Barclays Opening Weeks Filling In

The first few weeks at Barclays Center are starting to fill in. Some dates are official, some rumored. September 28 is official. It's Opening Night with a Jay-Z concert, no doubt the first of several. The Islanders and Devils play on October 2, Kentucky - Maryland (and LIU vs Morehead State) will be the first college games on November 9.

The Nets? Nothing is set till scheduler Matt Winick says it is in early August, but construction documents have October 17 as the target for the Nets first preseason game and October 31 for the first regular season game. One of those games, no doubt, will feature the Knicks as the main card.

Speaking of cards, ESPN is reporting the first monthly fight card at Barclays will be October 20 and Michael Woods of ESPN's boxing blog also offers this little tidbit about that week. "I'm hearing that fight night will be sandwiched around two Barbra Streisand dates, so the buzz should be solid for the card." Barbra of course is a Brooklyn native.

• October 20th opening night for boxing at Barclays - Michael Woods - ESPN
• Barclays Center in Brooklyn at center of feud between Wladimir Klitschko and Golden Boy - Tim Smith - New York Daily News