follow the sings that say Barclays Center exit and bam! The exit leaves you right in front of the center! Can’t get any more convenient than that! Since I’ve only been there once, I can only say what I experienced the one time. Maybe it’s different every time there is an event there. On Wednesday they had two lines to go into the place. If you have a general admission ticket, they have you go to the separate Atlantic Avenue entrance. A HUGE plus for me is that everything is fast and on time here. They let you in an hour before the time on the ticket and they are exactly prompt with that. They have lots of people working here. Very organized. Your bags get searched and you have to go through metal detectors but that’s the norm by now. I just don’t understand why they questioned what my camera was but didn’t pay no mind to my mace??!
Tons of eating options here. I didn’t try any so I can’t comment on them. The place is huge! They have signs everywhere directing you to where your seating section is. If you still get lost, there are tons of people around to help you. The escalator that takes you up to the 200 seating area is huge, roomy and LONG! If you have any height phobia, my suggestion is to NOT get any seats in the 200 level. The aisles are very narrow so you can hardly pass if people are sitting. It’s quite annoying having to get up and down every time someone wants to go to the bathroom, get food, etc. If your seats are way up in the boonies, be prepared for a long and slightly nerve wracking hike! It just feels like you’re gonna tip right over. Seating is tight up there, yet fairly comfortable. Even though you are high up, you still have a great view of the stage. Stage setup and sound are amazing. Show started right on time. They play entertaining music before the show starts.
I HIGHLY suggest that upon exit that you let everyone mob out before you leave. Give at least 15 – 20 minutes for the crowd to pass. You’ll have drunken idiots pushing down the narrow stairs from up so high. An accident waiting to happen. Bathrooms are big, clean and orderly. The big surprise is seeing the MASSIVE crowd to the subway entrance upon exit. Lots of police around but they don’t seem to want to be bothered. If you have the money, take a cab out of there or walk a few blocks to any bus. The crowds into the subway and on every subway platform after a show are ridiculous.
I look forward to my next show at Barclays Center. The pro’s definitely out weigh the con’s!

Barclay’s is amazing!
Ok, so it depends on your seats and the performer.
We went to see Kygo and Mo and their show was stellar!
Thanks to AE, we got tickets in 115 section. So we sat facing the performers, the sound was perfect and we were close enough to the floor seats that we got to touch the beach balls.
If you have heard Major Lazer and Mo’s Lean On, you know what Mo sounds like. Her voice was even better live. Her pitch was on point and her songs sounded soulful. She definitely performed with 110%.
The opening act, Conrad Sewell was a little lacking in confidence and he had a hard time rallying the room. (Unfortunately for him, the concert hall was only ¹⁄₃ full).
But Kygo was a perfect performer.
Humble, dressed in a white T-​shirt, he played all his songs with precision and passion.
He had guest singers for most of his songs. He played all our favorites (eg. here for you) and then he ended with Firestone and stole the show. Amazing amazing time. I danced all night, enjoyed the music and introduced my hubby to a new genre!

The Barclay’s Center is soooo much better than Madison Square Garden… and I’m a Manhattan person. Yeah, the Garden has all the history, but the layout, the seats, the views, the food, the drinks, all suck. The location is great, but that’s about it.
I’ll take the Barclay’s Center over MSG any day of the week! Way better!
So, I’ve been here 3 times for three different events, and enjoyed them all.
1. Basketball Game– to see the Brooklyn Nets vs NY Knicks. Had great seats and the views were awesome. Also, had seat side waiter service, so that was pretty special. And the halftime show that the self-​proclaimed «urban dancers» put on was really cool. Very Brooklyn-​esque!
2. Hockey Game– to see the NY Islanders vs Columbus Blues. Also had phenomenal seats — very first row in the corner behind the net. We were so close that one of the times, the puck flew above the glass and fell directly into my ex-girlfriend’s purse… it was like a once-​in-​a-​lifetime event! We couldn’t believe it, and she ended up with a cool souvenir. We also had access to the Calvin Klein Food Space and the Billboard Lounge which had good food and drink options.
3. Concert– to see Kygo, who is a Norwegian DJ and he put on an awesome show. Went with a Norwegian friend of mine and some of her friends and we had a blast there. We weren’t that close to the stage, in fact, fairly far back, but it was perfect cause we had room to dance and the sound wasn’t too loud, as when you’re on the floor. Great place to see a show!
Overall, this is an Awesome Sports or Concert venue and blows Madison Square Garden out of the water! And that’s coming from a Manhattan guy, so I feel like I’m turning my back on my backyard venue, MSG, but just being honest… if you get a chance to come here, please do!

