With only two sets of musical performances under its belt, Brooklyn's new arena has raised the ire of its customers by subjecting some fans to different security measures than others.
Barclays Center forced the crowd at Jay-Z's opening 8-day concert series to file through airport-style metal detectors, while fans of Barbra Streisand "were spared the same indignity at her show on Thursday," according to the New York Post.
Did organizers think Hova fans were more likely to cause trouble than "people who need people"? Some critics assert yes.
“The metal detectors are not in use for Barbara Streisand @barclayscenter. Racial profiling?” tweeted one Streisand concert-goer quoted in the article.
Instead of passing through detectors, Streisand fans were simply wanded, observed longtime Barclays documenter Norman Oder.
In response to complaints of racial bias, arena spokesman Barry Baum told The Post that the decision to forego metal detectors for the Babs concert was an effort at streamlining efficiency.
“We’ve only been open two weeks and are trying to make things go as smooth as possible,” Baum said in the article, noting that the metal detectors have previously caused long lines.
But Councilwoman Letitia James wasn't letting the arena off the hook that easy.
“There shouldn’t be a double standard; there should be one rule of law,” she stated Friday. “If you have metal detectors for people coming to see Jay-Z, the same should apply for Barbra Streisand. It shouldn’t matter if you come by limousine, subway or your own two feet.”
What do you think, readers? Are the changes simply opening-month growing pains or a sign of bias on the part of owners? Did anyone attend both a Jay-Z and Barbra Streisand performance?
Share your opinions in the comments below.
