Rapper Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, a co-owner of the New Jersey Nets, attends the groundbreaking ceremony for the Barclays Center, a new arena in Brooklyn that will host the Nets NBA franchise. The massive construction project has cleared many hurdles to becoming reality, including lawsuits from neighborhood groups surrounding the Atlantic Yards, where the development company Forest City Ratner is building the arena.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and rapper Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, a co-owner of the New Jersey Nets, attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Barclays Center, a new arena in Brooklyn that will host the Nets NBA franchise. The massive construction project has cleared many hurdles to becoming reality, including lawsuits from neighborhood groups surrounding the Atlantic Yards, where the development company Forest City Ratner is building the arena.

Developer Bruce Ratner, left, Michael Bloomberg, David Paterson, Marty Markowitz and Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter break ground for the Barclays Center, a new arena in Brooklyn that will host the Nets NBA franchise. The massive construction project has cleared many hurdles to becoming reality, including lawsuits from neighborhood groups surrounding the Atlantic Yards, where the development company Forest City Ratner is building the arena.

Beyonce Knowles attends the groundbreaking ceremony for the Barclays Center, a new arena in Brooklyn that will host the Nets NBA franchise. The massive construction project has cleared many hurdles to becoming reality, including lawsuits from neighborhood groups surrounding the Atlantic Yards, where the development company Forest City Ratner is building the arena.

Rapper Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, a co-owner of the New Jersey Nets, speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Barclays Center, a new arena in Brooklyn that will host the Nets NBA franchise. The massive construction project has cleared many hurdles to becoming reality, including lawsuits from neighborhood groups surrounding the Atlantic Yards, where the development company Forest City Ratner is building the arena.

Public officials and developer Bruce Ratner hold a public groundbreaking ceremony for the Barclays Center, a new arena in Brooklyn that will host the Nets NBA franchise. The massive construction project has cleared many hurdles to becoming reality, including lawsuits from neighborhood groups surrounding the Atlantic Yards, where the development company Forest City Ratner is building the arena. As specified by the terms of the agreement with the state of New York to build at the site, 30% of the contractors hired by Ratner are required to be woman or minority owned.

11 March 2010- New York, NY- Jay-Z at the Ground Breaking Ceremony at The Atlantic Yards for the Barclay Center, which will be the future home for the Brooklyn Nets on March 11, 2010 in Brooklyn New York. Photo Credit: Terrence Jennings/Sipa Press/1003121447

11 March 2010- New York, NY- Beyonce at the Ground Breaking Ceremony at The Atlantic Yards for the Barclay Center, which will be the future home for the Brooklyn Nets on March 11, 2010 in Brooklyn New York. Photo Credit: Terrence Jennings/Sipa Press/1003121444

11 March 2010- New York, NY- Beyonce at the Ground Breaking Ceremony at The Atlantic Yards for the Barclay Center, which will be the future home for the Brooklyn Nets on March 11, 2010 in Brooklyn New York. Photo Credit: Terrence Jennings/Sipa Press/1003121444

11 March 2010- New York, NY- Jay-Z at the Ground Breaking Ceremony at The Atlantic Yards for the Barclay Center, which will be the future home for the Brooklyn Nets on March 11, 2010 in Brooklyn New York. Photo Credit: Terrence Jennings/Sipa Press/1003121440

11 March 2010- New York, NY- Jay-Z at the Ground Breaking Ceremony at The Atlantic Yards for the Barclay Center, which will be the future home for the Brooklyn Nets on March 11, 2010 in Brooklyn New York. Photo Credit: Terrence Jennings/Sipa Press/1003121438

11 March 2010- New York, NY- Jay-Z at the Ground Breaking Ceremony at The Atlantic Yards for the Barclay Center, which will be the future home for the Brooklyn Nets on March 11, 2010 in Brooklyn New York. Photo Credit: Terrence Jennings/Sipa Press/1003121447

11 March 2010- New York, NY-Governor David Patterson, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Jay-Z at the Ground Breaking Ceremony at The Atlantic Yards for the Barclay Center, which will be the future home for the Brooklyn Nets on March 11, 2010 in Brooklyn New York. Photo Credit: Terrence Jennings/Sipa Press/1003121447

11 March 2010- New York, NY- Jay-Z at the Ground Breaking Ceremony at The Atlantic Yards for the Barclay Center, which will be the future home for the Brooklyn Nets on March 11, 2010 in Brooklyn New York. Photo Credit: Terrence Jennings/Sipa Press/1003121444

11 March 2010- New York, NY- l to r: Jay-Z and Guest at the Ground Breaking Ceromony for the Barclay Center held at The Atlantic Yards, which will be the future home for the Brooklyn Nets on March 11, 2010 in Brooklyn New York. Photo Credit: Terrence Jennings/Sipa Press/1003121444

11 March 2010- New York, NY- Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Jay-Z, and Delia Hunely-Adossa at the Ground Breaking Ceremony at The Atlantic Yards for the Barclay Center, which will be the future home for the Brooklyn Nets on March 11, 2010 in Brooklyn New York. Photo Credit: Terrence Jennings/Sipa Press/1003121440

11 March 2010- New York, NY- Jay-Z at the Ground Breaking Ceremony at The Atlantic Yards for the Barclay Center, which will be the future home for the Brooklyn Nets on March 11, 2010 in Brooklyn New York. Photo Credit: Terrence Jennings/Sipa Press/1003121444