Barclays Center update: valet service at arena curb prompts questions, confusion; new BP says arena tourney gives "sense of hope"

This is the second of two articles on the 3/8/22 Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Quality of Life meeting. The first concerned platform commencement and after-hours work.

Resident Regina Cahill asked about the “the traffic control mechanism with a new valet service by Cielo Garage on Pacific Street.”

That question was a unclear, since it's actually not the garage at Pacific Street but rather the one across Atlantic Avenue at the Atlantic Terrace development, with an entrance on South Portland Avenue. 

It touts itself as The Official Parking Garage of Barclays Center. I contacted Cielo, which told me: "We have a business relationship with the Barclays Center that parks various cars for staff as well as handling their premier suite guests parking which is generally included in their premier suite pricing."

The valet service, billed as new, started a year ago. 

Drop-off 2.5 hours before game

The service promises "Vehicle Drop off at 630 Atlantic Ave," which is the curbside of the arena, before events and "Vehicle Pickup at 201 S Portland" after events. The price: $79, plus service fees.

The next event listed is Sunday, March 13, when the New York Knicks visit for a 1 pm game. After that is Wednesday, March 15, when the Dallas Mavericks visit for a 7:30 pm game. Drop-off is from 5 pm to 7:30 pm.

Tobi Jaiyesimi of Empire State Development, the state authority that oversees/shepherds the project, told Cahill that no garage is operated by or part of the project, so “I don't think that that's something that the developer or the Barclays Center could speak to at this time.”

It’s an arena operational issue, responded Cahill. Heather Hall, Senior Director of Community Relations for the Barclay Centers and the Brooklyn Nets,  said she’d take the issue “back to the team” for follow-up. So stay tuned.

Cielo's Perry Finkelman, responding to my questions, stated:

The majority of the premier users including Barclay employees come way before an event and as early as 2 hours before as they have dinner at the facility which is part of the premier experience.
These vehicles have no impact to the traffic congestion as they are mostly parked in before traffic and crowds occurs.
These few vehicles are not the cause of issues that seem to be the source of your inquiries and community concerns."

Indeed, the earlier the vehicles arrive, the less they compete with other arena-related traffic (though they might compound rush-hour congestion). 

But it's worth keeping watch, especially since this is a relatively new service, and a larger volume could have more impacts.

(Also, arena-related uses, including unpermitted parking, have regularly taken over the "no-standing" zone on the Atlantic Avenue perimeter.)

Arena update

Hall gave a  brief update. She noted that the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) basketball tournament had started this week, with a proclamation on the arena plaza with Borough President Antonio Reynoso and the team mascots. 

It all begins tomorrow🏆🏀
ACC MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT 2022 pic.twitter.com/JltbsuS8Xb

— Barclays Center (@barclayscenter) March 7, 2022

From The Brooklyn Game/amNew York, 3/7/22:

“There’s some fatigue out in this city,” the borough president told amNewYork after proclaiming this week ACC Tournament Week in Brooklyn. “Everyone is exhausted of COVID. To see the ACC come to Brooklyn, the greatest place on earth, just gives us a sense of hope there is going to be some level of normality in how we live moving forward."

Hall also cited arena-related efforts to support the Brooklyn Book Bodega, which provides books to organizations and schools, and a food pantry in Brownsville in partnership with the WNBA’s New York Liberty “as well as our partner HSS,” Hospital for Special Surgery.

In other words, even charity gets a sponsor, and the arena gets the halo.

Free tickets

One attendee asked about “rejoining Barclays,” meaning that, as stated in the meeting chat, “We used to get free tickets.” The response was to send an email.

That resident lives in a nearby building, so there’ve apparently been efforts—separate from the ticket giveaways to nonprofits via the Downtown Brooklyn Neighborhood Alliance—to distribute free tickets.