Opening week Nets hype. Barclays Center discloses amplified sound on plaza before home opener Fri. New food, musical promotions. But "Brooklyn Block" paused.

When I reported Oct. 1 (link) on the Barclays Center's October 2025 event calendar, I wrote:

Note that nothing extra is announced for the Brooklyn Nets' Oct. 24 home-opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but last year, prior to the Nets' home-opener against the Milwaukee Bucks, there was "an event on the Plaza from 11 am-6 pm with amplified sound."

Well, on Oct. 17, a week before the 7:30 pm game, the arena circulated a notice to neighbors: "Please note that there will be an event on the Plaza on Friday, October 24 from 1-4 pm with amplified sound."

Do they somehow "forget" to plan the amplified sound until recently? Or to notify people at the beginning of the month?

Or, more likely, did they hold the announcement to avoid more elapsed time for scrutiny? 

It's a small thing, but it's not exactly a best practice.

Update Oct. 22: now they tell us the amplified sound also would be from 6-8 pm. 

Is that incompetence, or deliberate obfuscation to neighbors?

New promotions, Biggie back

As the screenshot above right suggests, the Nets are doing cross promotions at Electric Lotus tattoo in Fort Greene and Levels Barbershop, slowly but surely winning allies.

It all helps in the business of a "sports entertainment corporation" that won't be winning many games this year, but wants to build a fanbase.

Part of that includes ancillary activities like a halftime show, which was disclosed first to Billboard, which on Oct. 16 published Kota the Friend to Be Halftime Performer for Brooklyn Nets’ Opening Night: ‘This Feels Like Coming Home’. (He's a rapper, raised in Clinton Hill.)

As Billboard reported, they're bringing back Biggie:

While the Nets have always taken pride in elevating local talent and spotlighting artists with direct ties to the borough, Kota’s performance will come as part of a broad strategy this season to celebrate Brooklyn in a massive way. The Nets announced they’re collaborating with the estate of The Notorious B.I.G. on a series of Biggie Nights for this season. The campaign will kick off on Nov. 11 at Barclays Center, with special musical performances handpicked by the estate.

Brooklyn Block paused

NetsDaily reported on Oct. 15, Brooklyn Nets ‘pausing’ BK Block’ for ‘revamp’, observing, "It seems everything about the Nets is in rebuild mode, including the fan base."

The BK Block is/was a rowdy section of Barclays Center dedicated to members of the longtime fans, first coalescing in the separate, fan-driven Brooklyn Brigade. Those fans, who had to go through an audition process, got ticket discounts and Nets swag.

BSE Global aims to make it "bigger and better," NetsDaily was told, and members will still be sent ticket offers. The Brooklyn Brigade will continue.

Reported NetsDaily:

In recent seasons, particularly the last two — coinciding with losing seasons — neither the Nets nor the Brigade have been altogether happy with the way things have been running, per multiple sources in both organizations. With the Nets rebuild, fan interest has waned with more and more empty seats.

There were also complaints from inside the group, particularly among long-time members. One said that the program “grew too quickly, the screening of members was poor,” adding that there were “fractures” as a result. Moreover, the increases in ticket prices as well as the constant losing were an issue for the fans. “It’s a mess.”

New food at the arena

The BSE Global-owned Brooklyn Magazine (aka BKMAG) reported Oct. 16, All The New Food Vendors Coming to Barclays Center This Season:

Today, the arena announced its latest slate of vendors, tapping local food phenoms and icons for crucial additions to the dining program on Atlantic Avenue, including a spicy rigatoni from red sauce specialist Parm, a smash burger (single or double-stacked) via the venerable 7th Street Burgers, a range of colossal cookies from the ever-essential Levain Bakery, and Jamaican patties designed by Patty Palace, a new banner from culinary star Kwame Onwuachi, the James Beard Award-winning chef behind Tatiana, which remains one of the most coveted reservations in Midtown (or, really, anywhere in the city). 

It's worth noting that the food at the arena is prepared by the arena's food vendor, Levy Premium Foodservice, in collaboration and agreement with the credited food suppliers.

Also worth noting: as is common, Brooklyn Magazine did not disclose that it and the arena share the same parent company.