The Barclays Center in Brooklyn has announced a five-point plan, which they will be "immediately implementing," in an effort to help curb issues at the arena, specifically during New York Islanders games. A recent ugly incident between Islanders fans and security seemed to point to deeper issues that had unexpectedly developed in the Islanders' new home between the predominantly white Islanders fans, most of whom travel into Brooklyn from Long Island for games, and the Barclays Center staff, most of whom are black Brooklynites.
Among the changes Barclays Center has planned moving forward, per the New York Daily News, is a limit on alcohol sales during the game, including a cutoff point at the end of the second intermission. From the Daily News...
- Reinforce security and guest services training with staff.
- Further communicate Barclays Center alcohol policies to fans, which includes two drink per purchase limit.
- End beer and alcohol sales at the end of the second intermission.
- Convene season ticket holder focus groups within 30 days to discuss arena-fan relations.
- Remind all guests of Barclays Center's zero tolerance for any type of racial or discriminatory language or behavior.
Issues between arena security and Islanders fans have seemingly become a growing concern during the team's first year at Barclays. Clashes between the two sides during games have become a regular occurrence, with some Islanders fans going so far as to suggest that the staff simply doesn't understand "hockey culture" or the way in which they choose to cheer their team.
CBS 2's Tony Aiello took an in-depth look into the unexpected problems that have cropped up, earlier this week.
