In Chicago, Wrigley Field is allowed to host only 30 evening events a year. Liquor sales must end no later than 9:30PM. You’d think that the people of Brooklyn deserve no less respect.

Not according to Barclays Center, which has applied for a license that would allow it to keep serving alcohol into the early hours of the morning. At a public meeting in April, arena representatives described an intent to serve patrons in accordance with NBA rules that require liquor sales to end after the third quarter. But after Barclays Center received conditional support from Community Boards 2 and 6, it was revealed that Barclays Center plans to keep open clubs with a capacity of 1,800 up to an hour after events have ended—as late as 2:00 AM, at any of the expected 220 events a year. And the recent announcement of one of Jay-Z’s 40/40 clubs being located in the arena raises the possibility of bottle service for hundreds of late-night customers.

We need your help to let the New York State Liquor Authority know Barclays Center’s plans to sell liquor won’t work for Brooklyn. 

• Alcohol sales in the arena must end no later than 10:00 PM!
• No permit for Barclays Center’s late night clubs until the public has heard the full plans.

You can also submit written testimony to:

Chairman Denis Rosen
New York State Liquor Authority
317 Lenox Avenue, 5^th floor
New York, NY  10027

Re: Levy Premium Foodservice LP

And don't forget to sign the BrooklynSpeaks online petition!

 Jay-Z may be playing Barclays Center on September 28, but an arena alone nets nothing for Brooklyn.

BrooklynSpeaks, Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn, the Brown Community Development Corporation and "Occupy" groups invite you to join with us in organizing a demonstration at the Barclays Center opening to protest the failure of Atlantic Yards to live up to its promises of public benefits, and the refusal of State and City administrations to take effective action.

Brooklyn hasn’t forgotten how much has been sacrificed for a project that has become a symbol of crony capitalism. When the arena opens, we’re going to remind the press, the legislature, the Governor and the Mayor. Your help will make it a day to remember.

Barclays Center has applied for a license that would allow it to keep serving alcohol up to the 4AM State limit in an 18,000-seat arena. Sure, the NBA has a policy that requires liquor sales to end after the third quarter. But basketball only accounts for 40 of the expected 220 events to be held at the arena each year. And Barclays’ application isn’t even limited to serving drinks at arena events. (Arena plans include four club/lounge areas.)

We all know that the history of Atlantic Yards has been one blanket approval by government after another, with little oversight afterward. But isn’t this getting ridiculous? On Tuesday, June 12, the State Liquor Authority will hold a hearing on Barclays Center’s application. Join PHNDC and community organizations to tell the SLA that Barlcays’ liquor license must be appropriate for the residential neighborhoods in which it is situated, and through which patrons will travel on their way home.

And if you haven’t already stood with over 1,200 Brooklynites who have signed a petition to require drink sales to end after half time at a NBA game, 45 minutes before the end of an event, or 10PM, you’re not too late. Sign the petition now!

Elected officials and community leaders will propose a nine point "Neighborhood Protection Plan," and will call on Mayor Bloomberg and developer Forest City Ratner to meet and endorse plan to protect the communities around the Barlcays Center arena.

Who:

Council Members Stephen Levin, Letitia James, Senator Velmanette Montgomery, other elected officials and community leaders

What:

Press Conference to call for a real plan to mitigate Arena impact on neighboring communities

When:

Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at 9:30a.m.

Where:

Corner of Atlantic Avenue and South Portland Ave., Brooklyn

Why:

The Barclays Center arena is opening in less than four months and there is still no acceptable plan to mitigate the impact of the arena and its thousands of patrons on the surrounding neighborhoods. We have put together a 9-point “Neighborhood Protection Plan” to address what our neighborhoods need to mitigate the impact of Barclay’s Arena. The Bloomberg Administration and Forest City Ratner have not explained to our communities how the impact of foot traffic and neighborhood disruptions will be handled after Barclays events. We have not heard a real plan to address parking and transportation needs. Council Members Levin and James are calling for a public meeting with the Mayor’s office and Forest City Ratner to present the Neighborhood Protection Plan and allow for the community to have real input in the decisions that will forever change our communities.

The Empire State Development Corporation and Brooklyn Community Boards 2, 6 and 8 invites the community to a meeting on the Barclays Center Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan.

The proposal aims to reduce vehicular traffic to the arena and minimize the effects of the cars that do come.

Representatives of the developer will make a presentation and answer questions.

For more information contact: Arana Hankin, Director, Atlantic Yards Project, AtlanticYards@esd.ny.gov.