Barclays to me is better for concerts than sporting events. I recently went to a Brooklyn Nets game, seats were great, Section 1 and they played the Spurs so not shocked of a blowout but concert setup still seemed better. For basketball, you should try to avoid section 200, now however since the team is so bad you can get good last minute seats. If you also have a fear of heights, Section 210 or 200 is not your best option. There is tons of walking to get to your upper section and narrow isles, I mean super narrow isles. Major design flaw in the upstairs section to get to your seats. $ 6 sodas at the concession do not help make your experience any better either.

Beautiful arena but not a nets fan. Sat in section 13 courtside for calvin klein club. Had some amazing food. The people who work there are so sweet and nice. Lets go heat !

I came to see the Kygo concert and was disappointed that a lot of the food joints were closed. I hadn’t had dinner yet and was sad that the only real options
available were chicken fingers and fries. Also, the food items available on the first floor were not the same as some offered at the second floor even though it was the same vendor, this was frustrating since I was really hoping for a black and white cookie. It sucked to pay 10 bucks for cold and dry chicken fingers (3 small pieces) and soggy Nathan’s fries, but hey a hungry belly will eat almost anything.
When my friend and I finally got to our seats, granted not the best because we were pretty far up and on the right side of the stage so there were so many things blocking our view, we were uncomfortable in the cramped space. Then special guest Mo came in the sound in her performance was awful. The bass was too powerful made me nauseous and dizzy with all the bright lights that literally burned my eyes.
The highlight of course was Kygo, the reason I was there in the first place, thankfully the sound and lighting for his performance was impeccable and he definitely stole the show. Brooklyn is a far off commute on a Thursday late night, took me an 1hr 40mins to get to Astoria thanks to track changes! Needless to say I think I’m too traumatized to return… Will need to be a super incredibly amazing performer or free concert for me to do so.

Whenever I write a review for a business I try so hard to keep things fair. Unbiased. Impartial, if you will. But it’s tough going into the Barclays Center and remaining unbiased. I’m a Knicks fan… and the Nets? Ugh, what a mess*. I’ve got a lot of opinions about them… but last night wasn’t about me, or the Knicks or the Nets. It was about LeBron. King James. The [lets-​be-​honest-​here] only reason we bought tix to the Nets game — was to see the man play.
But in-​between all of those flashy moves and plays I was able to really check out the arena itself. Barclays has a lot going for it. despite having a miserable team play there. Sorry I digress…
Let’s concentrate on the positives here:
+ Getting in the place is easy. Lots of people directing traffic, and plenty of metal detectors so the whole process moved quickly.
+ The staff is nice and efficient. Scanning tickets while welcoming me to the Barclays and giving me directions on where my seat is — what service!
+ The programs are a nice touch. Featuring info and photos about the Nets as well as their opponents. Scrapbookers will love this.
+ There’s never a dull moment in the Barclays — before the game there were dance performances; halftime featured a live DJ; and during each time out The Brooklynettes came to dazzle us with their dancing as well as toss t-​shirts into the quiet crowd.
+ The building itself is nice. Say what you will about the exterior — the interior was nicely done. The concourse is open and clean. The seats are comfy. There really isn’t a bad view**. The flooring down on the court is really cool — harringbone wood and then subway tiles on the perimeter? Fabulous touch. The exposed ceiling is pretty cool too. And no one can deny the fact that the sound is excellent in the arena. I’ve heard its pretty amazing for concerts.
Yes, the building does have its quirks but overall — I had a great time at the game. LeBron’s 4 dunks in the first half didn’t hurt either. Lets go Cavs! No that’s not right… Knicks! No… Nets?!
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* I understand that this is a bit ridiculous coming from a Knicks fan, they’ve surely had some terrible games in the last several years but we can debate the teams on another day…
** For basketball games. Same cannot be said for hockey games.

