Newark, NJ (February 2, 2005) Officials from both the city of Newark and the New Jersey Devils, as well as representatives from the architectural firm of Morris Adjmi, today unveiled the design for the long-awaited Newark/New Jersey Devils Arena. The facility is being planned as the centerpiece of the city's Downtown Core Redevelopment Project.
The presentation which was hosted by Mayor Sharpe James and Devils' Chairman/ Managing Partner Jeff Vanderbeek, was held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
"Today is a great day for the City of Newark," said James. "We are seeing for the first time the goal of our dreams the creation of a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment arena that will be the central power that spreads prosperity into every neighborhood and home in our city. We are putting Newark on the world stage and it will be the world's star performer."
"Today's events are another step in the process of building a first-class 21st century facility for our fans, added Vanderbeek. Everyone affiliated with this project is looking forward to the day when we open the arena doors and bring championship hockey to the city of Newark."
Newark City Business Administrator Richard Monteilh served as master of ceremonies and presented the project overview of the Newark Downtown Core District. The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the arena model, including a video presentation of the arena design concept. The event was sponsored by the Prudential Foundation.
Morris Adjmi was one of three architectural firms that created models of the exterior and public spaces for the proposed 17,000-plus seat, 700,000 square-foot arena. The original three proposals were presented on October 21, 2004. The final design featuring large brick columns and an aluminum curtain wall, was selected by the Executive Committee.
Morris Adjmi Architects of New York City, has a history of design achievements that include the Walt Disney Company's Office Complex in Celebration, Florida, and the New York City headquarters of Scholastic, Inc.
Adjmi will work with HOK Sport+Venue+Event, a Kansas City-based design firm, to create the final plan for the arena. HOK, a specialist in sports venue design, has already been chosen to design the interior spaces of the arena.
The Newark Housing Authority, under Executive Director Harold Lucas, will oversee the project. Lucas, who served as city Business Administrator and Federal Undersecretary of Public and Indian Housing for the Clinton Administration, earned national acclaim for his overhaul of the city's public housing stock, turning it from "worst to first" in the United States.
Mark Spivey on the NHL
Glove save and a beaut!
Can You Smell What The Rock Is Cooking?
Sorry, New Jersey Devils fans. You no longer have an excuse to fail to fill up your arena for home games. At least not as of Saturday evening, when the beautiful Prudential Center opens its doors to the hockey-loving public for the first time.
I’ll be the first to admit the Meadowlands aren’t exactly the fabled Elysian Fields (the Greek paradise kind, not the baseball field in Hoboken). Let’s be honest: it’s a series of ugly venues (Continental Airlines Arena, Giants Stadium) in an ugly area (acres of stinking, fetid swamps) nestled in an ugly part of the country (the vast industrial fields surrounding the NJ Turnpike Corridor from about Exits 12 through 18).
Worse still, the Turnpike is the only major transportation artery of any kind to come within a reasonable distance of the complex, meaning those who enjoy using public transit to get to games are more or less out of luck. If you’re not driving in or getting bused in, you’re not getting there.
So to sum things up, the Prudential Center (below) is everything that Continental Airlines Arena (above) wasn’t.
That’s right: Devils fans are experiencing an overnight transition from having one of the ugliest, least accessable arenas in the league to having one of the nicest, most accessable venues. To get to the Rock, you can take your pick of NJ Transit rail, PATH rail, Amtrak rail, I-280, I-78, National Routes 1 and 9, State Routes 21 and 22, or the Garden State Parkway.
Credentials? Yeah, it’s got credentials. The arena was designed by the prestigious HOK Sport firm, which is responsible for some of the finest examples of sports architecture in the world, including virtually all of the best modern baseball stadiums in North America (Baltimore’s Camden Yards, Philly’s Citizen Bank Park, Pittsburgh’s PNC Park, San Francisco’s AT&T Park, and Houston’s Minute Maid Park, just to name a few), a smattering of impressive hockey/basketball arenas of the same mold (Denver’s Pepsi Center, Toronto’s Air Canada Center, Minnesota’s Xcel Energy Center), and countless others.
Amenities include an externally-mounted 4,800-square foot LED screen (one of the largest in the world), a new 2,600-foot team store, 750 flat-screen televisions spread throughout the arena, seperate concourses for the lower and upper levels, four LED ribbons extending the length of the rink, an eight-sided scoreboard with high-def video screens, a 350-seat restaurant, three bars, plus the biggest luxury boxes of any arena in North America (76 of them).
And did I mention it’s one of only two NHL arenas with a practice facility attached?
Let’s face it, Devils fans. You’d better fill this thing up to the brim for every game. Even if your team does lay a goose egg like it did last night.
Sure, New Jersey was handed a 2-0 shutout loss by the Rangers last night, but I have a feeling both teams were fairly pleased with what could be interpreted as the lesser of two evils. The Devils lost, but Marty Brodeur finally halted his recent string of miserable performances by stopping 29 shots. The Rangers didn’t get the offensive explosion they’ve been looking for (Nigel Dawes, he of 12 career NHL games, scored both goals), but they stopped the bleeding and earned a win.
