Brooklyn Marriott Chosen as Barclays’ ‘Official Hotel’

April 3, 2012 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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Goal of Muss, Marriott: Continue Effort To Make Downtown a Destination

By Linda Collins

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — College basketball players, as well as performers and concertgoers, will benefit from a new agreement between Muss Development LLC and the Barclays Center to make the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge the “official hotel” of the new arena.

When the arena opens in September with its already-announced schedule of sporting events and performances, Barclays and Muss expect to have many of those athletes, performers and attendees staying at the Marriott.

Calling it “the only true full-service hotel in the borough,” Joshua Muss, principal of Muss Development and the hotel’s builder and owner, noted that — in addition to more than 30,000 square feet of banquet and conference facilities and a total of 667 rooms — it has a full-scale gym, spa and indoor pool, plus a 1,000-car-plus indoor parking garage, all of which would be attractive to visiting athletes and performers.

Sam Ibrahim, the hotel’s general manager since 2000, told the Eagle yesterday that the main intent of both Muss and the Marriott “is to continue to brand Brooklyn as a destination,” and that this agreement cements the relationship between the hotel and Barclays to expand on that effort.

Marriott staff and Barclays officials will be meeting soon to discuss the development of special deals and promotional packages for ticketholders, according to Ibrahim.

Asked if shuttle service will be provided, he said that would be on the table for discussion as well.

“It will depend on demand. We know that there will be a lot of traffic back and forth,” Ibrahim said. But he also noted it is only two stops on the subway to Barclays and it is not a bad walk. “I do it every day,” he said.

The Marriott already has a signed, several-year agreement with the Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Conference, whose championship games will be played at Barclays, according to Ibrahim.

Ibrahim believes the Brooklyn Marriott has been an economic boon to the area, its residents, businesses and visitors.

“From an area that few travelers had reason to visit just 15 years ago, the hotel and neighboring Renaissance Plaza were among the pioneers that helped the area grow into a bustling neighborhood. It will achieve its next level of transformation with the opening of the Barclays Center this fall. We are proud to be part of the next great era for Brooklyn.”

Brett Yormark, CEO of Barclays, also noted that the Marriott and Barclays will develop promotional packages for the benefit of patrons of both facilities.

Image shown is one of the private lounges at the New York Mariott at the Brooklyn Bridge. Image courtesy of Muss Development

“We are thrilled to align with the premier hotel in Brooklyn,” Yormark said, adding, “It’s an ideal spot for visitors to the borough who will be attending events at Barclays.”

As has been reported in the Eagle, Barclays will offer approximately 18,000 seats for basketball games and up to 19,000 seats for concerts. In addition to Nets and Atlantic 10 championship games, the arena has scheduled concerts by JAY Z (who has top billing for the opening day event on Sept. 28) and Andrea Bocelli, plus other sporting events like the New York Masters equestrian show, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and Disney on Ice.