The city provided a preview of the Barclays Center on Thursday, and it was full of digs at New Jersey, as the Nets get ready to move.
"Jersey's Net loss is Brooklyn's Net gain," said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.
But the announcement was mostly about what the arena means for Brooklyn: 2,000 new jobs, 90 percent of them part-time.
"I've really been looking forward to this day honestly for eight years," said developer and Nets owner Bruce Ratner.
"I really have been, 2,000 local jobs. So I know you have too. You've been very patient everybody."
And Broooklyn residents get priority, especially those who live in public housing nearby.
"They're going to have to be qualified," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
"They're going to have to be the best. But we're going to reach out to local residents first."
The city invested $200 mlliion in the project, and even though most of the new jobs are low-paying and part-time, Tyree Stanback isn't complaining.
He lives in public housing and welcomes the opportunity.
"I think in today's economy you have to think differently," said Stanback.
"The old school job of having one job until you retire and get a gold watch are long gone. It went out with my parents."
Thursday was also our first look inside the arena.
Surprisingly construction is on schedule.
One of the most unique features about the new arena is how close the floor is to the seats.
There's also a huge glass atrium that's the entry, and a subway stop that will serve 11 lines.
The developer strongly hinted the Islanders might someday move to the new arena.
Reason perhaps to hire even more workers.
Job openings are posted online at www.BarclaysCenter.com.
