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Nets' Barclays Center Announces Partnership With Brooklyn Academy Of Music

NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) — A little Shakespeare with your basketball?

The developers of Brooklyn's Barclays Center, scheduled to open for the Nets' 2012-13 season, said Thursday they have formed a partnership with the nearby Brooklyn Academy of Music to help fill the arena when the team is not playing.

The Brooklyn Academy of Music, or BAM, is a performing arts venue known for presenting innovative works of theater, music and dance.

Barclays Center developer Forest City Ratner Cos. said BAM will help recommend large-scale performing arts productions that could be staged at the arena.

Photos: Barclays center construction update

"We are excited to differentiate the Barclays Center by presenting programming unique to any major sports and entertainment venue in the country," said Bruce Ratner, CEO of Forest City. "Our alliance furthers our goal to offer the community with a dynamic cultural experience in the heart of Brooklyn."

BAM President Karen Brooks Hopkins said the partnership will give BAM the opportunity to work on a giant canvas.

"From concerts to family shows, from college sports to boxing, and, of course, to Nets basketball, we have already confirmed more than 150 events per year and we fully expect to host more than 200 events annually," said Nets CEO Brett Yormark. "It makes great strategic sense to align with our neighbor, BAM, and continue to bring the best of everything to Brooklyn."

What do you think of the partnership? Sound off in the comments below...

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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