So, how big would the Atlantic Yards arena be? Structural engineer says it would be 750,000 square feet

This is getting interesting. Remember, as I wrote October 3, when the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) on June 23 adopted the 2009 Modified General Project Plan (MGPP), the arena was described as 850,000 square feet, as it had been in 2006.

On September 9, after the comment period on the MGPP had closed, Forest City Ratner announced that the new design, by Ellerbe Becket and SHoP, was for a 675,000 square foot arena.

On September 17, the ESDC Board affirmed the MGPP and the press release cited a 675,000 square-foot arena.

Now structural engineer Thornton Tomasetti, on its page for the Barclays Center, states (right) that the arena would be 750,000 square feet.

Either they're referring to some design that was not actually announced or the arena has already been enlarged in some way.

There was no mention at the ESDC board meeting of a smaller arena. And the project site plan that was part of board documents again stated that the arena would be 850,000 sf, thus contradicting the press release.

So those officially overseeing the project apparently don't know. And if Forest City Ratner really does plan a 750,000 square foot arena, shouldn't they say so?