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Wikipedia

Prudential Center

February 05, 2023

For other uses, see Prudential Center (disambiguation).

Prudential Center is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the central business district of Newark, New Jersey. Opened in 2007, it is the home of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the men's basketball program of Seton Hall University, known as the Seton Hall Pirates. The arena officially seats 16,514 patrons for hockey games and up to 18,711 for basketball. Fans and sports writers have affectionately nicknamed the arena "The Rock"[9] in reference to the Rock of Gibraltar, the corporate logo of Prudential Financial, a financial institution that owns the naming rights to the arena and is headquartered within walking distance of it. In December 2013, the arena ranked third nationally and ninth internationally for self-reported annual revenue.[10]

Prudential Center
The Rock
Prudential Center in 2008
Prudential Center
Location near New York City
Prudential Center
Location within New Jersey
Prudential Center
Location within the United States
Address25 Lafayette Street
LocationNewark, New Jersey
Coordinates40°44′1″N 74°10′16″W / 40.73361°N 74.17111°W / 40.73361; -74.17111Coordinates: 40°44′1″N 74°10′16″W / 40.73361°N 74.17111°W / 40.73361; -74.17111
Public transitNewark Penn Station
NJT Bus: 1, 5, 11, 21, 25, 28, 29, 30, 34, 39, 40, 41, 59, 62, 67, 70, 71, 72, 73, 76, 78, 79, 95, 108, 308, 319, 361, 375, 378
ONE Bus: 31, 44
ParkingApproximately 3,500 parking spaces within two blocks,[1] among other public parking facilities in the vicinity.
OwnerNewark Housing Authority
OperatorDevils Arena Entertainment[2]
CapacityIce hockey:
17,625 (2007–2013)
16,592 (2013–2015)[3]
16,514 (2015–present)[4]
Basketball: 18,711
Indoor soccer: 17,502
Lacrosse: 17,625
Concerts: 19,500[5]
Construction
Broke groundOctober 3, 2005
OpenedOctober 25, 2007
Construction costUS$375 million[2]
ArchitectHOK Sport (now Populous)
Morris Adjmi Architects (Exterior)
El Taller Colaborativo[6]
Project managerICON Venue Group[6]
Structural engineerThornton Tomasetti
Services engineerR.G. Vanderweil Engineers, Inc.[7]
General contractorGilbane Construction[6][8]
Tenants
New Jersey Devils (NHL) (2007–present)
Seton Hall Pirates (NCAA) (2007–present)
New Jersey Rockets (USPHL) (2007–present)
New York Titans (NLL) (2007–2009)
New Jersey Ironmen (XSL) (2007–2009)
NJIT Highlanders (NCAA) (2008–present)
New Jersey Nets (NBA) (2010–2012)
New York Liberty (WNBA) (2011–2013)
Metropolitan Riveters (NWHL) (2016–2019, 2021)
Website
www.prucenter.com

The arena was built amidst financial concerns and years of speculation that the Devils would relocate, despite the fact that the team was a perennial playoff contender and had been at or near the top of the NHL's standings for over a decade. The arena is located two blocks from Newark Penn Station in downtown Newark, just west of Newark's Ironbound district, which makes it easily accessible via New Jersey Transit, PATH, Newark Light Rail, and Amtrak. At the time of its opening, Prudential Center was the first major league sports venue to be built in the New York metropolitan area since the Meadowlands Arena, the Devils' former home, opened in 1981. According to the Devils organization, the Prudential Center has played a major role in the revitalization of downtown Newark.[11] It was designed by HOK Sport (now Populous), with the exterior designed by Morris Adjmi Architects.

History

Planning

For years, the New Jersey Devils had been rumored to be at least considering relocation. Even when the team won the Stanley Cup in 1995, it was amidst rumors that the franchise would move to Nashville. Despite playing championship-caliber hockey in the 2002–03 season culminating in a Stanley Cup that year, the Devils only averaged 14,858 fans per game at their home arena, Continental Airlines Arena at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford.[12]

A project to build a new 18,000-seat arena in Newark first received funding from Newark's city council in 2002, when the team was owned by Puck Holdings, a subsidiary of YankeeNets.[12] In 2004, former Lehman Brothers executive Jeffrey Vanderbeek bought the team from Puck Holdings and became a strong proponent of the proposed arena.[12] Vanderbeek said, "The Devils need a new arena that can provide a game-day experience that is certainly equal to the best team in the National Hockey League and certainly equal to the product that is put on the ice."[12] He also stated that he believed the arena "would take downtown Newark to a whole new level."[12] After legal battles over both eminent domain and the city's financial participation in the arena project, the final deal was approved by council and went through in October 2004.[13]

Construction and funding

 
Prudential Center, under construction in June 2007

A 7-acre (2.8 ha) site[14] for the arena in downtown Newark was selected, bordered by Edison Place on the north, Lafayette Street on the south, Mulberry Street on the east, and Broad Street on the west. The site was the location of the never-completed Renaissance Mall and, previously, the tracks and train shed of the Central Railroad of New Jersey's Broad/Lafayette Street terminal whose building still stands nearby. The arena was designed by HOK Sport, with the exterior designed by Morris Adjmi Architects. Initial designs were released in early 2005 and referred to the arena as "Newark Arena". Groundbreaking began on October 3, 2005, and a workforce of 2,725 union workers was employed to construct the arena.[14] Financial issues, though, threatened to halt the deal. On January 24, 2006, the Devils averted having the project canceled by submitting a guarantee in writing that the team would contribute $100 million to the arena,[15] one day before their deadline.[16]

Though construction was well underway, in late summer 2006, Cory Booker, who had recently taken office as Mayor of Newark, promised to reevaluate the deal and considered backing out.[17][18] In October, Booker conceded there would be "a first-class arena built in the city of Newark, whether we like it or not",[19] and soon afterwards, the Devils struck a deal including both property and monetary givebacks that appeased city officials.[20]

The city of Newark pledged to contribute $210 million to the construction of the arena, using settlement money from its lease dispute over underpaid rent for use of Newark Liberty International Airport with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The Devils paid for the remainder of the cost. Thus, no new direct taxpayer funding was required for the construction of the arena.[21] Some taxpayer dollars, however, were spent on infrastructure improvements. These improvements were necessary for both the new arena and proposed private development surrounding that arena.

