The Izod Center (formerly called Brendan Byrne Arena) was finished in 1981, the home of the New Jersey Devils features a lot of amenities that other NHL teams dream about. There are concourse-level luxury boxes, wide concourses, state-of-the-art scoreboards and plenty of concession stands.
The most impressive feature of the arena, however, is its size. It feels like you're inside a canyon when entering before the crowds file in. But the seats won't be empty for long. The team's popularity is spreading through the Jersey suburbs and even into New York.
Getting there
(From Newark Airport) Take the New Jersey Turnpike North to Exit 16W (Sports Complex). Once you have exited, follow signs for the Sports Complex. The arena will be in front of you.
(From New York City) Take the George Washington Bridge to the New Jersey Turnpike (local or express lanes). Exit 16W (Sports Complex) to the arena.
(Bus from New York City) Port Authority Bus Terminal, located at 42nd and 8th. Take New Jersey Transit. Buses leave 2 hours before game continuously, and return up to 1 hour after the game. $3.25 one-way fare. 20 minute travel time. For more information call 212-564-8484.
The Will Call window is number 17 and located in the Box Office Lobby at the South Entrance of the arena (right under the Continental
Airlines Arena sign).
Izod Center history
* First regular-season game: Oct. 5, 1982, 3-3 tie with the Pittsburgh Penguins
* First goal: Don Lever, Devils
* First playoff game: April 9, 1988, 3-0 over the New York Islanders
September 1997 - The body that oversees the Izod Center is sinking $40 - $80 million into renovations, including more luxury boxes and expanding the building's main restaurant.
JERSEY SPORTS AUTHORITY HOPES TO KEEP MEADOWLANDS INTACT
July 8, 1999
Copyright 1999 MediaVentures
The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) hopes to keep the NHL Devils and NBA Nets in a venue in the Meadowlands, but if not, the Authority will move ahead with a plan for a
retail and entertainment venue on the Izod Center site. The comments were made by Dennis Robinson in an interview with the Associated Press. Robinson is leaving the Authority's top position to join the NBA.
Both the Nets and Devils have announced plans for new, separate venues while the NJSEA has its own proposal for a new arena. The issue is awaiting a decision from Gov. Christine Whitman. The Meadowlands is also facing the potential loss of the Jets who are being courted by New York City and were recently put up for sale. The Authority has a proposal from a private investor to buy the Monmouth Park race track, which the Authority also manages.
Robinson believes the best place for the Devils and the Nets is in the Meadowlands and says that wherever they go, they should share a venue. The Authority has plans to install grass permanently in Giants Stadium, if current tests prove worthwhile, and could add more luxury suites to the stadium if there is demand.
THE ULTIMATE SPORTS ROAD TRIP
By: Andrew Kulyk & Peter Farrell
| Continental Airlines Arena Ranking by USRT |
| Architecture |  | 3 |
| Concessions | | 4.5 |
| Scoreboard | | 5 |
| Ushers | | 0 |
| Fan Support | | 2 |
| Location | | 3 |
| Banners/History | | 7 |
| Entertainment | | 5 |
| Concourses/Fan Comfort | | 4 |
| Bonus: Sly the Mascot | | 2 |
| Total Score |  | 35.5 |
January 20, 2001 - Opened in 1981, The Continental Airlines Arena is the home to the NHL New Jersey Devils and the NBA New Jersey Nets, as well as to the Seton Hall Pirates college basketball team and numerous minor sport franchises. The facility was also home to the NCAA mens basketball Final Four in 1996. This arena is part of the Meadowlands Sports Complex which includes Giants Stadium and the Meadowlands Racetrack. The building is surrounded by expressways and surface parking. There is no adjoining neighborhood and no ambience around the facility whatsoever - just pavement. The building itself still looks somewhat futuristic and modern, with the corporate name emblazoned across the roof and a tall dot matrix marquee along the highway.
