Jay-Z returning home to Brooklyn to christen new basketball stadium

Jay-Z will play three homecoming concerts in his native New York to officially open his Brooklyn Nets basketball team's new arena this September (12).

The rap icon and team co-owner will launch the Barclays Center in Brooklyn with a big gig on 28 September (12), followed by two additional shows on 29 and 30 September (12).

Venue chief executive Brett Yormark says, "Jay-Z is Brooklyn and is the definitive artist to open Barclays Center.

"We are thrilled that such an iconic world-class entertainer, not to mention a Brooklynite, will take the borough's biggest stage on three consecutive nights for what will surely be a historic experience for all fans."

And the hip-hop star is making sure fans from across the board will have the chance to attend - more than 7,000 tickets for the 19,000-seat arena will be priced at less than $30 for each date.

The team currently known as the New Jersey Nets will be renamed when they relocate to the Barclays Center in the Big Apple in time for the NBA's 2012/13 season.