Prudential Financial purchased the naming rights to the stadium in January 2007 for $105.3 million over 20 years, reducing the city's cost for the project. The arena had been referred to as "Newark Arena" before the deal. In addition to its formal name, Prudential Center was immediately nicknamed "The Rock" after Prudential's corporate logo.[9]

Construction on the arena was completed in October 2007.[22][23] The estimated final cost of the arena's construction is $380 million.[2][24] In total, more than 18,000 tons of steel were used to build the bowl area and high roof, while 62,000 linear feet of ductwork were installed throughout the arena.[14] The Devils had to play their first nine games of the 2007–08 NHL season on the road as construction on their home arena was finished.

Opening

For the soft opening on October 20, the Newark Boys Chorus performed at Prudential Center, which became the first use of the arena. It officially opened on October 25, 2007, with a series of 10 concerts by the New Jersey native rock group Bon Jovi, featuring a star-studded lineup of opening acts including Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, Daughtry, The All-American Rejects and fellow New Jersey native group My Chemical Romance.[25]

The Devils played their first home game at Prudential Center on October 27, 2007, against the Ottawa Senators, who, coincidentally, were the Devils' last opponent at Continental Airlines Arena.[26] Chris Neil scored the arena's first goal, while Brian Gionta scored the Devils' first goal in the arena. Martin Gerber earned the first win as the Senators defeated the Devils 4–1.

On November 11, 2007, the first collegiate basketball game took place in the arena, with Seton Hall defeating Monmouth, 89–81, in overtime.

Lighting incidents

On January 8, 2010, a lighting problem occurred in the arena during a game between the Devils and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa Bay was leading 3–0 with 9:12 left in the second period when half of the arena's sports lights went out due to a power surge on the grid feeding electricity to the arena, followed by a computerized lighting system failing to reboot. PSEG and Prudential Center electricians worked on the situation for 1 hour and 52 minutes but could not reboot the system. The game was suspended due to the lighting problem;[27] it was resumed two nights later, with about 3,000 of the original crowd of 15,129 in attendance.[28] Tampa Bay won, 4–2, with Lightning center Steven Stamkos scoring two goals in the contest: one on Friday and one on Sunday.[29]

Before a preseason game between the Devils and the New York Islanders, on October 7, 2021, the lights in the northeast corner of the arena could not be turned on due to a power outage. After a lengthy delay, the game was officially canceled.[30]

Arena usage

 
A view of the ice from Section 232, following a New Jersey Devils game

Prudential Center primarily serves as the home arena for the New Jersey Devils hockey franchise, who previously played at the Meadowlands Arena from 1982 to 2007, as well as the home court of the NCAA's Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball program, who also played in the Meadowlands from 1985 to 2007. The arena also hosts select home games for the Seton Hall Pirates women's basketball team, and the NJIT Highlanders men's basketball team. The arena was a former home of the New York Titans of the National Lacrosse League until 2009, when the team moved to Orlando. The Devils' first playoff series-clinching win at the arena was on May 25, 2012, when they defeated the rival New York Rangers 3–2 in overtime on a goal by Adam Henrique to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.[31] Games 1, 2, and 5 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals were played at the arena.

 
Seton Hall Pirates warming up at the Prudential Center, November 2021

Professional basketball

The Prudential Center was originally intended to also be the home of the New Jersey Nets, but the team was sold to real estate developer Bruce Ratner, who intended to build an arena in Brooklyn for the team, and the Nets remained in the Meadowlands while awaiting construction of what became the Barclays Center. However, the construction of the Barclays Center was plagued by lawsuits and economic issues during the late 2000s recession. In the fall of 2009, the Nets played two preseason games at the Prudential Center, while considering a possible move there.[32] After the success of the preseason games at the Prudential Center,[33] the Nets finalized a deal to move to the Prudential Center.

On April 23, 2012, the Nets played their final game at the Prudential Center. The Nets relocated to the Barclays Center to become the Brooklyn Nets at the beginning of the 2012-13 NBA season.[34]

The New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) played home games at Prudential Center during the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons, due to renovations at Madison Square Garden.[35]

Features

Design

 
The interior of the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey during a New Jersey Devils game.

The red and gray exterior is inspired by Newark's bricklaying and railroad heritage.[36] Fans approaching the arena from the front are presented with a view of the arena's externally mounted 4,800 square foot (446 m2) LED display, one of the largest in the world.[37] The Daktronics display is split up into thin panels with gaps in between, in order to prevent the fans' view from inside from being obstructed.[38] Along the arena's east side Mulberry Street entrance are two large cylindrical entrance towers, the arena's most prominent exterior feature. These towers take the fans up to the main concourse, by escalator and staircase.[11]

The interior's lower level concourse provides views of downtown Newark on the Edison Place and Mulberry Street sides through large windows. Prudential Center features separate concourses for the lower and upper levels, whereas the Continental Airlines Arena had one concourse for both levels of the arena. Throughout the lower concourse, jerseys of most high school hockey teams in New Jersey hang from the walls. The arena also features many murals of players and memorable moments from Devils history. One 6,000-square-foot (560 m2) mural[14] encompasses a long stretch of the lower concourse wall and features Devils Martin Brodeur, Scott Stevens, and Ken Daneyko, along with tributes to other New Jersey sports and Newark landmarks, with depictions that include Seton Hall men's basketball legends Richie Regan and Terry Dehere, soccer player Tony Meola, a boxer, and tennis legend Althea Gibson.

 
The lower level concourse, with the Goal Bar on the upper right, features jerseys from most high school hockey teams in New Jersey.

