More than 18,000 people attended Billy Joel’s New Year’s Eve concert at Barclays Center, setting the arena’s single-event attendance record.

“We are thrilled that so many people wanted to ring in the New Year at Billy Joel’s first arena show in New York City since 2006,” said Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark. “In this city, being first matters, and we are proud that Billy, an iconic New Yorker, chose Barclays Center to make his dramatic return. Billy told the crowd that it was his first performance in Brooklyn since he was about 17 years old, and the borough was delighted to welcome him back. It was an unforgettable event and continues our goal to bring the best to Brooklyn and to further provide an unprecedented customer experience.”

The concert also received worldwide exposure. Moments after the ball dropped in Times Square, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest broadcast a live cut-in from Barclays Center of Joel singing a spirited ‘You May Be Right.’

On an unrelated note, Billy Joel rocked out Barclays Center, while Phish played a phenomenal four night New Year’s run at the coveted Madison Square Garden for their 30th anniversary (Read our review here). Rumors have been flying in the Phish community of whether Billy Joel, (the first Madison Square Garden Franchise Resident), was displeased with Phish being scheduled to perform there on New Year’s Eve, referring to the Vermont band as something along the lines of a “second rate Cover Band”. Phish played nine sets of music during their four night run, with no repeats, and no covers. The band’s lyricist Tom Marshall tweeted, “Phish, 4-nights MSG, all originals, no repeats, put THAT bread in your jar piano man!”