PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Jay-Z once sang that he's got 99 problems and, apparently, the new Barclays Center arena is one.
It's well-known that the hip-hop mogul is part owner of the Brooklyn Nets NBA team, but he's also directly involved in the group that oversees the Nets' new arena, according to documents in the Barclays Center liquor license application posted on the watchdog blog Atlantic Yards Report.
The multi-talented rapper's role in the arena was revealed on a document listing officers and directors of Brooklyn Arena, LLC. Arena developer Bruce Ratner of Forest City Ratner Companies is listed as both chairman and a director of the LLC, and the roster of directors includes Shawn Carter, Jay-Z's real name, according to the post on Atlantic Yards Report.
"In other words, despite his fractional ownership in the team, Carter has a potentially more prominent official role, reflecting his frequent use as the arena/team figurehead," wrote Atlantic Yards Report.
The Barclays Center is scheduled to open in September with — take a guess — a Jay-Z show. The musician, and husband to Beyonce, also designed the Brooklyn Nets logo.