If you enter at the ground level where the ticket offices are, there you will find a handsome display of the New Jersey Sports Hall of Fame. The wide single concourse which surrounds the building is all skylit to the outside, providing ample natural light during the day. Concession stands and merchandise venues are very bright and attractive. We could not find a main team merchandise store, but there is a ground floor restaurant/lounge called Winners for premium ticket holders.
Premium Seats
Being an 80's arena, there are no club seats, but there are some suites at the top of the 100 level.
The Bowl
The arena bowl is broken into two levels, both accessed from the single concourse. A four sided scoreboard with video boards is in the center, and there are four additional video boards hanging from the rafters in each corner. In each end zone are two huge dot matrix boards, and along the balcony are small information boards for out of town scores, shots on goal, etc. From a distance this information was hard to see. The bowl itself is vertical and cavernous, and does not lend itself to an intimate feel at all, especially with oceans of empty seats at the Nets game (the Devils game was a sellout).
Concessions
The best item we could find was the hand carved sirloin and turkey sandwiches. A tall draft beer is still only $3.00!
Banners/Retired Numbers
The Devils proudly display their two Stanley Cup banners along with smaller divisional titles. The Nets have 5 retired numbers and two ABA titles..(have we not seen all 10 ABA title banners between here and Indiana???) sadly for them, their best days were played when they were on the Island and their icon was a man named Dr. J. Also, Seton Hall has banners honoring their '89 run to the Final Four along with Big East title winners. Finally a banner honoring Ashbury Park, NJ's contribution to the popular music world, The Boss- Bruce Springsteen.
Deductions
We will try to keep this short... we were given major hassles by the Nets people, and this was regarding the same problem we have had in some other venues..namely, the quest to take a simple picture of the playing surface and logo from the center 100 level seats. The ushers would not let us pass.. we went to "customer service" for assistance, explained who we were and our project, only to encounter four scowling faces who were unsympathetic and told us to "write a letter". We did manage to take our photos after the game, only after some skullduggery on our part to get downstairs for our shots, and as we were finishing up, we caught the sight of a security guard and two ushers from the corner of our eyes, converging on us as they were talking into their walkie talkies. We hightailed it out of there fast! Our suggestion to the New Jersey Nets is this... why don't you guys furnish each of your ushers and your customer service people at Gate A with a mean german shepherd on a leash. That would complete the scene nicely.
Things that Caught our Eye - in each section there is an alcove leading to the bowl. Outfitted in every alcove is a television monitor mounted from the ceiling. Fans returning to their seats and waiting for a whistle miss nothing. Nice, nice touch! We are amazed that we have not seen this done anywhere else.
"Sly's Candid Camera"
Sly is the mascot for the Nets, and they produce a hilarious clip modeled after the old Candid Camera show. In the skit we saw during a media timeout, Sly was in a shopping mall pretending to be a mannequin. Every time a child or a teenager ventured closeby he lunged after the kid. The fans were in stitches! Allen Funt would have been proud.
Sly's House. Sly has a set out in the concourse. Children can line up and have their picture taken during halftime. Nice photo op for the fans.
Summary
This arena is a classic example of what was expected of a sports facility during the time that it was built. Number one, to get fans into the building and into their seats to watch an event and give them the ability to purchase basic necessities such as concessions, souvenirs etc.. (Unlike today's more modern facilities that offer a more complete interactive entertainment and shopping experience). Number two, the in-house revenue is to come from those who buy tickets to watch from the main seating areas. While today we see more and more of an emphasis on club seating (almost non-existent at the time) and many more suites all with its amenities (in seat customer service, opportunities for fine dining and the like) Finally, the idea that an arena is simply a structure and the main event being held within its confines is the attraction. Unlike today in which the newer facilities are as much a part of the experience as the events themselves. There is talk about a new building here, but it will be a while yet before a shovel goes into the ground. If you are looking for the ultimate NHL or NBA experience, we would definitely steer you away from the Continental Airlines Arena.