Amenities and facilities

 
The new scoreboard installed in 2017 before its first regular season game in service.
 
A mural outside the Prudential Center (featuring Martin Brodeur in the center) in front of a double-length bus stop.

As one of the newer facilities to be used in the NHL, the Prudential Center features a large array of amenities.[11] The rink area features LED ribbons circumnavigating the arena and a 9,585-square-foot (890.5 m2) scoreboard by Trans-Lux installed in 2017, weighing over 44 tons and the largest in-arena, center-hung scoreboard in the world,[39] replacing a smaller, lower-resolution eight-sided unit from Daktronics. The 76 luxury suites available[36] are the largest in North America.[11] Personal dining, WiFi, and HDTVs are some of the many conveniences available in the luxury suites.[11] There are 750 flat-screen TVs in total across the arena.[36] On each side of the lower bowl the three middle sections consist of a combined 2,330 Club seats.[14] These black-colored seats emblazoned with the Devils' logo are wider with more legroom.[37] Club seat and season ticket holders have access to a 350-seat restaurant on the suite level in one of the end zones with views of the rink and practice rink.[37] Additionally, the Goal Bar, located on Suite Level One offers Club and Goal Bar seat holders terrace-style seating in a bar environment.[37] Club Seat holders also have access to lounges on the main concourse offering buffet-style food options.[11] One of these lounges contains the television camera staging area and the commentating post at which Bill Spaulding and Ken Daneyko call games for MSG Sportsnet telecasts, whereas home radio broadcasts and all road team broadcasts originate from the press box above the 200 level.

On the north, Edison Place side of the arena, at street level, are the ticket office and the Devils' 2,600 square foot (242 m2) Team Store, along with Championship Plaza, a public meeting place that celebrates the Devils' past and present successes on the ice.[37] Attached to the Prudential Center are the Devils' corporate offices and practice rink, which contains its own locker rooms. The Prudential Center is one of only four NHL arenas with a practice rink (the others are Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, home of the Columbus Blue Jackets, KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, home of the Buffalo Sabres, and Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, home of the Detroit Red Wings) and the only one with dual locker rooms and practice facilities.[40]

The Grammy Museum Experience, a museum celebrating the Grammy Awards, opened on October 20, 2017, at the Prudential Center.[41][42][43]

Practice rink

The Devils's practice rink, the RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House (formerly AmeriHealth Pavilion), is attached to the arena, located on the south side of the building.[44] On select days, it is open to fans after the game for public ice skating. The practice rink also served as the home of the Metropolitan Riveters of the National Women's Hockey League from 2016 to 2019. The Saint Peter's Prep Mauraders hockey teams, NJIT Highlanders club hockey team that competes in the Colonial States College Hockey Conference, and other local youth teams also use the rink. The arena also hosts the NJSIAA Public A, Public B, and Private State Finals for high school ice hockey.

Championship Plaza and environs

Championship Plaza, an outdoor space designed to celebrate the Devils' history, is located opposite the Investor Bank Tower on Mulberry Street between Edison Place and Market Street. The most prominent piece of the project is the 22-foot (6.7 m) tall, 7,000-pound (3,200 kg) stainless steel hockey player statue. The Prudential rock, inspired by the Rock of Gibraltar, was also installed in the plaza, and placed along Mulberry Street. Devil fans were able purchase a limited amount of bricks that would be placed in and around the plaza with personalized messages inscribed. The plaza was opened to the public on October 3, 2009.

On the opposite end of the arena, a statue of former New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur was dedicated outside of the Lafayette Street entrance tower and practice rink on October 22, 2016.[45]

Much like the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the Prudential Center was expected to boost Newark's urban renaissance. Small-scale projects in the immediate vicinity of the arena around Four Corners have led to the construction of new hotels,[46][47][48] loft conversions,[49] and a restaurant row.[50] The development of Mulberry Commons (known as Triangle Park during its conception), a city square originally proposed as the centerpiece of a commercial and residential complex near the arena, stagnated for a decade[51][52] before construction began in October 2017.[53] The park finally opened after 15 years of delay on May 30, 2019.[54]