Came to Barclays for a Brooklyn Nets game and came away very impressed with how nice this new arena is. However, there were a couple of things that I didn’t like about this arena.
Not wanting to spend a whole lot of money for Nets tickets, I bought some cheap last minute nosebleed seats in the upper level (Section 200’s). The seats up there gives the term «nosebleeds seats» a whole new meaning.
Okay, here are my issues with my experience at Barclays:
First off, going up the stairs in the upper level is like climbing a very steep mountain. Also, there is absolutely NO LIGHTS in this part of the arena, so walking up those stairs can be very dangerous because you can’t see where you going.
Secondly: now while the seats are nice and cushioned (and pretty comfortable), what I didn’t like about it is that for a 6 foot tall dude, there wasn’t much leg room when sitting (true story: the dude sitting in front of me fell asleep during the game and was tilting his head back where it seemed like I was tea bagging him). Even if you stood up to let people get through to their seats, there isn’t much room for them to maneuver around you to get to their seats. One bad move, and you can be tumbling down to Jay-Z’s legs down on the court (I kid, I kid).
Other than those issues, I thought the arena was NICE! When you walk in before you go through security, it feels like you’re walking into a club.
Got a chance to walk around the concourse up in the 200’s and on the main concourse and came away VERY impressed with how nice it is and how much food option there was. The food price is pretty much what you would expect at a professional sporting event. The staff there were all helpful and friendly. I love how easily accessible this arena is due to the train station being right there.

We came here for the Ranger/​Islander game and man was it crowded. We expected a crowd but MSG has a better grasp on how to handle so many people at once. We waiting in line to get into another line to finally enter the center. Yes the Barclays is a beautiful peace of architecture but the main entrance, which 99% of people use gets ridiculously crowded.
MSG also has better food options inside the arena. Barclays does have a pretty easy location to get to being next door to Atlantic Terminal and perpendicular to 5^th ave which has plenty of bars and restaurants with all different types of cuisine. The center itself though has disappointing food options in my opinion. On-​top of that, I waited over 20 minutes in the popcorn stand line to finally get popcorn and somehow, they ran out of water. They didn’t get water from anywhere else who was selling so I had to go and wait on yet another line just for water this time.
Basketball games are much better than hockey games at the Barclays Center. I suggest seeing the Nets before you go to an Islander game because the center was built for concerts and basketball, not hockey.

I went to the Barclays Center for my second Spurs vs Nets game last night. It is very easy to get to by train and the arena is modern & nice inside. We had great seats both games so I easily enjoyed both events.
However I noticed a significant difference in the food this time. The first game I went to was the same time last year (January 2015) and I remember overindulging and really enjoying the food. The year, not so much. The burgers were small, fries weren’t seasoned and my husband didn’t even like his BLT. It was disappointing, but in the end we were there for the basketball not the food.

Great seats, great price.
Close to home and never a dull moment in brooklyn. Let’s go nets !!!

Mr. Joy brought me to Barclays Center since he won tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters.
The game was alright. I give them an A for their acrobatic skills and efforts in humor, but maybe could improve the entertainment factor a bit more.
We sat in one of the suites. The seats are nice and comfortable. It was also nice to have empty seats next to us. At first, I didn’t know we were sitting in a suite, so after many different kind staff members guided us through elevators and walked through the endless suite level floor, I was pleasantly surprised. The elevator attendants are also very helpful.
The food selection is not bad. Typical expensive stadium food … burgers, sausages, hot dogs, fries, sodas, combinations of the aforementioned. Although, they seem to have other options too, like Southern, Cuban, Mexican, etc.
It would have been nice if the food vendors on the suite level were open, but I understand that it was not a particularly busy day, so I guess it wouldn’t have been worth it for them to open the rest of the establishments. Good thing the bar outside of our suite was open. The walk to the main concourse and back was a bit far. I didn’t mind that since it was our first time at this stadium, so it was nice to explore. Plus, the venue itself is quite clean and spacious. NYC really makes you appreciate clean, large spaces.

I’ve never watched a professional basketball game before. And… I guess I still haven’t! But, I did get to watch the Harlem Globetrotters perform and it was great.
This is a very nice venue with the same assortment of food stalls you’d have at other stadiums (hot dogs, fries, burgers, nachos, etc).
We were lucky to win a pair of tickets and get to sit in a suite. It’s a little difficult to figure out which elevator will take you to your suite, but the concierge are very nice and will take you there. It just gets a bit much after the first time you’re guided there. You’ll walk miles in this place!
Looking forward to the next event I go to here!

