The first architect to make a design for the Barclays Center was Frank Gehry. The plans included an amazing park on the rooftop of the structure that would overlook Atlantic Yards Complex and Manhattan. The park had a running track around its perimeter and an ice skating rink. However, the $1 billion dollar price tag seemed too high. Still by the time the finishing touches of the current venue by Becket and SHoP were included, the price tag adds up to approximately $1 billion dollars.
Because of the large glass wall and the lowered basketball court, the scoreboard is seen from the plaza outside the venue. The plaza accommodates and partially shelters gathering crowds before and after events. The plaza entrance connects to the structure for public transit.
Located conveniently in what is the Atlantic Yards, the complex including Barclays Center sits beside Fort Greene and Downtown Brooklyn. The neighborhood where the complex is found is Prospect Heights.
Besides the main arena and court inside Barclays Center, the structure houses the intimate Cushman Wakefield Theater. The theater is perfect for small concerts and art performances. Capacity of this small auditorium holds between 3,500 and 6,000 people. Suites overlooking the main arena are available. These rooms accommodate groups. The suite occupants have access to the Premium Levels in the Barclays Center. Of course, these facilities are rented with reservations. This basketball and multi-purpose arena is called, the Barclays Center. Barclays PLC, a banking and financial company in London, purchased the rights for the name. Barclays PLC agreed for 20 years to pay the sum of $400 million dollars. Interestingly, none of Barclays banks are found in New York or the United States. Neither are the company's ATM machines in Barclays Center.