Accessibility and transportation

Located only two blocks from Newark Penn Station, Prudential Center, like its three major counterparts in the New York metropolitan area–Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, and UBS Arena–is one of the most easily accessible arenas in the country. Public transportation access is provided via NJ Transit trains and buses, PATH trains, Newark Light Rail, and Amtrak. Major highways in the arena's vicinity include I-95 on the New Jersey Turnpike, I-78, I-280, US 1/9, NJ 21, US 22, and the Garden State Parkway.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Prudential Center Directions". Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c . Prudential Center. Archived from the original on March 13, 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  3. ^ Stromberg, Mike (May 13, 2014). "Good News/Bad News: Taking a Look at the Devils' 2013-14 Attendance Numbers". SB Nation. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  4. ^ Chere, Rich (November 7, 2015). "Travis Zajac Sparks Devils' Rout of Chicago Blackhawks, 4-2". The Star-Ledger. Newark. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  5. ^ . Prudential Center. Archived from the original on February 9, 2008. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  6. ^ a b c "Prudential Center". ICON Venue Group. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  7. ^ . Vanderweil Engineers. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  8. ^ Muret, Don (November 5, 2007). "A New Ara in Newark". SportsBusiness Daily. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  9. ^ a b Sweeney, Matt (May 23, 2007). "Seton Hall Moves to the Rock". Seton Hall University. Retrieved July 19, 2007.
  10. ^ Burd, Joshua (December 13, 2013). "Prudential Center gets a Top 10 worldwide ranking". NJBiz. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Prudential Center Promotional Video". New Jersey Devils. Retrieved September 5, 2007.
  12. ^ a b c d e Caldwell, Dave (March 3, 2004). "Wall Street Executive to Buy Devils". The New York Times. Retrieved August 30, 2006.
  13. ^ Brennan, John (October 7, 2004). . The Record (Bergen County). Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved August 30, 2006.
  14. ^ a b c d e . Prudential Center. Archived from the original on November 10, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  15. ^ Brennan, John (January 25, 2006). "Devils Give $100 Million Guarantee for Newark Arena". The Record. Retrieved September 9, 2007.
  16. ^ "Newark Sets Deadline for Letter of Credit from Devils". ESPN. Associated Press. January 23, 2006. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
  17. ^ Brennan, John (June 20, 2006). . The Record (Bergen County). Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved August 30, 2006.
  18. ^ Burton, Cynthia (August 16, 2006). "A New Light in Newark". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 30, 2006.
  19. ^ Brennan, John (October 20, 2006). . The Record (Bergen County). Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved October 21, 2006.
  20. ^ Brennan, John (October 31, 2006). . The Record (Bergen County). Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2006.
  21. ^ . WCBS. Associated Press. October 26, 2007. Archived from the original on November 28, 2007. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  22. ^ Giambusso, David (March 14, 2011). "Eyes Are on Newark, As City Hosts March Madness NCAA Tournament". The Star-Ledger. Newark. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
  23. ^ DeJesus, Bumper (October 22, 2009). . The Star-Ledger. Newark. Archived from the original on February 25, 2010. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
  24. ^ Kenter, Jeremy (October 16, 2007). "Prudential Center- Infrastructure Costs Taxpayers Even More Green". Devils Daily. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
  25. ^ . New Jersey Devils LLC. May 3, 2007. Archived from the original on July 8, 2007. Retrieved September 9, 2007.
  26. ^ "New Jersey Devils – Schedule (Home Games)". New Jersey Devils LLC. Retrieved September 9, 2007.
  27. ^ Canavan, Tom (January 9, 2010). . The New York Times. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
  28. ^ Chere, Rich (January 10, 2010). "NJ Devils Say Fans Who Showed Up for Resumption of Suspended Game Were Appreciated". The Star-Ledger. Newark. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
  29. ^ Chere, Rich (January 10, 2010). "NJ Devils lose, 4–2, to Tampa Bay Lightning in resumption of suspended game". The Star-Ledger. Newark. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
  30. ^ "CANCELLED: Islanders at Devils". NHL.com. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  31. ^ Klein, Jeff Z. (May 25, 2012). "Devils Advance to Finals After Ending Rangers' Season". The New York Times. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  32. ^ . Prudential Center. March 4, 2009. Archived from the original on March 15, 2009. Retrieved March 19, 2009.
  33. ^ "NJ Nets to Take Up Residence at Prudential Center Beginning Next Year, According to Report". The Star-Ledger. Newark. October 23, 2009. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  34. ^ "Nets Bid New Jersey Farewell With Loss To 76ers". CBS New York. April 23, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  35. ^ James, Brigitte Williams (February 10, 2018). "Liberty leaving Madison Square Garden, re-sign two free agents". New York Post. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  36. ^ a b c Marin, Eric (October 23, 2007). "Prudential Center Anchors Newark's Vibrant Core". New Jersey Devils LLC. Retrieved October 23, 2007.
  37. ^ a b c d e . New Jersey Devils LLC. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved September 5, 2007.
  38. ^ "Work Underway on Mulberry Street Marquee". New Jersey Devils LLC. August 3, 2007. Retrieved September 5, 2007.
  39. ^ Score Media, Ventures. "Devils boast world's biggest in-arena scoreboard". msn.com. Score Media Ventures. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  40. ^ "Prudential Center's Practice Rink". New Jersey Devils LLC. August 31, 2007. Retrieved September 5, 2007.
  41. ^ "GRAMMY Museum Experience Opens in Newark". njbmagazine.com. October 20, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  42. ^ King, Kate (February 7, 2017). "Grammy Museum to Open Newark Location This Fall". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  43. ^ Yi, Karen (February 7, 2017). "Grammy Museum coming to Newark's Prudential Center". NJ.com. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  44. ^ "RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House". barnabashealthhockeyhouse.com. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  45. ^ Ryan, Chris (August 29, 2016). "Devils to dedicate Martin Brodeur statue on Oct. 22". The Star Ledger. Newark. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  46. ^ Brennan, John (February 5, 2010). "Hotel-Retail Project Coming to Downtown Newark". The Record. Bergen County. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
  47. ^ (Press release). Crestline Hotels. November 14, 2011. Archived from the original on March 24, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  48. ^ "Fate of New Jersey's Urban Enterprise Zone Program to Be Debated Today". The Star-Ledger. Newark. June 29, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  49. ^ De Poyo, Tom (November 29, 2012). "A Place Near the Rock" (PDF). The Star-Ledger. Newark. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
  50. ^ Portlock, Sarah (July 17, 2011). "New Eateries Sparking Restaurant Row in Prudential Center's Shadow". The Star-Ledger. Newark. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
  51. ^ "Triangle Park Master Plan" (PDF). 4ward Planning. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  52. ^ Giambusso, David (July 5, 2011). "After 5 Years, $12M Spent, Newark Triangle Park Project Remains a Parking Lot". The Star-Ledger. Newark. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  53. ^ Strunsky, Steve (October 3, 2017). "Newark, Devils start work on long-awaited, $10M downtown park". The Star-Ledger. Newark. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  54. ^ "First Phase of Newark's Mulberry Commons Park Finally Completed". jerseydigs.com. May 31, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2019.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Prudential Center.
  • Official website
  • An interactive guide to the arena

