NHL Stadium Series: 3 Concerts We’d Love To See In New Jersey
The New Jersey Devils are taking on the Philadelphia Flyers in the latest edition of the NHL Stadium Series. On the Pat McAfee Show on ESPN, Gary Bettman announced a concert would be taking place, but he didn’t say who was the musician taking the stage.
Concerts have become a part of the show for big NHL events. Whether it’s the All-Star Game, the Winter Classic, the Stanley Cup Final, or even the NHL Draft, musicians and hockey players have gone hand in hand for a few years now. That means it’s no surprise that a concert will precede the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers Stadium Series game.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman went on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show to hype up the event as tickets went on sale today. He revealed that there will be something of a concert, but we’re still waiting to see who the act will be. In the past, the NHL has hired acts like Green Day, Nickelback, Lil Jon, Marshmellow, Lil Nas X, All Time Low, and many more. It’s clearly a wild mix of acts across genres of music.
The Stadium Series is BRILLIANT..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 1, 2023
"They're all unique and the players love it..
It's really taking the game back to it's essential roots and people love the experience"
Gary Bettman #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/hAgjku1aY2
So, who might be the concert for this Stadium Series game? There are so many great acts that come from the state of New Jersey. Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi obviously come to mind, but let’s shoot for realistic. Who might be that act?
1. My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is a huge act, but this event being in New Jersey might just end up being a match made in heaven. This would be perfect for the audience, it would really impress outside investors and fans of the NHL, and it would make the league look great. After rejoining back in 2019, they announced a massive world tour that (after a few pandemic postponements) brought them to Europe, Australia, Japan, and every corner of North America.
Right now, MCR is on a break from touring, but the Stadium Series seems like a great place to restart their next tour. Starting in their home state just seems right.
They have all the hits. This is a band that is almost universally loved. They have a huge discography, so the NHL has a plethora of songs to choose from for their commercials and opening video packages. This one makes a lot of sense. However, it’s the NHL, so we need to have backup plans.
2. Jonas Brothers
While the Jonas Brothers might feel untouchable in this format, it’s absolutely something the NHL could get. They are in the middle of the Five Albums. One Night. The World Tour. In fact, they have an extended break in between their North American and Worldwide legs of the tour. Guess what falls during that break?
Even further, the Brothers are ending their North American leg with two shows at the Prudential Center (home of the Devils) and a night in Brooklyn. They are already going to be in the area, might as well do a hometown concert before heading for Australia. (Their tour begins again on February 27, so it still gives them 10 days to travel across the globe and settle in.
The Jonas Brothers were born in Wyckoff, New Jersey, and they became famous while living in Little Falls. That city is 15 minutes from MetLife Stadium. The Brothers grew up likely dreaming of one day playing in that stadium.
The Jonas Brothers also already had a concert for an NHL event. They were the headliners of the 2008 All-Star Game festivities. Nick Jonas also performed at an event in 2017. There are reasons for both sides to make this connection. And for those complaining about the Jo Bros, Sucker is a bop and you know it.
3. Return of Warped Tour
The NHL also liked to tug at our collective memories for these concerts. They have brought out some of the older bands to play the hits. What if they went after one of the most iconic brands in music from two decades ago?
The Van’s Warped Tour was iconic in getting 10 bands together we all liked along with producing some of the newest names in rock and punk music. The Warped Tour helped bring new eyes to legends of the industry like Blink-182, Sum 41, Limp Bizkit, MCR, Avenged Sevenfold, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, and Katy Perry. It’s iconic in New Jersey, which is why they held one of the last-ever Warped Tours in Atlantic City.
The joke is that Warped Tour’s retirement tour was just like any other band. It will come back eventually. How cool would it be to go to Warped Tour before the Stadium Series?
Maybe this isn’t realistic, but it would be one way to celebrate the biggest names in New Jersey music. How can we pick between Gaslight Anthem, Lauren Hill, Misfits, Senses Fail, Bouncing Souls, Twisted Sister, Fetty Wap, Halsey, Fountains of Wayne, Wyclef Jean, SZA, Blues Traveler, and George Clinton? You have a festival.
Next. 50 Greatest Devils of All Time. dark
The biggest hiccup here is the connection between Vans and the NHL. Vans has a hockey collection, but it’s not with the NHL already. It’s too late to build that connection, and the NHL likely already has something in mind. Still, there’s a “celebration of New Jersey” festival that could easily happen here.