5 Prudential Center theme nights New Jersey Devils should consider this season

The New Jersey Devils always have great themed nights. It helps that the fanbase seems to go all in on the nights with costumes and specialty items. Sometimes there are specialty flavors, and there used to be specialty jerseys, but we all know why that ended (we miss warmup jerseys). The Devils tend to do themed nights right.

We still want to help out with a few suggestions. We’ll avoid honoring any communities as we don’t want to leave anyone out. 

The Devils could do really well with their themed nights with more excitement behind the team after a good offseason. Some of the fun nights from last season include Mascot Madness, Video Game Day, and Jersey Appreciation Night as a send off to the season. 

Theme Night #1
A Taste of Jersey

The New Jersey Devils tend to give its home in the Garden State a ton of credence. They are the only team that solely claims New Jersey as its home. The Giants and the Jets claim New York despite playing in East Rutherford since 1976. The Red Bulls play in Harrison, but they also claim the Empire State. The New York Sirens just announced they are playing in the Prudential Center. Funnily enough, New Jersey’s other hockey team isn’t claiming Jersey. Heck, even the colleges have different names (Rutgers, Princeton, Monmouth, etc.). 

So, let’s celebrate the cuisine of New Jersey with the one team claiming New Jersey. There could be an entire floor of the arena that’s selling food from strictly Newark establishments. One section of the arena could be focused on New Jersey pizza. There might even be a pork roll/Taylor ham eating contest. 

There are so many great foods in New Jersey, the Devils should spend a night and give back to this community. We know there’s a chance the Devils say no because they don’t want to lose a night of concessions, but there is always a way around these things.

Theme Night #2
Devils Night of Giving

The New Jersey Devils are always a charitable organization, as they tend to donate to multiple organizations around the year and spend time during games showcasing different charities and places of need. They are very philanthropic. We believe Devils fans would be as well. 

Now, this would take a little creativity. However, it doesn’t just have to be money we’re talking about here, although that would definitely be accepted. Maybe there are stations where fans can take part in activities or give their short time before the game or at intermission. 

It can be writing letters to Devils fans who are overseas fighting for our country, or it could be honoring a Make-A-Wish kid who is being honored at the game. Fans could sort food for unhoused shelters or a myriad of other tasks that would really help the community both here and anywhere else in the world.

Of course, there would be some financial components. There could be silent auctions for rare Devils memorabilia. The Devils could do meet and greets to help the Devils Youth Foundation. The ideas are endless. Fans just need an opportunity to give. If the Devils give it to them, it could do so much good for so many charities and people in need in the name of the Devils. 

Theme Night #4
Trick or Treat Night

The New Jersey Devils should do more for Halloween. They have had games near or even on Halloween, and some people dress up for those games, but it's hardly encouraged. Is Halloween copywritten somewhere we don't know about? It seems like a slam dunk themed night. Sure, there's a possibility one or two might wear a ridiculous costume, but that can be controlled or ultimately ignored.

Seeing a crowd full of costumed fans for a hockey game sounds like an awesome event. These fans would do great things with the theme as well. They show up for a good theme or special occasion. We expect to see people dressed like traditional monsters like Frankenstein and Dracula while others dress up like Bluey and Spongebob.

The Devils could add to this special night with "Trick or Treat" specials. It could be candy or it could be small Devils knick knacks. They could be incredibly silly like googly eyes and those little plastic rings.

This should absolutely happen, even if the Devils don't play at home anywhere near Halloween this season. Their closest game is October 27th against the Anaheim Ducks. Sure, it could be a little early to have a costume, but if Devils fans are aware in advance, they should be prepared.

Theme Night #5
The Sopranos Night

The Sopranos has grown in popularity since the pandemic as more and more people are diving into the best TV shows of all time. The Sopranos is often considered the best TV show of all time. It’s rooted in the history of New Jersey. Yes, it’s a fictional and mostly negative history, but it’s often not absorbed that way.

Honoring The Sopranos with its own themed night makes sense. The Devils wore outfits that many consider to be in that realm when they were walking into the Meadowlands for the Stadium Series last season. They wore undershirts with a zipper-down velvet track suit. It feels like they took it off the rack of The Sopranos set.

There are a few members of The Sopranos who call Jersey home. Steven Van Zandt still calls parts of Jersey home, and he was one of the leads in the show. Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Robert Iler now record a podcast together, although Iler is very famously a Rangers fan (the Devils could make that part of the fun). 

There could be so much fun with this, as this fanbase would uniquely love it. It wouldn’t even take that much legwork. The Devils just have to find the guests of honor and do a little decorating.