Been here before for Brooklyn Nets games. I was very impressed with this arena. Sound system in this place is very good, as it should be for a newer arena. The food stalls here are nicer than the typical ballpark junk — for example, they have companies like Calexico, Fatty Cue BBQ, and Junior’s in here. Easy accessible by mass transit as well with almost every major subway line and the LIRR stopping here.
The only I don’t like about this place is the horrible rust color they used for the outside. Guess it was to make the place look gritty and hip, but instead it looks stupid.

Located in Brooklyn and home to the New York islanders ice hockey team and I think another team but I didn’t recognise the team shirt.
It’s got a subway station stop right out front, literally walk out of the station taking the Barclays centre is right there.
I was there for ice hockey, way up in the nose bled section so thought until I got in there and saw it went even further up. In the upper seating area it is quite steep so if you don’t like heights take you time on the stairs.
Seats were nice and comfy and the big screens hanging down from the middle means even if you have a partly obstructed view you can still see the action going on down below.
The food prices are ridiculous but it is a sport arena so kind of what I expected but still a bit more than I wanted. You can’t take food or drink past security. The lines to get in can get large fast close to game time but security does fairly well to keep the line moving.
All the staff inside were very nice and helpful to me with directions to find my sector and seat in time to see the game start. Price wise I paid a fair amount for the seat but think if you got in earlier than the day before you could get a better bargain for similar seats
Nice experience to see the ice hockey, it’s a multi purpose venue so does concerts and other sporting events too from what I could tell

An awesome arena to visit. Such a beautiful venue and its in BROOK-​LYN!!! BROOK-​LYN!!!
The Barclays Center during the day looks like its rusted, but it was built that way intentionally. Some kind of special metal. During the night, it is absolutely gorgeous. Definitely worth taking a picture.
For Basketball,
Terrific views all around the arena. There is no bad seat in the house. The way it was built was to be close to the action. Even if you have last row seats in the nose bleed, you still feel close to the action.
For Hockey,
Different story. When we walk into the arena, if you have seats near the goal closest to the main entrance then you are going to have a really restricted view. You will not see the goal near the main entrance way. That includes 200s. Any other seats will give you great views of the hockey rink. Please be careful when picking out seats for the games.
For any other events,
Great views. Trust me you will have a great time at the events. Fun times.
For food options,
I recommend getting the…
Cuban Sandwich, Burrito, and Chicken Bowl from Habana.
Buffalo Boss wings from Buffalo Boss.
Any pizza from Williamsburg Pizzeria. Fresh made pizza.
Fish Tacos or Loaded Nachos from Calexico.
Chicken Sandwiches from the Southern Kitchen.
Turkey Sandwich from Juniors Suite Level.
Gaining 5 lbs with that.
Also good options for alcoholic drinks.
If you don’t feel like spending a lot at the arena, then get food around the arena. There are plenty of restaurants and food vendors around.
Location wise. It is a good area. With easy access to the subway. Multiply lines. You can get to the arena via LIRR or MTA Bus. You can drive, but it might be difficult to find parking unless you are willing to pay for the parking lot.
Great place to visit all around. Delicious food options. Recommend checking it out at least once. Definitely check the arena out for basketball, hockey, concerts, events, etc. Bring your girlfriend, wife, kids, family, friends, bring everyone. It’s great for everyone.
LETS GO BROOKLYN!

With key investor and Nets owner, Russian businessman Mikhail Prokhorova, I fully expected the food to be top notch with Russian specialties such as vareniki’s, and to make it unique for Barclay’s that could label it as «Meat filled dumplings on-​a-​stick». I mean, who wouldn’t get that? Instead, they offer burgers, dogs, sausages, popcorn, chicken fingers to the general public. Not great. About a dozen beer choices from various vendors made this a nice experience!
Another positive was the Smoked White Cheddar Brat for $ 8.50. Wow. The brat was great, and the bun was nearly better. Topped with deli mustard, sauerkraut, and relish — and mmmm mmmm. Tomatoes and lettuce are also in the common area, but no onions. They are against onions here at Barclay. Minus ½ star for that, but plus 1.0 for believing in good breath.
It’s a 3.5 star rounded up. Clean, small, easy to enter, easy to navigate. Commute by subway is easy, with Atlantic avenue stop right at the foot of the arena, and lots of trains stop there (2, 3, Q, N, and more).
Going to a Nets game, well sorry, but it’s an inferior product, ahem, a product in the making. Islanders play here, too, and concerts could be a good call. The upper deck is very far up, I would recommend paying extra for a lower than bald eagle view.