Both teams are now 3-5-1, which is the kind of early record which could just as easily end in something like a 46-32-4 as something like a 33-43-8. So we’ll see.
We’ll also see if the Devils can sell out their building tomorrow. I want to see 17,625 butts in those seats on a nightly basis, especially when there are other, much more passionate fan bases out there who would give minor body parts for as nice a place to watch a game.
THE ULTIMATE SPORTS ROAD TRIP
By: Andrew Kulyk & Peter Farrell
| Prudential Center Ranking by USRT |
| Architecture |  | 8 |
| Concessions | | 7 |
| Scoreboard | | 6 |
| Ushers | | 8 |
| Fan Support | | 2.5 |
| Location | | 3 |
| Banners/History | | 8.5 |
| Entertainment | | 7 |
| Concourses/Fan Comfort | | 9 |
| Bonus: Signed Puck | | 1 |
| Bonus: Practice Arena | | 1 |
| Bonus: Arena Art | | 1 |
| Bonus: High School Jerseys | | 1 |
| Bonus: A Taste of Newark | | 1 |
| Total Score |  | 64 |
January 8, 2008 - Plans for a new arena for the New Jersey Devils have been tossed around for years now – there was once a concept to build a new arena in Hoboken. Then came the idea to just do a massive renovation of Continental Airlines Arena, which would be the centerpiece of the mixed-use Xanadu project at the Meadowlands. Eventually they settled on Newark, right in the middle of downtown, amidst gleaming skyscrapers, bedraggled city streets and oceans of government buildings. The Devils contributed $100-million to the construction of their new arena, with the rest coming from the city, via lease fees from the Newark Airport and the Port Authority. By October of 2007, the New Jersey Devils had themselves a new place to call home.
Getting to the Venue
Transportation by car is pretty easy – I-280 cuts through Newark to the north of downtown, while I-78 bisects a couple miles south. Take Route 21 into the city from either direction and follow the signs which will take you right to the arena. The Garden State parkway runs north and south, exit at MLB Blvd.
Public transportation is also a good option, with Newark Penn Station just two blocks away, PATH trains go to several points in New Jersey as well as to Manhattan. NJ Transit offers light rail service with a stop close to the arena.
Parking around the arena runs $25 or $20 depending on the lot and there aren’t many cheaper options available at a farther distance. Some on street parking is available for free but pay careful attention to the prohibition signs as different streets post different days for no parking restrictions. Also be mindful of the neighborhoods as things are a bit rough in spots. One can also buy prepaid parking passes, linked through the Devils website and park in color coded lots. Again $25 plus service charges is the norm - pricey stuff.
Outside the Venue
A lot has been made of the gritty and rough and tumble streets of downtown Newark, and to a point that is a correct assessment. From a distance one sees shimmering skyscrapers, lit up at night, but travel the streets and it’s all a bit dreary and grimy. By contrast, the new Prudential Center shines like a bright new penny. The main streets just west of the arena are full of the hustle and bustle of office and retail and government. Look closely and the stores are not Apple and Urban Outfitters, but rather creaky bodegas and Furniture Liquidators and such. Bars on windows and vacant storefronts abound. If you look hard enough though, you’ll find some nice corner taverns for postgame hangouts. We stumbled on the Arena Bar, one block down Mulberry Street, a Cheers type place with plenty of plasma screens.
Go east beyond the massive Penn Station and you will find a cool ethnic neighborhood called “Ironbound” with a Portuguese flair. Lots of restaurants, shops, little bistros in a much cleaner and safer looking environment. Looked like a cool place to explore, but it’s more of a drive than a walk from the arena itself.
There is a substantial police presence outside the arena, and they are going the extra mile to make patrons feel safe.
Architecture and Seating Bowl
The exterior of the building is a mix of red brick and glass, paying heritage to this region’s bricklaying and railroad heritage, with the most stunning side facing eastward on Mulberry Street. Two tall glassed cupola entrance cylinders mark each corner, and they glow brightly at night. The centerpiece of the façade along this side is a massive dot matrix LED video board which displays cool graphics and can be seen from miles away.
While this side of the arena forms the venue’s signature, the two back sides of the building are very basic and ordinary. That lack of detail is somewhat unfortunate since the back end of the building faces the main part of the downtown core.
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Your seating bowl here comprises four decks, with the upper deck further divided into an upper and lower area. Two levels of suites ring the sidelines, with premium restaurants overlooking the playing surface at this level at each end zone. Seats are colored dark red. Two rings of LED ribbon boards wrap around the seating bowl, and the stacked 8 sided video board is equipped with high definition screens.
