Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Report

A week after Long Island University (LIU( is holding its commencement at the Barclays Center, so too is Polytechnic Institute of New York University, based at MetroTech with arena developer Forest City Ratner. Unlike LIU, NYU-Poly, as its known, is not giving an honorary degree to arena developer Bruce Ratner. Nearly 7000 people are expected at event Thursday, May 23, which begins with more than 1000 graduates arriving at 8 am at the entrance on residential Dean Street. The schedule 8:00 A.M. Graduates arrive –All graduates will enter for the processional at the Emblem Health Dean Street Entry (Southeast corner of arena on Dean Street) 8:00 A.M. All guests of graduates with appropriate tickets must enter directly through the GEICO Main Entry. Several guides will be available to assist guests 9:00 A.M. Ceremony begins with the processional 11:15 A.M. Ceremony concludes (approximate time) The merger backstory As noted in the press release below, NYU-Poly, formerly the...

Long Island University (LIU) next week will hold the first commencement ceremony ever at the Barclays Center and--guess what, arena developer Bruce Ratner and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz are being honored, along with retiring LIU President David J. Steinberg. Yes, it makes sense that LIU, just up Flatbush Avenue, might want to use the arena for commencement, but it also looks like another round of friendly dealing: LIU has fervently supported the Atlantic Yards project during legal battles and the university, in turn, has gained by playing basketball games on the prominent Barclays Center stage. LIU did not respond to my query about whether they were getting free or discounted use of the arena. The ceremony, which will bring nearly 2500 graduates to residential Dean Street at 8:30 am on May 16, was not announced in the May arena event calendar , which was subject to change. Ratner, Markowitz "help enrich lives" According to an LIU press release : Pr...