Jay-Z announced Monday morning that the Nets will be called the Brooklyn Nets when the team moves from New Jersey to its new home next fall at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The team's official NBA web page has been updated, with a short, simple statement to reflect the change: "Jersey Strong, Brooklyn Ready."

The hip-hop mogul also announced that he'll headline a series of concerts -- as many as eight -- at the arena when it opens, the New York Daily News reports.

Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, owns a small stake in the Nets, according to My Fox NY. He grew up in the Marcy Houses, a public housing complex in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.

"This is my foundation," he said in an interview with Good Day New York's Rosanna Scotto (available below).

"I'm really giddy right now," he added, clearly excited by the announcement.

The Barclays Center is being built as part of the Atlantic Yards development in the Prospect Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. The controversial project was announced in 2004 but has been mired in delays.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/26/brooklyn-nets-jay-z-announcement_n_981108.html

http://www.nba.com/nets/brooklyn/splash.html

This will be Brooklyn's first professional sports team since the Dodgers left Ebbets Field and moved to L.A. in 1957! Let them have their name used for the team. It will help keep them distinct from the New york Knicks.

This will be Brooklyn's first professional sports team since the Dodgers left Ebbets Field and moved to L.A. in 1957! Let them have their name used for the team. It will help keep them distinct from the New york Knicks.


I hear what you are saying and I am fine with calling themselves the Brooklyn _____, why did they keep the Nets name? The team made a big stink about making a new name and they stayed with the Nets. Not a great name to begin with...

Washington Wizards need to change back to the Washington Bullets