Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Report

I wrote recently about how the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center have both changed their social media images so they can honor the arena's tenth anniversary year. Well, it's also happening IRL. As shown in the photo at right and below, the east side of the Dean Street entrance to the arena--a wall where advertising is not necessary allowed but promotion apparently is--now boasts the arena's tenth anniversary logo. As I reported last October, the arena operators have stretched to monetize any available canvas for advertising or promotional value: they had recently installing a Brooklyn Nets logo and slogan ("Embrace Your Brooklyn") on that same wall. The arena's Mandy Gutmann stated , in response to my query, "We're not aware of any permission that would have been required for the installation of the logo." Maybe, maybe not. The situation seems not to have been addressed by the arena's Design Guidelines, so, as I wrote, the logic seems to be...

Also see how the scoreboard can barely be seen from the plaza and the delayed buildout was supposed to bring amenities to sites B3 and B4 . So, remember how the Barclays Center arena suddenly got a big Barclays logo on the roof, even though that had not been shown in renderings when the project was re-approved, and roof signage was never addressed in the Design Guidelines? The state agency overseeing the project said, essentially, if ain't prohibited, it's permitted. As I  reported  last August, Arana Hankin, Director, Atlantic Yards Project, Empire State Development, wrote, "The logo design comprehensively complies with the intent of the guidelines that 'establish a framework for the design of the project.'” She noted that, among other things, the "sign is not illuminated" and it "cannot be seen from street-level." Not so. The sign is not aimed at those on the street, and it's not fully visible. But it sure can be seen in part...

Guess what: "roof sponsorship signage" is coming to the Barclays Center, according to the latest two-week Atlantic Yards Construction Alert , released yesterday by Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) after preparation by Forest City Ratner. Preparation for the installation of the signage will begin this week or next, according to the document, which does not explain the nature and extent of such signage. I've asked for more details; for example, will it look like the rendering above right, released in early 2010, announcing the Barclays Center? Either way, however, roof signage was never officially permitted. So it should be seen as a multi-million-dollar giveaway. Raising the question in 2010 I reported 3/8/10 that rooftop Barclays Center logo that appeared in the latest arena rendering arena seemed to violate the Design Guidelines as stated in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) issued by the ESDC. Asked in March 2010 if the pictured ...

There's some interesting stuff in the latest two-week Atlantic Yards Construction Alert, dated 7/30/12 (and embedded below) and released yesterday by Empire State Development after preparation by Forest City Ratner. Not only will the oculus become ever more visible, so too will be the Haier Store at the east end of the arena, at the extension of Pacific Street. I've written separately about "roof sponsorship signage." Below I've bolded changes from the previous alert . Facade installation • The installation of the entry canopy oculus façade panels is projected to start this reporting period. This installation will be performed on a second and partial third shift timetable, with the Work scheduled from 3 pm to 3 am. • The installation of the Haier Store (east retail zone) façade panels is projected to start this reporting period. This installation will be performed on a second and partial third shift timetable, with the Work scheduled from 3 pm to 3 am...

The Sports Business Journal article published Monday on six founding partners for the planned Barclays Center arena said the Nets promise “street to seat brand domination.” “We’ll have very little static signage,” [Nets CEO Brett] Yormark said. “From the street or subway to the marquee and inside the bowl, only one brand will be visible at a time. The marketers we are talking to want fewer relationships that are more dominant. [Building architect] Frank Gehry did not want to overcommercialize this building, but he wanted to provide ownership for those brands that want to get involved.” Also, there will be a “construction activation platform” with signage, countdown clocks and other media in which partners will be identified. However, the new renderings (above) produced by Gehry show no commercial signage (nor "construction activitation platform"), even though signs could be 150 feet high and 75 feet wide . Also, Gehry once wanted to make sure that arena signage had a social ...