Islanders, Devils to play first hockey game at new Brooklyn arena

FROM KEITH GROLLER

They've been talking about a new arena in Brooklyn for so long that you began to doubt it was ever going to get built.

But it is, and the first sporting event for the Barclays Center has been announced. It's a preseason NHL hockey game between the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils.

Here are the details courtesy of the New York Islanders:



UNIONDALE, NY/BROOKLYN, NY (January 31, 2012) – The New York Islanders will play the first-ever NHL game at Barclays Center on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012 when they take on the New Jersey Devils at 7:30 p.m. The preseason game will mark the first hockey event at Barclays Center, the new major sports and entertainment venue, which will officially open on September 28 with the first of multiple JAY-Z concerts. The game will also mark the first NHL game to be played in Brooklyn.



“We’re extremely excited to play the first NHL game in the new, state-of-the-art Barclays Center,” Islanders General Manager Garth Snow said. “We already have some of the most passionate fans in the league supporting our young team, and we are looking forward to expanding our base into Brooklyn.”



“We feel Brooklyn is an untapped hockey market that offers the Islanders with an exciting opportunity to grow its fan base,” Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark said. “Barclays Center will also afford current Islander fans with great accessibility, as the Long Island Rail Road and nine subway lines will come directly to the arena at the Atlantic Terminal transit hub.”



In addition to hosting hockey, Barclays Center will showcase an extensive variety of more than 220 events annually, including premier concerts, monthly major professional boxing cards, top college basketball, family shows, and NETS Basketball. Some of the special programming that is already scheduled includes JAY-Z, Andrea Bocelli, the Barclays Center Classic college basketball tournament, presented by Sheets Brand, featuring Kentucky vs. Maryland, Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship, Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, Legends Classic, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Disney on Ice, and the New York Masters equestrian show jumping competition. Current programming alliances with Barclays Center include Golden Boy Promotions, IMG, Feld Entertainment, Lagardère Unlimited, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.



Fans are encouraged to visit www.barclayscenter.com.


http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/