The Barclays Center, which has been losing the New York Islanders in stages (and should lose the team completely when the new Belmont Park arena opens in 2021, if not sooner), is gaining a new tenant: the WNBA's New York Liberty, which will play at least 17 home games in the season, which runs from May through September, and could extend to October with the playoffs.
The Liberty were recently bought by Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai, who also owns the Barclays Center operating company (not the arena itself, which is owned nominally by New York State, to enable tax-exempt bonds).
Tsai bought the team from Madison Square Garden owner James Dolan, who'd exiled the basketballers from the Manhattan arena to Westchester County Center, which has a capacity of just 2,100, far less than the previous attendance.
“With many of our fans based in the five boroughs, moving to Barclays Center will make the Liberty more centrally located, allowing us to bring back the original fan base and attract new supporters," said David Levy, CEO of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, as well as president of J Tsai in a press release, below. "The venue change, along with the first pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft, has positioned the team for an exciting future.”
While playing in Westchester saved Dolan money, Levy told the AP, “We wouldn’t have done this if we didn’t think it would be profitable." Indeed, there's an opportunity to grow the fan base, presumably if the tickets aren't too expensive.
"The move to Barclays Center will expand the capacity to more than 8,000," the press release noted, indicating that seats will be sold in the lower bowl, not the upper one, thus saving on full staffing. The AP noted that the Liberty players were already living in Brooklyn the past season.
The Islanders were supposed to move to the Barclays Center full time starting in 2015, but redid their contract, agreeing to split games with the Nassau Coliseum during Belmont construction. Now, the schedule is tilted more toward Nassau.
The press release
New York Liberty Announce Barclays Center As Home Venue Beginning In 2020
BROOKLYN (OCT. 17, 2019) –The New York Liberty are moving to Brooklyn. Beginning with the 2020 WNBA season, the team will play its home games at Barclays Center.
In addition to the change in venue, this will also be the first full season under new leadership. Joe Tsai acquired the Liberty in January 2019, and recently purchased Barclays Center and the remaining interest in the Brooklyn Nets, becoming Governor of the team. Immediately following the closing of the transaction, David Levy was named CEO of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, and President of J Tsai Sports, which operates the Liberty.
“We are committed to the Liberty’s long-term success in New York and relocating the team to Brooklyn will provide the franchise with tremendous opportunity,” said Levy. “With many of our fans based in the five boroughs, moving to Barclays Center will make the Liberty more centrally located, allowing us to bring back the original fan base and attract new supporters. The venue change, along with the first pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft, has positioned the team for an exciting future.”
“The New York Liberty are part of the foundation of the W and have many of the most accomplished players and passionate fans since the inaugural season,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “Barclays Center is the perfect venue to host New York’s team and showcase world-class women’s basketball. This move is key to driving the league to the next level.”
For the past two seasons, the Liberty played at Westchester County Center, where the capacity was 2,100. The move to Barclays Center will expand the capacity to more than 8,000, with opportunity for growth. This is the fourth home venue in the Liberty’s illustrious history as one of the eight original franchises in the WNBA. The team played in the first-ever WNBA game in 1997 defeating the Los Angeles Sparks and has claimed some of the league’s biggest names, including Becky Hammon, Kym Hampton, Vickie Johnson, Rebecca Lobo, Teresa Weatherspoon, and Sue Wicks.
Liberty season ticket holders will soon receive information regarding ticket renewals, seat locations and additional changes. Single game and group ticket packages will go on sale at a later date. The team’s 2020 season schedule will be announced in the coming months. For ticket information, call 914-908-5980 or email tickets@nyliberty.com.
The Liberty were recently bought by Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai, who also owns the Barclays Center operating company (not the arena itself, which is owned nominally by New York State, to enable tax-exempt bonds).
Tsai bought the team from Madison Square Garden owner James Dolan, who'd exiled the basketballers from the Manhattan arena to Westchester County Center, which has a capacity of just 2,100, far less than the previous attendance.
“With many of our fans based in the five boroughs, moving to Barclays Center will make the Liberty more centrally located, allowing us to bring back the original fan base and attract new supporters," said David Levy, CEO of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, as well as president of J Tsai in a press release, below. "The venue change, along with the first pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft, has positioned the team for an exciting future.”
While playing in Westchester saved Dolan money, Levy told the AP, “We wouldn’t have done this if we didn’t think it would be profitable." Indeed, there's an opportunity to grow the fan base, presumably if the tickets aren't too expensive.
"The move to Barclays Center will expand the capacity to more than 8,000," the press release noted, indicating that seats will be sold in the lower bowl, not the upper one, thus saving on full staffing. The AP noted that the Liberty players were already living in Brooklyn the past season.
The Islanders were supposed to move to the Barclays Center full time starting in 2015, but redid their contract, agreeing to split games with the Nassau Coliseum during Belmont construction. Now, the schedule is tilted more toward Nassau.
The press release
New York Liberty Announce Barclays Center As Home Venue Beginning In 2020
BROOKLYN (OCT. 17, 2019) –The New York Liberty are moving to Brooklyn. Beginning with the 2020 WNBA season, the team will play its home games at Barclays Center.
In addition to the change in venue, this will also be the first full season under new leadership. Joe Tsai acquired the Liberty in January 2019, and recently purchased Barclays Center and the remaining interest in the Brooklyn Nets, becoming Governor of the team. Immediately following the closing of the transaction, David Levy was named CEO of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, and President of J Tsai Sports, which operates the Liberty.
“We are committed to the Liberty’s long-term success in New York and relocating the team to Brooklyn will provide the franchise with tremendous opportunity,” said Levy. “With many of our fans based in the five boroughs, moving to Barclays Center will make the Liberty more centrally located, allowing us to bring back the original fan base and attract new supporters. The venue change, along with the first pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft, has positioned the team for an exciting future.”
“The New York Liberty are part of the foundation of the W and have many of the most accomplished players and passionate fans since the inaugural season,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “Barclays Center is the perfect venue to host New York’s team and showcase world-class women’s basketball. This move is key to driving the league to the next level.”
For the past two seasons, the Liberty played at Westchester County Center, where the capacity was 2,100. The move to Barclays Center will expand the capacity to more than 8,000, with opportunity for growth. This is the fourth home venue in the Liberty’s illustrious history as one of the eight original franchises in the WNBA. The team played in the first-ever WNBA game in 1997 defeating the Los Angeles Sparks and has claimed some of the league’s biggest names, including Becky Hammon, Kym Hampton, Vickie Johnson, Rebecca Lobo, Teresa Weatherspoon, and Sue Wicks.
Liberty season ticket holders will soon receive information regarding ticket renewals, seat locations and additional changes. Single game and group ticket packages will go on sale at a later date. The team’s 2020 season schedule will be announced in the coming months. For ticket information, call 914-908-5980 or email tickets@nyliberty.com.
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