The New Jersey Devils spent years sharing an arena inside the Meadowlands, most often called Continental Airlines Arena. Oftentimes, they shared the arena with the New Jersey Nets, which changed how the arena was presented. It wasn’t a “hockey arena.” It was a sports complex.
Then, in 2007, the Devils got their arena, and honestly, so much more. The Prudential Center is one of the best arenas for concerts in the U.S. This allows a completely different customer to see advertisements, murals, and memorabilia for Devils hockey when they are going there for a Kesha or Metallica concert.
It was important for the ownership group to secure an arena deeply ingrained in Devils hockey, one that the team could own. The fight to get it built in Newark was not an easy one, but it was almost deemed unnecessary years earlier.
Back in 1999, Devils owners unveiled a plan to build a $350 million in Hoboken, as told by the New York Times. The city wasn’t considered the hip, bustling place it is today. It was definitely on the upswing, but it wasn’t there yet. Today, most of the Devils players live in Hoboken. So, it could have really made the commute easier if this move went through.
This could have been a huge project and would have been just as easy to get to for New Yorkers. The project was deep in the planning stages according to reporting at the time.
"The proposal, which has been in the planning for nearly two years, envisions the creation of a new 3.3 million-square-foot complex called Hoboken Station on the riverfront amid the Beaux-Arts style arches of the historic Hoboken Terminal. In addition to the 18,500-seat arena, the complex would include a 20-screen multiplex theater, retail stores, theme restaurants and waterfront parks."Ronald Smothers, NY Times
As you can see, it wasn't just an arena that was in the works. This was going to be a city center that would become the "downtown" of Hoboken. This was going to be the beating metropolis of Hoboken.
This year was a crazy one for New Jersey sports. The Nets were also looking for a new arena, and they were in talks with Newark to build one for themselves, the Devils, and possibly adding a stadium for the NY/NJ MetroStars (which later became the MLS’s Red Bulls). There were proposals to save hockey at the Meadowlands.
The New Jersey Devils really wanted to call Hoboken home
One of the big touchpoints for the Devils is that this property would have been on the Hudson River. Many would be able to enjoy the waterfront for dinner and drinks prior to hockey games. It changes the experience entirely.
It does make weather a little more important, and Superstorm Sandy likely does more damage to the Devils’ arena than it did, but the prospect of spending time on the water and then walking into a Devils’ game is an interesting one.
It got so deep that there were renderings for a new arena. They look amazing, as this Reddit post shows. It literally depicts boats parking at the marina just feet away from the entrance to a Devils game. There is no hockey arena with a similar style.
The biggest issues here ended up being this arena’s downfall.
Parking is the biggest issue off the bat, and a lack of parking usually leads to traffic. While there were plenty of public transportation options, and more were in the works at the time, traffic was always going to be terrible here. It would be a nightmare getting to the arena, and getting out would be even worse.
The number one reason the Devils didn’t go to Hoboken is the largest proponent for the move, owner Dr. John McMullen’s desire to get out from under the Meadowlands, sold the team. In March 2000, a Yankees-Nets sports group bought the Devils for $175 million. A fight between McMullen and then-New Jersey governor Christine Todd Whitman eventually led to the sale. Whitman would not clear some technicalities that would make the Hoboken arena work, even if the Devils weren’t looking for as much public money as others.
There was also some public backlash, as Hoboken residents were not thrilled with the idea of an arena being built in the middle of their city and 18,000 hockey fans congregating there multiple times per week.
The thought of a Hoboken arena will always be interesting, but politics and logic got in the way. The Newark arena makes perfect sense. We do with the city would do a little more to build up the area around the arena, but the atmosphere directly around the arena is always fun.