THE JAY-HEY KID: These concert-goers are ready to party last night as massive crowds gather outside the Barclays Center. (NY Post: Chad Rachman)
WOW, THIS PLACE ‘ROCKS’: Police Commissioner Ray Kelly playfully flashes a “diamond” sign — a signature move of rapper Jay-Z — at a Barclays Center 40/40 Club party to celebrate the start of the brand-new arena. (WireImage)
Brooklyn was the center of New York’s entertainment world last night, as the $1 billion Barclays Center opened with a sold-out concert by the borough’s own Jay-Z.
The rap mogul performed for 19,000 screaming fans in a glam-filled coming-out party for the spectacular arena in Prospect Heights.
“I have been on many stages all around the world. Nothing feels like tonight, Brooklyn, I swear to God!” the Bed-Stuy native shouted out as he took the stage.
Wearing a white Brooklyn Nets cap and a black Nets jersey with No. 4 on the back, Jay-Z opened the show with “Where I’m From,” an ode to his hardscrabble upbringing in the Marcy Houses.
The gala event — which positions the Barclays Center to rival Madison Square Garden as the city’s top sports and concert venue — left Brooklynites beaming more than they have since the Dodgers split in 1957.
“It’s pandemonium! I’ve never seen Brooklyn like this,” raved Park Slope resident David Germaine, 36, as he entered the show. “I can tell my kids I was at the grand opening of the Barclays Center!”
Borough officials were just as excited for the debut of the new venue, the home to the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets.
“The opening of the arena truly underscores the renaissance of Downtown Brooklyn,” said Carlo Scissura, the president of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.
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“I’m looking forward to watching the Nets destroy the Knicks in a few weeks as a Nets season-ticket holder!”
Celebrities including Magic Johnson, John McEnroe, Starr Jones and Nets coaches and players also graced the glossy new arena.
Jay-Z’s beautiful wife Beyoncé was also in the audience, according to a tweet from Russell Simmons.
Last night’s show by the “Empire State of Mind” rapper was the first of an already sold-out eight-night stand at the arena, at Atlantic and Flatbush avenues.
The festivities began Thursday night with the star-studded opening of Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club in the arena.
Rihanna was on hand and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly also showed up — and was photographed playfully throwing up what looked a lot like a gang sign. The gesture was really a “diamond” hand signal for Jay-Z’s Rocawear clothes line.
Jay-Z has intimate ties to the arena. In addition to 40/40, he owns a small piece of the Nets and a slice of the center itself. He even picked out the steak knives used in the VIP area.
Last night, fans were licking their chops over the Brooklyn-centric food offered at the arena, including cheesecake from Junior’s and hot dogs from Nathan’s.
“You don’t get pizza like this at Yankee Stadium,” said Mario Cooms of The Bronx as he scarfed down pizza from L&B Spumoni Gardens.
Tickets for the show were selling for as much as $2,000 on StubHub yesterday, with the cheap seats going for a mere $90.
It’s quite an accomplishment for a rapper who grew up as Shawn Carter two miles away and became an entertainer and entrepreneur with a $2 million stake in the arena, according to Forbes.
“I am so excited that one of Brooklyn’s greatest gifts to music is opening the new arena in his hometown,” Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz gushed yesterday.
The developer of the project, Bruce Ratner, was on Cloud 9 after the decade-long effort.
“Every day I get up and pinch myself and say, ‘Bruce are you here? Is this some other world you’re in? Did we all really do this?’ ” he said.“There were so many impediments … I am bowled over about how beautiful the arena is.”
Jay-Z — who now lives in Manhattan — gave a shout out to Ratner during the concert. “What’s up Bruce!,” Jay-Z said. “Bruce came to see me at the 40/40!”Not everyone, however, was as enthusiastic about the venue’s grand opening.
About 250 opponents of the center sat on towels and blankets in a nearby playground to watch the anti-arena documentary “Battle for Brooklyn.”
Occupy Wall Streeters protested the opening, complaining that Jay-Z never supported their cause even though his clothing company hawked shirts that said “Occupy All Streets.”
There were no signs of the snarled traffic or subway snafus that locals and officials had feared.
“There’s plenty of parking and almost every subway train stops here. I think it’s all really convenient,” said Lateef Patterson, 36, who drove from his home in Crown Heights.
“It couldn’t have been easier to come here to the Barclays Center. The trains weren’t packed at all,” said Victor Gomez. “It’s so awesome having this arena here. I have a much easier time getting here than I do getting to Madison Square Garden.
“MSG better look out, there’s a new arena coming for the crown.”
Additional reporting by Frank Rosario, Tim Bontemps, Erin Calabrese and Aaron Feis