Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Report

Hey, y'know why the Barclays Center, however dismayed about famed mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Conor McGregor acting out--er, criminally, it seems , won't go too far in stopping MMA? Because it's a gravy train. Reports MMA Weekly , 4/8/18: Brooklyn fans showed their appreciation for the fighters to the tune of 17,026 in attendance – a sellout – accounting for a venue record gate of more than $3 million, according to UFC [Ultimate Fighting Championship] president Dana White. “This is the highest grossing event in Barclays history,” White said at the UFC 223 post-fight press conference. “Madison Square Garden, we’re one and three. Here, we’re one and two.” I think he meant highest-grossing sports event. Updated: Indeed, MMA Weekly got the quote wrong. USA Today, for example, used the term "sporting event." For example, as noted by the Barbra Streisand archives site, in 2016: Barclays Center, the only two-show engagement, scored $8.8 million in s...

The controversial sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) has a fierce fan base, so no wonder New York State finally legalized it in 2016, and venues like the Barclays Center were eager to host bouts. After all,  resale tickets  for tomorrow's event  at Barclays (which begins at 6:15 pm), according to Ticketmaster, start at $230. (Not all the arena's seats are for sale, apparently.) Beyond those who worried about  the violence inside the cage, I had suggested two years ago that MMA audiences are most akin to those who attend boxing and wrestling events, who have been among the most amped and rowdy, and that spreads into the neighborhood , even, in one case, connected to a horrific episode of sexual harassment/violence against a local resident . An incident inside Barclays So far, I haven't heard that about MMA events. But just yesterday an MMA mini-melee inside Barclays, connected to a press event for tomorrow's fights, invited a police investigation and...

The Barclays Center hasn't circulated customized event calendars--with extra information for neighbors--since May 2016 , as shown  at the bottom. Part of that, perhaps, was attributable to a chance in personnel. On Tuesday, 1/24/17, however, the arena's new VP for Community Relations, Roland Guevara, circulated the February Community Notice pictured below. Note the "expected exterior impacts" regarding several circus performances and the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) mixed martial arts (MMA) event on 2/11/17. While the message says "Please standby for more details," it's a good bet that such impacts include crowds gathering on the arena plaza, with merchandise sales and--at least for the UFC--perhaps some chanting or otherwise aggressive behavior. In contrast with previous event calendars circulated, it does not list non-ticketed events, though such listings do help with neighbors' planning about potential impacts. On Wednes...

If you go by the press coverage, the New York State legislature is on the way to legalizing mixed martial arts (MMA), the last state to allow this violent but popular hybrid of boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, and more. As the Daily News (and others)  reported  2/23/16, a press conference at the Barclays Center featured Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams: "We are here for one reason only. We are ready to crown mixed martial arts here in Brooklyn, in the state of New York. It's long overdue that this great economic engine and sports initiative should find its home in the largest arena possible. And that is in Brooklyn and New York City and in New York State," Adams said during a press conference at the Barclays Center. "This bill has passed the Senate for several years. When I was a state senator we pushed this bill forward. The only blocking over the years has been in the Assembly." Today, the Daily News  reported  that Assembly Majority Leader Joseph...