When fans enter the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for a game, one scent is immediately detectable: popcorn.
Popcorn and sporting events feel inseparable. At Barclays, home to the New York Liberty and the Brooklyn Nets, two women — Deborah Emmanuel and Mahogany Almond — keep the stadium well stocked with the fan-favorite snack. They have been working together for six years, becoming close friends and two of the stadium’s most prized employees. Ms. Emmanuel and Ms. Almond have popcorn-making down to a detailed science — they know the perfect ratio of seasoning to seed, can tell when the seed is stale and make enormous quantities of popcorn, consistently and fast.
They’ve been working at Barclays long enough to see women’s sports become a sensation. Their skills are even loved by one of basketball’s biggest stars: Stephen Curry, who ranks popcorn at various sports stadiums and named the one at the Barclays Center second-best in the country.
Ms. Emmanuel and Ms. Almond don’t get to meet the players or fans who enjoy their popcorn — as they’re leaving, people are arriving. But their work can be found in every inch of the stadium, from the food stands up to the luxury suites.
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Priya Krishna is a reporter in the Food section of The Times.
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