February 05, 2023
prudential, center, other, uses, disambiguation, multi, purpose, indoor, arena, central, business, district, newark, jersey, opened, 2007, home, jersey, devils, national, hockey, league, basketball, program, seton, hall, university, known, seton, hall, pirates. For other uses see Prudential Center disambiguation Prudential Center is a multi purpose indoor arena in the central business district of Newark New Jersey Opened in 2007 it is the home of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League NHL and the men s basketball program of Seton Hall University known as the Seton Hall Pirates The arena officially seats 16 514 patrons for hockey games and up to 18 711 for basketball Fans and sports writers have affectionately nicknamed the arena The Rock 9 in reference to the Rock of Gibraltar the corporate logo of Prudential Financial a financial institution that owns the naming rights to the arena and is headquartered within walking distance of it In December 2013 the arena ranked third nationally and ninth internationally for self reported annual revenue 10 Prudential CenterThe RockPrudential Center in 2008Prudential CenterLocation near New York CityShow map of New York CityPrudential CenterLocation within New JerseyShow map of New JerseyPrudential CenterLocation within the United StatesShow map of the United StatesAddress25 Lafayette StreetLocationNewark New JerseyCoordinates40 44 1 N 74 10 16 W 40 73361 N 74 17111 W 40 73361 74 17111 Coordinates 40 44 1 N 74 10 16 W 40 73361 N 74 17111 W 40 73361 74 17111Public transitNewark Penn Station AmtrakNJ Transit Northeast Corridor Line North Jersey Coast Line Raritan Valley LineNewark Light Rail Grove Street Newark Penn Broad Street Newark Penn PATH NWK WTC NJT Bus 1 5 11 21 25 28 29 30 34 39 40 41 59 62 67 70 71 72 73 76 78 79 95 108 308 319 361 375 378 ONE Bus 31 44ParkingApproximately 3 500 parking spaces within two blocks 1 among other public parking facilities in the vicinity OwnerNewark Housing AuthorityOperatorDevils Arena Entertainment 2 CapacityIce hockey 17 625 2007 2013 16 592 2013 2015 3 16 514 2015 present 4 Basketball 18 711Indoor soccer 17 502Lacrosse 17 625Concerts 19 500 5 ConstructionBroke groundOctober 3 2005OpenedOctober 25 2007Construction costUS 375 million 2 ArchitectHOK Sport now Populous Morris Adjmi Architects Exterior El Taller Colaborativo 6 Project managerICON Venue Group 6 Structural engineerThornton TomasettiServices engineerR G Vanderweil Engineers Inc 7 General contractorGilbane Construction 6 8 TenantsNew Jersey Devils NHL 2007 present Seton Hall Pirates NCAA 2007 present New Jersey Rockets USPHL 2007 present New York Titans NLL 2007 2009 New Jersey Ironmen XSL 2007 2009 NJIT Highlanders NCAA 2008 present New Jersey Nets NBA 2010 2012 New York Liberty WNBA 2011 2013 Metropolitan Riveters NWHL 2016 2019 2021 Websitewww wbr prucenter wbr comThe arena was built amidst financial concerns and years of speculation that the Devils would relocate despite the fact that the team was a perennial playoff contender and had been at or near the top of the NHL s standings for over a decade The arena is located two blocks from Newark Penn Station in downtown Newark just west of Newark s Ironbound district which makes it easily accessible via New Jersey Transit PATH Newark Light Rail and Amtrak At the time of its opening Prudential Center was the first major league sports venue to be built in the New York metropolitan area since the Meadowlands Arena the Devils former home opened in 1981 According to the Devils organization the Prudential Center has played a major role in the revitalization of downtown Newark 11 It was designed by HOK Sport now Populous with the exterior designed by Morris Adjmi Architects Contents 1 History 1 1 Planning 1 2 Construction and funding 1 3 Opening 1 4 Lighting incidents 2 Arena usage 2 1 Professional basketball 3 Features 3 1 Design 3 2 Amenities and facilities 4 Practice rink 5 Championship Plaza and environs 6 Accessibility and transportation 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksHistory EditPlanning Edit For years the New Jersey Devils had been rumored to be at least considering relocation Even when the team won the Stanley Cup in 1995 it was amidst rumors that the franchise would move to Nashville Despite playing championship caliber hockey in the 2002 03 season culminating in a Stanley Cup that year the Devils only averaged 14 858 fans per game at their home arena Continental Airlines Arena at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford 12 A project to build a new 18 000 seat arena in Newark first received funding from Newark s city council in 2002 when the team was owned by Puck Holdings a subsidiary of YankeeNets 12 In 2004 former Lehman Brothers executive Jeffrey Vanderbeek bought the team from Puck Holdings and became a strong proponent of the proposed arena 12 Vanderbeek said The Devils need a new arena that can provide a game day experience that is certainly equal to the best team in the National Hockey League and certainly equal to the product that is put on the ice 12 He also stated that he believed the arena would take downtown Newark to a whole new level 12 After legal battles over both eminent domain and the city s financial participation in the arena project the final deal was approved by council and went through in October 2004 13 Construction and funding Edit Prudential Center under construction in June 2007 A 7 acre 2 8 ha site 14 for the arena in downtown Newark was selected bordered by Edison Place on the north Lafayette Street on the south Mulberry Street on the east and Broad Street on the west The site was the location of the never completed Renaissance Mall and previously the tracks and train shed of the Central Railroad of New Jersey s Broad Lafayette Street terminal whose building still stands nearby The arena was designed by HOK Sport with the exterior designed by Morris Adjmi Architects Initial designs were released in early 2005 and referred to the arena as Newark Arena Groundbreaking began on October 3 2005 and a workforce of 2 725 union workers was employed to construct the arena 14 Financial issues though threatened to halt the deal On January 24 2006 the Devils averted having the project canceled by submitting a guarantee in writing that the team would contribute 100 million to the arena 15 one day before their deadline 16 Though construction was well underway in late summer 2006 Cory Booker who had recently taken office as Mayor of Newark promised to reevaluate the deal and considered backing out 17 18 In October Booker conceded there would be a first class arena built in the city of Newark whether we like