Jay-Z to christen the Barclays Center with a concert

Jay-Z at Barclays Center

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Jay-Z to christen the Barclays Center with a concert

 Jay-Z, co-owner of the Brooklyn Nets, will christen the professional basketball team’s new 18,000-seat arena on Saturday night with a rap concert.

The lights were officially turned on at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday.

The austere-looking arena has all black seats and metal hanging lights. The polished wooden floor has a herringbone design with the Nets’ new black-and-white logo in the middle.

“This is going to send a loud and clear message that Brooklyn has arrived as a center of exciting entertainment, thrilling big-time sports, and thriving commerce,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “This really is a great day for Brooklyn and a great day for New York City.”

Jay-Z is playing a series of sold-out concerts at the Barclays Center.

The arena will be the home to the NBA’s Nets, who were moved from New Jersey to Brooklyn.