I have been to Barclays on three occasions and for various events.
–Sept 2012 when it opened for the Jay-​Z concert
–December 2014 for a Nets game vs. Spurs
–November 2015 for Disney on Ice
On all three occasions, I was fortunate to have pretty good seats, so no complaints about what I couldn’t see. The venue is nice and a great attraction for Brooklyn. As I am a life long Brooklynite, we patiently waited for the construction to finally be complete.
I have two issues with the Barclays… I wish they did a better job of food vendors and they are overally expensive and the quality of the food is not great. Yes, I know, all sporting events usually have the same options, and they are all pricey, but at least let the food be good. I ordered a burger, fries (2), hot dog, drink, and popcorn for a whopping $ 49! I remember for the Jay-​Z concert I got four beers, chicken tender combo with fries, burger and fries and it was over $ 70 bucks — I just think it’s highway robbery.
Also, while when you do find an employee they are very helpful and show an eagerness to assist you… They are often hard to find or they are having conversations with each other and I don’t want to feel like a nuisance.
Overall, great venue, great addition to my borough of Brooklyn, it’s centrally located downtown and near every traIn and LIRR. However, I would strongly encourage you to eat at Shake Shack across the street or one of the various other eateries in the area before your event.

Barclays Center is such a beautiful stadium! I came here 2 weeks ago for a Nets vs. Sixers preseason game and it was such an awesome experience. It was a plus because we sat in section 23 which is super close to the court. The neighborhood is well kept and clean, and the stadium from the inside felt like a modern airport. Food is expensive, drinks are expensive, but you gotta do what you gotta do. If you’re hungry, don’t think about the prices for a few minutes.
95% of the staff were super friendly, but I asked one staff person where the bathroom was (I have never been to this stadium or any basketball game for that matter) and rudely she told me ‘it’s right in front of you, just keep walking’. It was actually not right in front of me, otherwise I would not have asked. But, whatever. It was a great experience overall since I’ve always wanted to come here!

I’ve always hated the Nets. As a god fearing 76ers fan, I am obligated to loathe any and all teams that get in the way of our quest for a title; while we’re no threat now, there once was a time… and what a magical time it was. Truth be told, I actually enjoyed the Starbury era… but habitual Sixers killers such as the über overrated Vince Carter and the «how-​is-​he-​so-​good-​I-​think-​he-​sucks» Jason Kidd pretty much ruined any kind of neutral feelings that one could have for our Atlantic division rivals.
Needless to say, I understand that this is a review for the current home of the «New Age» Brooklyn Nets (and not a review of the despicable New Jersey Nets). And I have to admit, I enjoyed this stadium quite a bit, in spite of its many flaws.
The stadium exterior is extremely questionable. The copper rusty aesthetic of the here and now may give way to the unattractive-​old-​green rusty aesthetic of tomorrow??? That’s really what they were going for?!? I’m no architect or exterior designer (if there’s such a thing), but whoever thought that actual rust would be functional as a tasteful visage likely scored some kind of white powder to snort just a few blocks away from the stadium (prior to construction of course). The rust is actually starting to melt onto and stain the sheet rock foundation. I hope the stadium provides tetanus shots…
And although the maxim that «true beauty comes from within» may be suspect as just a thing «that ugly people say»… the interior of this stadium is as good as any NBA arena out there. Easy-​to-​navigate concourse? Check. Über helpful arena staff? Check. Overpriced bottles of water and stadium food? Double check.
The actual court set up is fantastic. Visual scheme of the Brooklyn lettering on the far ends of the court are reminiscent of the design on actual subway lettering… very cool, playing to the culture and stylings of Kings County. And I love the fact that the stadium seating areas aren’t lit up like a goddamn Christmas tree (ahem Sixers stadium…); and sure, though lack of lighting ultimately leading to an absence of sure footing could create a dangerous condition (super steep stairs), sometimes it’s more important to look good that to feel good (safe). And the lit up court with the darkened seating area makes for a magnificent view, with all eyes on the court.
I could do without the obnoxious music playing at every second during games (though that seems to be the culture now, unfortunately, for most arena sporting events), and the lack of a down escalator (for upper deck seatholders) at the start of the game is really troublesome… the down elevator is the only option, and it can only fit so many people per trip.
Either way, take the good with the bad… and perhaps if the Nets had lost and my Sixers had won upon my most recent trip here, maybe we could add another star onto your score Barclays…