it or not 19 and soon afterwards the Devils struck a deal including both property and monetary givebacks that appeased city officials 20 The city of Newark pledged to contribute 210 million to the construction of the arena using settlement money from its lease dispute over underpaid rent for use of Newark Liberty International Airport with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey The Devils paid for the remainder of the cost Thus no new direct taxpayer funding was required for the construction of the arena 21 Some taxpayer dollars however were spent on infrastructure improvements These improvements were necessary for both the new arena and proposed private development surrounding that arena Prudential Financial purchased the naming rights to the stadium in January 2007 for 105 3 million over 20 years reducing the city s cost for the project The arena had been referred to as Newark Arena before the deal In addition to its formal name Prudential Center was immediately nicknamed The Rock after Prudential s corporate logo 9 Construction on the arena was completed in October 2007 22 23 The estimated final cost of the arena s construction is 380 million 2 24 In total more than 18 000 tons of steel were used to build the bowl area and high roof while 62 000 linear feet of ductwork were installed throughout the arena 14 The Devils had to play their first nine games of the 2007 08 NHL season on the road as construction on their home arena was finished Opening Edit For the soft opening on October 20 the Newark Boys Chorus performed at Prudential Center which became the first use of the arena It officially opened on October 25 2007 with a series of 10 concerts by the New Jersey native rock group Bon Jovi featuring a star studded lineup of opening acts including Big amp Rich Gretchen Wilson Daughtry The All American Rejects and fellow New Jersey native group My Chemical Romance 25 The Devils played their first home game at Prudential Center on October 27 2007 against the Ottawa Senators who coincidentally were the Devils last opponent at Continental Airlines Arena 26 Chris Neil scored the arena s first goal while Brian Gionta scored the Devils first goal in the arena Martin Gerber earned the first win as the Senators defeated the Devils 4 1 On November 11 2007 the first collegiate basketball game took place in the arena with Seton Hall defeating Monmouth 89 81 in overtime Lighting incidents Edit On January 8 2010 a lighting problem occurred in the arena during a game between the Devils and the Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa Bay was leading 3 0 with 9 12 left in the second period when half of the arena s sports lights went out due to a power surge on the grid feeding electricity to the arena followed by a computerized lighting system failing to reboot PSEG and Prudential Center electricians worked on the situation for 1 hour and 52 minutes but could not reboot the system The game was suspended due to the lighting problem 27 it was resumed two nights later with about 3 000 of the original crowd of 15 129 in attendance 28 Tampa Bay won 4 2 with Lightning center Steven Stamkos scoring two goals in the contest one on Friday and one on Sunday 29 Before a preseason game between the Devils and the New York Islanders on October 7 2021 the lights in the northeast corner of the arena could not be turned on due to a power outage After a lengthy delay the game was officially canceled 30 Arena usage Edit A view of the ice from Section 232 following a New Jersey Devils game Prudential Center primarily serves as the home arena for the New Jersey Devils hockey franchise who previously played at the Meadowlands Arena from 1982 to 2007 as well as the home court of the NCAA s Seton Hall Pirates men s basketball program who also played in the Meadowlands from 1985 to 2007 The arena also hosts select home games for the Seton Hall Pirates women s basketball team and the NJIT Highlanders men s basketball team The arena was a former home of the New York Titans of the National Lacrosse League until 2009 when the team moved to Orlando The Devils first playoff series clinching win at the arena was on May 25 2012 when they defeated the rival New York Rangers 3 2 in overtime on a goal by Adam Henrique to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals 31 Games 1 2 and 5 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals were played at the arena Seton Hall Pirates warming up at the Prudential Center November 2021 Professional basketball Edit The Prudential Center was originally intended to also be the home of the New Jersey Nets but the team was sold to real estate developer Bruce Ratner who intended to build an arena in Brooklyn for the team and the Nets remained in the Meadowlands while awaiting construction of what became the Barclays Center However the construction of the Barclays Center was plagued by lawsuits and economic issues during the late 2000s recession In the fall of 2009 the Nets played two preseason games at the Prudential Center while considering a possible move there 32 After the success of the preseason games at the Prudential Center 33 the Nets finalized a deal to move to the Prudential Center On April 23 2012 the Nets played their final game at the Prudential Center The Nets relocated to the Barclays Center to become the Brooklyn Nets at the beginning of the 2012 13 NBA season 34 The New York Liberty of the Women s National Basketball Association WNBA played home games at Prudential Center during the 2011 2012 and 2013 seasons due to renovations at Madison Square Garden 35 Features EditDesign Edit The interior of the Prudential Center in Newark New Jersey during a New Jersey Devils game The red and gray exterior is inspired by Newark s bricklaying and railroad heritage 36 Fans approaching the arena from the front are presented with a view of the arena s externally mounted 4 800 square foot 446 m2 LED display one of the largest in the world 37 The Daktronics display is split up into thin panels with gaps in between in order to prevent the fans view from inside from being obstructed 38 Along the arena s east side Mulberry Street entrance are two large cylindrical entrance towers the arena s most prominent exterior feature These towers take the fans up to the main concourse by escalator and staircase 11 The interior s lower level concourse provides views of downtown Newark on the Edison Place and Mulberry Street sides through large windows Prudential Center features separate concourses for the lower and upper levels whereas the Continental Airlines Arena had one concourse for both levels of the arena Throughout the lower concourse jerseys of most high school