Concourses
With bright lighting, grey and white terrazzo tile flooring, and endless displays and things to view, the concourses here at The Rock are a pleasant touring experience. Fans enter at street level through the entrance cylinders and escalators to take you to the main level. Most concession stands are set back from the traffic areas in food court style, lessening congestion. The lower concourse is replete with displays of all the high school hockey team jerseys in New Jersey, extensive artwork and murals showcasing attractions from the region and celebrating icons from the Devils and Seton Hall University. One corner displays the franchise’s history going back to Kansas City and Colorado, with murals of past arenas and old jerseys of the team.
One more note is the ample supply of high tech video advertising/message boards scattered throughout the corridors here.
Concessions
Food items here are about as unique and diverse as you want to get in any sports venue. Yes the standard fare can be found at 7 City Grill and Famous Famiglia Pizza.
But keep walking and you’ll find a group of stands called “A Taste of Newark” in the upper deck. That’s where you’ll find the good local stuff – Jimmy Buff’s hot dogs, which are topped with fried onions, hot and sweet peppers, and yes, home fries. Right next door is the Newark Deli offering hot pastrami or roast turkey with Russian dressing. Move on and you’ll find the gyros, kabobs and falafels and they cut the meat right in front of you. Finally, the stand from Portugal, something you will only find here in Newark. On the menu?
Bifana (a pork steak sandwich), Bolos de Bocalhou (codfish cakes) and Picadinho (pork cubes and potatoes).
We also came across a stand selling fine cigars and accessories, and even a guy there hand rolling the cigars right in front of us. Another stand with hot panini sandwiches, a labeled sushi stand but look closely and the fare was Chinese not Japanese, Habana Grill offering Cuban sandwiches, and On the Boardwalk with cheesesteak sandwiches and freshly squeezed lemonade. Team merchandise shops are in abundance at all levels, with the main team store at street level on the Mulberry side of the arena.
One deduction though – the concession menu panels are tiny and dark; one has to practically be at the counter to see the offerings and prices.
Banners/Retired Numbers
The Devils have retired numbers for two of their players, #3 Ken Daneyko and #44 Scott Stevens. The team’s divisional and conference achievements are grouped in one end zone, while their three Stanley Cup banners (1995, 2000, and 2003) hang at the other end. Additionally, Seton Hall displays a couple banners of their NCAA appearances.
Premium Seating
Club seating here is located on the lowest level of the seating bowl on the sidelines. Fans sitting there have access to two exclusive lounges and bar areas titled the “Fire Lounge” and “Ice Lounge”. Two levels of suites ring the seating bowl. The first suite level has some very nice amenities located at each end zone. At one end is the “Bud Light Goal Bar” and loft style bar area with rail seating views of the action, while at the other end is the arena restaurant, offering a la carte and buffet dining, also with many table seats offering a rail type view. The back end of the nicely appointed restaurant has massive windows overlooking the arena’s practice rink.
Hat Tricks, Assists, Penalties...
Hat trick - to the ushers, security and game day staff. After the horrible experience we endured at Continental Airlines Arena, and the many stories of abuse and bad behavior we’ve gleaned in conversations with others, wasn’t it nice to see arena employees greeting fans with big smiles, offering to help and providing sincere welcomes.
Hat trick - Jerseys of every high school hockey team in New Jersey on display throughout the main concourse. A special touch which gives this venue its true character.
Penalty - To the fans of New Jersey who have not embraced this team despite its perennial success on the ice and three Stanley Cups. Sellouts here are few and far between, and on the night we were here there were huge yawning gaps of empty seats throughout the lower bowl.
Assist - Not only plenty of merchandise stores, but even an auction area displaying cool memorabilia.
Assist - In one lobby is a giant puck commissioned for Opening Night. Fans in attendance that night were able to sign it, and it is now on display for posterity.
Hat trick - A separate practice rink in the arena, with its own locker facilities, only the second NHL venue with such a set up (the other one being Columbus).
Penalty - Upper deck seats (they call ‘em “100s”) $75 and $100, lower bowls $95 and $115 with the center ice clubs $200. Parking $25 and $20. Prepare to spend, spend, spend to attend a game here. Maybe that’s helping to keep fans away? For the record, the uppermost cheapies were packed, while the pricier seats were readily available.
Summary
It is hard to find any Devils fan complaining about their new digs here in downtown Newark. Their former home, Continental Airlines Arena, was a shabby and substandard venue in a horrible location with few fan friendly amenities, surly and rude game day staff, and little intimacy as a place to watch hockey. While downtown Newark is not the sexiest location for their new venue, it is an area that is trying to find its footing for an urban comeback, and The Rock is central to that goal.
This arena is a superb place to watch hockey. It is bright, comfortable, plenty of things to see and do, good stuff to eat, friendly staff, adequate game day entertainment. Oh yeah, and their hockey team seems to be pretty good year in and year out.
While not breaking the NHL top five, we nonetheless give good marks in most categories and would be glad to pay a return visit.
