Part 6/9:
Barclays Center finally opened in 2012 and quickly became an entertainment powerhouse. Boasting cutting-edge technology, luxurious suites, and high-capacity venues adaptable for various events, it drew massive crowds and reinvigorated local commerce in some respects. However, the question of who truly benefited remains fraught. The total financial outlay for the project, famously aggregating over $1 billion, was underpinned by approximately $511 million in taxpayer-supported bonds, raising alarms over the use of public funds for private profit.