hockey teams in New Jersey hang from the walls The arena also features many murals of players and memorable moments from Devils history One 6 000 square foot 560 m2 mural 14 encompasses a long stretch of the lower concourse wall and features Devils Martin Brodeur Scott Stevens and Ken Daneyko along with tributes to other New Jersey sports and Newark landmarks with depictions that include Seton Hall men s basketball legends Richie Regan and Terry Dehere soccer player Tony Meola a boxer and tennis legend Althea Gibson The lower level concourse with the Goal Bar on the upper right features jerseys from most high school hockey teams in New Jersey Amenities and facilities Edit The new scoreboard installed in 2017 before its first regular season game in service A mural outside the Prudential Center featuring Martin Brodeur in the center in front of a double length bus stop As one of the newer facilities to be used in the NHL the Prudential Center features a large array of amenities 11 The rink area features LED ribbons circumnavigating the arena and a 9 585 square foot 890 5 m2 scoreboard by Trans Lux installed in 2017 weighing over 44 tons and the largest in arena center hung scoreboard in the world 39 replacing a smaller lower resolution eight sided unit from Daktronics The 76 luxury suites available 36 are the largest in North America 11 Personal dining WiFi and HDTVs are some of the many conveniences available in the luxury suites 11 There are 750 flat screen TVs in total across the arena 36 On each side of the lower bowl the three middle sections consist of a combined 2 330 Club seats 14 These black colored seats emblazoned with the Devils logo are wider with more legroom 37 Club seat and season ticket holders have access to a 350 seat restaurant on the suite level in one of the end zones with views of the rink and practice rink 37 Additionally the Goal Bar located on Suite Level One offers Club and Goal Bar seat holders terrace style seating in a bar environment 37 Club Seat holders also have access to lounges on the main concourse offering buffet style food options 11 One of these lounges contains the television camera staging area and the commentating post at which Bill Spaulding and Ken Daneyko call games for MSG Sportsnet telecasts whereas home radio broadcasts and all road team broadcasts originate from the press box above the 200 level On the north Edison Place side of the arena at street level are the ticket office and the Devils 2 600 square foot 242 m2 Team Store along with Championship Plaza a public meeting place that celebrates the Devils past and present successes on the ice 37 Attached to the Prudential Center are the Devils corporate offices and practice rink which contains its own locker rooms The Prudential Center is one of only four NHL arenas with a practice rink the others are Nationwide Arena in Columbus Ohio home of the Columbus Blue Jackets KeyBank Center in Buffalo New York home of the Buffalo Sabres and Little Caesars Arena in Detroit Michigan home of the Detroit Red Wings and the only one with dual locker rooms and practice facilities 40 The Grammy Museum Experience a museum celebrating the Grammy Awards opened on October 20 2017 at the Prudential Center 41 42 43 Practice rink EditThe Devils s practice rink the RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House formerly AmeriHealth Pavilion is attached to the arena located on the south side of the building 44 On select days it is open to fans after the game for public ice skating The practice rink also served as the home of the Metropolitan Riveters of the National Women s Hockey League from 2016 to 2019 The Saint Peter s Prep Mauraders hockey teams NJIT Highlanders club hockey team that competes in the Colonial States College Hockey Conference and other local youth teams also use the rink The arena also hosts the NJSIAA Public A Public B and Private State Finals for high school ice hockey Championship Plaza and environs EditChampionship Plaza an outdoor space designed to celebrate the Devils history is located opposite the Investor Bank Tower on Mulberry Street between Edison Place and Market Street The most prominent piece of the project is the 22 foot 6 7 m tall 7 000 pound 3 200 kg stainless steel hockey player statue The Prudential rock inspired by the Rock of Gibraltar was also installed in the plaza and placed along Mulberry Street Devil fans were able purchase a limited amount of bricks that would be placed in and around the plaza with personalized messages inscribed The plaza was opened to the public on October 3 2009 On the opposite end of the arena a statue of former New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur was dedicated outside of the Lafayette Street entrance tower and practice rink on October 22 2016 45 Much like the New Jersey Performing Arts Center the Prudential Center was expected to boost Newark s urban renaissance Small scale projects in the immediate vicinity of the arena around Four Corners have led to the construction of new hotels 46 47 48 loft conversions 49 and a restaurant row 50 The development of Mulberry Commons known as Triangle Park during its conception a city square originally proposed as the centerpiece of a commercial and residential complex near the arena stagnated for a decade 51 52 before construction began in October 2017 53 The park finally opened after 15 years of delay on May 30 2019 54 Accessibility and transportation EditLocated only two blocks from Newark Penn Station Prudential Center like its three major counterparts in the New York metropolitan area Madison Square Garden Barclays Center and UBS Arena is one of the most easily accessible arenas in the country Public transportation access is provided via NJ Transit trains and buses PATH trains Newark Light Rail and Amtrak Major highways in the arena s vicinity include I 95 on the New Jersey Turnpike I 78 I 280 US 1 9 NJ 21 US 22 and the Garden State Parkway See also Edit New Jersey portalGrant USA Tower a proposed skyscraper in the 1980s planned for this site Red Bull Arena a soccer stadium in the Newark suburb of Harrison New Jersey for the New York Red Bulls soccer team opened in March 2010 Sports in Newark New Jersey List of NCAA Division I basketball arenasReferences Edit Prudential Center Directions Retrieved January 5 2020 a b c Arena Info Prudential Center Archived from the original on March 13 2009 Retrieved March 18 2009 Stromberg Mike May 13 2014 Good News Bad News Taking a Look at the Devils 2013 14 Attendance Numbers SB Nation Retrieved November 7 2015 Chere Rich November 7 2015 Travis Zajac Sparks Devils Rout of Chicago Blackhawks 4 2 The Star Ledger Newark Retrieved