BSE Global, the parent company of Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets, unveiled its newest premium lounge, Crown Club, during the Nets home opener on Sunday, Oct. 24, in partnership with global restaurant company Major Food Group (MFG) and renowned interior designer Ken Fulk, who has collaborated with MFG on seven restaurants, including Sadelle’s and the Las Vegas and Miami outposts of Carbone. The renovation was led by Shawmut Design and Construction.
Crown Club is located just steps from the basketball court and easily accessible from the best seats in the house. The name Crown Club is a nod to the rich history of Brooklyn, the borough of Kings. In celebrating the legacies of the Brooklyn greats, the Nets have paid homage to artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Biggie Smalls, who have invoked the crown in their works.
While becoming a true destination for memorable and luxurious dining experiences at each Nets game, Crown Club offers premium ticket holders the same flexibility and variety as a traditional courtside club. The 7,700-square-foot area captures that of an exclusive destination that transports to another world. The space has been reimagined as a grand residence complete with a living room, dining room, an intimate salon and a fully stocked pantry. Dark paneled walls, layers of rich fabrics and parquet floors set the stage for a pre-game cocktail, a decadent dinner or a night of intrigue.
“We set out to create the finest restaurant experience in a sports and entertainment arena and Crown Club is exactly that,” said John Abbamondi, CEO of BSE Global. “This new space will change the way our industry thinks about the courtside experience and we are excited to debut Crown Club for the 2021-22 NBA season in partnership with MFG and Ken Fulk.”
“The Brooklyn Nets have made it clear that they intend to be the greatest,” said Jeff Zalaznick, MFG Co-Founder. “Every aspect of the arena should be no less ambitious. I can’t wait to eat Spicy Rigatoni while watching a team of All-Stars take the court.”
“We wanted to create an experience that would land Crown Club in the archives of New York nightlife,” said Fulk. “We set out to create a cinematic environment—dark, moody, elegant and unapologetically glamorous—that instantly sets the stage for unforgettable nights out amid the bold-faced names of our time.”
Befitting MFG’s pedigree, the servers, glassware and theatrics have all been meticulously considered, and the food will be some of the best in town. Crown Club will provide à la carte dining, a unique experience rarely found at courtside clubs. Both the environment and culinary program are designed to rotate between MFG’s iconic restaurants and other celebrated concepts from some of New York City’s most beloved eateries. Levy, the arena’s food and beverage partner, will coordinate operations closely with MFG as part of the arrangement.
ABOUT MAJOR FOOD GROUP
Major Food Group (MFG) is a New York-based restaurant company founded by Mario Carbone, Jeff Zalaznick, and Rich Torrisi. In less than ten years, MFG has gone from a small Little Italy restaurant to one of the most acclaimed hospitality groups in the world, pioneering a celebratory style of dining at such iconic restaurants as CARBONE and THE GRILL; developing dynamic new concepts across genres; and maintaining a reputation for uncommon consistency. In addition to building renowned restaurants, MFG is proud of its support of various social causes and its lasting partnership with the Robin Hood Foundation, one of New York City’s most important forces in the fight against poverty.
To date, MFG has been awarded a total of 19 stars from The New York Times and three from the Michelin Guide, as well as numerous distinctions from the James Beard Foundation and other print publications. MFG’s 26 businesses are located in New York City, Miami, Las Vegas, Hong Kong, and Tel Aviv. The concepts include: CARBONE, Sadelle’s, THE GRILL, ZZ’s Clam Bar, Dirty French, Parm, and The Lobster Club.
ABOUT KEN FULK
Ken Fulk is a designer and creator of experiences. He is renowned for his layered interiors, high-concept hospitality projects and unforgettable parties. The Virginia-born designer has spent 30 years designing homes, planes, restaurants and special celebrations that elevate the lives of his clients. Leading a team of 75 architects, designers, branding and event specialists in both San Francisco and New York, Fulk has gained notoriety around the globe as a tastemaker.
Fulk has been named to Architectural Digest’s AD 100, Elle Decor’s A-List and was twice nominated for a James Beard Design Award. In 2018 Ken Fulk Inc completed restoration of a National Historic Landmark church in San Francisco, where he founded the non-profit Saint Joseph’s Arts Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting working artists and inspiring creativity for all.
ABOUT BSE GLOBAL
BSE Global is the parent company of Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets, its NBA G League team the Long Island Nets, and its NBA 2K League affiliate NetsGC. BSE Global also provides shared services to the New York Liberty, the WNBA sister team of the Brooklyn Nets. Through programming, marketing, sales, and operations, BSE Global delivers dynamic content and experiences for fans and audiences.