November 7 2015 Prudential Center Highlights Prudential Center Archived from the original on February 9 2008 Retrieved February 5 2013 a b c Prudential Center ICON Venue Group Retrieved October 19 2011 Portfolio Vanderweil Engineers Archived from the original on March 7 2016 Retrieved October 19 2011 Muret Don November 5 2007 A New Ara in Newark SportsBusiness Daily Retrieved September 14 2011 a b Sweeney Matt May 23 2007 Seton Hall Moves to the Rock Seton Hall University Retrieved July 19 2007 Burd Joshua December 13 2013 Prudential Center gets a Top 10 worldwide ranking NJBiz Retrieved December 22 2013 a b c d e f Prudential Center Promotional Video New Jersey Devils Retrieved September 5 2007 a b c d e Caldwell Dave March 3 2004 Wall Street Executive to Buy Devils The New York Times Retrieved August 30 2006 Brennan John October 7 2004 Newark Arena for Devils a Done Deal The Record Bergen County Archived from the original on October 16 2007 Retrieved August 30 2006 a b c d e Highlights Prudential Center Archived from the original on November 10 2010 Retrieved March 18 2009 Brennan John January 25 2006 Devils Give 100 Million Guarantee for Newark Arena The Record Retrieved September 9 2007 Newark Sets Deadline for Letter of Credit from Devils ESPN Associated Press January 23 2006 Retrieved September 9 2009 Brennan John June 20 2006 Newark Mayor Elect Sees No Need for 2 Arenas The Record Bergen County Archived from the original on October 16 2007 Retrieved August 30 2006 Burton Cynthia August 16 2006 A New Light in Newark The Philadelphia Inquirer Retrieved August 30 2006 Brennan John October 20 2006 Devils Arena Will Go Forward Booker Says The Record Bergen County Archived from the original on October 16 2007 Retrieved October 21 2006 Brennan John October 31 2006 Newark Devils OK Arena Deal The Record Bergen County Archived from the original on September 28 2007 Retrieved October 31 2006 Prudential Center Opens WCBS Associated Press October 26 2007 Archived from the original on November 28 2007 Retrieved February 5 2013 Giambusso David March 14 2011 Eyes Are on Newark As City Hosts March Madness NCAA Tournament The Star Ledger Newark Retrieved March 14 2011 DeJesus Bumper October 22 2009 Time Lapse of the Prudential Center Construction The Star Ledger Newark Archived from the original on February 25 2010 Retrieved March 14 2011 Kenter Jeremy October 16 2007 Prudential Center Infrastructure Costs Taxpayers Even More Green Devils Daily Retrieved December 8 2008 Bon Jovi to Open Prudential Center in Newark New Jersey Devils LLC May 3 2007 Archived from the original on July 8 2007 Retrieved September 9 2007 New Jersey Devils Schedule Home Games New Jersey Devils LLC Retrieved September 9 2007 Canavan Tom January 9 2010 Devils Lightning Game Suspended by Light Problem The New York Times Associated Press Archived from the original on April 9 2016 Retrieved January 12 2010 Chere Rich January 10 2010 NJ Devils Say Fans Who Showed Up for Resumption of Suspended Game Were Appreciated The Star Ledger Newark Retrieved January 12 2010 Chere Rich January 10 2010 NJ Devils lose 4 2 to Tampa Bay Lightning in resumption of suspended game The Star Ledger Newark Retrieved January 12 2010 CANCELLED Islanders at Devils NHL com Retrieved November 26 2022 Klein Jeff Z May 25 2012 Devils Advance to Finals After Ending Rangers Season The New York Times Retrieved January 15 2020 Prudential Center To Host New Jersey Nets Pre Season Basketball Prudential Center March 4 2009 Archived from the original on March 15 2009 Retrieved March 19 2009 NJ Nets to Take Up Residence at Prudential Center Beginning Next Year According to Report The Star Ledger Newark October 23 2009 Retrieved January 8 2010 Nets Bid New Jersey Farewell With Loss To 76ers CBS New York April 23 2012 Retrieved February 21 2019 James Brigitte Williams February 10 2018 Liberty leaving Madison Square Garden re sign two free agents New York Post Retrieved February 21 2019 a b c Marin Eric October 23 2007 Prudential Center Anchors Newark s Vibrant Core New Jersey Devils LLC Retrieved October 23 2007 a b c d e Prudential Center Brochure New Jersey Devils LLC Archived from the original on September 28 2007 Retrieved September 5 2007 Work Underway on Mulberry Street Marquee New Jersey Devils LLC August 3 2007 Retrieved September 5 2007 Score Media Ventures Devils boast world s biggest in arena scoreboard msn com Score Media Ventures Retrieved October 10 2017 Prudential Center s Practice Rink New Jersey Devils LLC August 31 2007 Retrieved September 5 2007 GRAMMY Museum Experience Opens in Newark njbmagazine com October 20 2017 Retrieved December 21 2017 King Kate February 7 2017 Grammy Museum to Open Newark Location This Fall Wall Street Journal Retrieved February 8 2017 Yi Karen February 7 2017 Grammy Museum coming to Newark s Prudential Center NJ com Retrieved February 8 2017 RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House barnabashealthhockeyhouse com Retrieved March 3 2018 Ryan Chris August 29 2016 Devils to dedicate Martin Brodeur statue on Oct 22 The Star Ledger Newark Retrieved December 9 2017 Brennan John February 5 2010 Hotel Retail Project Coming to Downtown Newark The Record Bergen County Retrieved February 6 2010 Crestline Hotels amp Resorts Selected to Manage the New Hotel Indigo in Downtown Newark Press release Crestline Hotels November 14 2011 Archived from the original on March 24 2013 Retrieved January 20 2013 Fate of New Jersey s Urban Enterprise Zone Program to Be Debated Today The Star Ledger Newark June 29 2011 Retrieved June 29 2011 De Poyo Tom November 29 2012 A Place Near the Rock PDF The Star Ledger Newark Retrieved January 8 2013 Portlock Sarah July 17 2011 New Eateries Sparking Restaurant Row in Prudential Center s Shadow The Star Ledger Newark Retrieved January 8 2013 Triangle Park Master Plan PDF 4ward Planning Retrieved March 20 2015 Giambusso David July 5 2011 After 5 Years 12M Spent Newark Triangle Park Project Remains a Parking Lot The Star Ledger Newark Retrieved March 20 2015 Strunsky Steve October 3 2017 Newark Devils start work on long awaited 10M downtown park The Star Ledger Newark Retrieved December 9 2017 First Phase of Newark s Mulberry Commons Park Finally Completed jerseydigs com May 31 2019 Retrieved June 26 2019 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Prudential Center Official website An interactive guide to the arena Economic and legal analysis of the Newark arena project Shelterforce Magazine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Prudential Center amp oldid 1133486232, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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