Meadowlands Sports Complex

The Meadowlands Sports Complex is a sports complex located in East Rutherford, in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. The facility is owned and operated by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA).[1]

Meadowlands Sports Complex
Aerial view, 2018
AddressEast Rutherford, New Jersey
United States
Coordinates40°48′51″N 74°04′26″W
FacilitiesMetLife Stadium
Meadowlands Racetrack
American Dream Meadowlands
Meadowlands Arena
OwnerNew Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority

The complex currently consists of the MetLife Stadium, which is home to the New York Giants and New York Jets of the National Football League; the Meadowlands Racetrack, a famous harness racing circuit (which is home of the annual Hambletonian Stakes); and the Quest Diagnostics Training Center, which is the Giants' practice facility.

The complex is also the home to the American Dream entertainment venue and the now-closed Meadowlands Arena, which served as a home for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League, Seton Hall University's men's basketball team, and the team the arena was built for, the now-Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association.

History

In the mid-1960s, civic leaders in New Jersey began calling for a sports complex in the New Jersey Meadowlands that would be able to lure a NFL team from New York City. The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority Law was passed by the New Jersey Legislature in 1971 and signed by then–Governor of New Jersey William T. Cahill. The first chairman of the NJSEA was David A. "Sonny" Werblin, former president of the NFL's New York Jets. By year's end, Werblin had secured a deal for the New York Giants, who were then playing in Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, to move to the Meadowlands. Ground was broken on Giants Stadium and the Meadowlands Racetrack on November 19, 1972.

To accommodate the new facility, access roads were improved. The New Jersey Turnpike, which had been suffering the burden of increased traffic volumes near its northern terminus in Ridgefield Park, built a new alignment, the "western spur", with an exit, interchange 16W, leading directly to the sports complex as well as to Route 3. Routes 3 and 20 (now 120) also received improvements.

On September 1, 1976, the Meadowlands Racetrack became the first complex venue to open, featuring harness racing. The track drew a capacity crowd of 42,133 for its initial date. Giants Stadium opened on October 10, 1976, as 76,042 fans watched the New York Giants lose to the Dallas Cowboys, 24–14.

By 1977, plans were in the works to expand the complex. A new arena was to be built on the opposite side of Route 20 from the stadium and racetrack, connected by vehicle ramps and a pedestrian bridge. Brendan Byrne Arena, named for the sitting governor, opened July 2, 1981, with the first of six sold-out shows by musician Bruce Springsteen. The arena was renamed for its corporate sponsor, Continental Airlines (now part of United Airlines), as Continental Airlines Arena, in early 1996, since the arena had a hub at nearby Newark Liberty International Airport. It was renamed again in 2007 for Izod as Izod Center. The first tenant in the arena was the New Jersey Nets in 1981. A year later, the New Jersey Devils of the NHL and the Seton Hall University men's basketball team joined the Nets.

The Nets played their first game at the arena on October 30, 1981, and lost to their cross-river rivals, the New York Knicks by a score of 103–99. The Devils played their first game on October 5, 1982, against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The game ended in a 3–3 tie.

The New York Jets moved to Giants Stadium on September 6, 1984, after playing at Shea Stadium for nearly 20 years. In their first game at the stadium on that day, the Jets lost 23–17 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in front of 70,564 fans.

In 2007, construction began on a mega-mall, named Meadowlands Xanadu. Work came to a halt in 2009, and Triple Five, owners of the Mall of America, took over the project in 2011. The construction was not complete until 2019.

The New Jersey Devils and Seton Hall Pirates left the complex when the Prudential Center was finished in 2007, followed by the New Jersey Nets, who moved there in 2010 to go to Prudential Center, then Brooklyn two years later, leaving the Izod Center devoid of a main tenant but free to host more concerts and events. Giants Stadium closed in at the end of the 2009 NFL season and demolition started immediately. In September 2010, MetLife Stadium, then known as New Meadowlands Stadium, opened for its first game. It was privately built and funded by the Jets and Giants. A commuter train line and a training center for the Giants also opened at the same time. MetLife bought the naming rights for the stadium and the entire complex in August 2011.

Meadowlands Arena closed in April 2015 to the public after suffering the loss of its major tenants and economic losses from other events. Since then, the arena has been used for concert rehearsals and private video productions. The former arena box offices are used as a station for the NJSEA EMS and the former Winner's Club lounge restaurant is the quarters for the New Jersey State Police.

From Secaucus

In addition to the three venues, the complex also hosts events in the MetLife Stadium parking lot. State Fair Meadowlands (formerly called the Meadowlands Fair, and not affiliated with the New Jersey State Fair held annually in Sussex County) began in 1986 and has been operated by State Fair of Belleville since 2003. The parking lot is also the home of a twice-weekly flea market, which is canceled when the parking spaces are needed for stadium events.

The NJSEA hires in-house security and emergency medical services staff to serve the venues at the Sports Complex, including MetLife Stadium. Law enforcement is primarily provided by the New Jersey State Police Sports Complex Unit.

Venues

MetLife Stadium
Main article: MetLife Stadium

MetLife Stadium is the home stadium for the New York Giants and New York Jets of the NFL and is one of two stadiums home to two NFL franchises (SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California is the other). It is also the home of the New York Guardians of the XFL, the stadium opened in 2010, following the closing and demolition of the Giants' and the Jets' previous home, Giants Stadium. MetLife Stadium hosted Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014.

Meadowlands Arena (former)
Main article: Meadowlands Arena

Meadowlands Arena (formerly Brendan Byrne Arena, Continental Airlines Arena and IZOD Center) was a multi-purpose indoor arena. Opened in 1981, it was home to the New Jersey Nets NBA team until 2010, the Seton Hall University men's basketball team until 2007 and to the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League until 2007. The Devils and the Seton Hall men's basketball team moved to the Prudential Center in Newark. The renamed Brooklyn Nets currently play in the Barclays Center. It closed early in April 2015.

Meadowlands Racetrack
Main article: Meadowlands Racetrack

The Meadowlands Racetrack is a horse racing track that hosts both thoroughbred racing and harness racing. It is known popularly in the region as "The Big M".

Opened in the mid–1970s, the Meadowlands Racetrack held its first harness race on September 1, 1976 while thoroughbred racing commenced on September 6, 1977.[2][3] The Racetrack is the site of the Hambletonian, the most prestigious event in standardbred racing. The track is equipped to race at night, when most of its races are.

In the middle of the track is a lake, intended to resemble the state of New Jersey. The Meadowlands Racetrack is also one of the leading simulcast facilities in the world in terms of total handle.

Quest Diagnostics Training Center

The Quest Diagnostics Training Center is the main headquarters and practice facility of the New York Giants. It was known as the Timex Performance Center, renamed in July 2013 when the Giants and Quest Diagnostics announced[4] a new partnership after the four-year partnership between the Giants and Timex ended. The facility, on the westernmost portion of the Meadowlands Sports Complex grounds, opened in 2010 and replaced the old Giants' practice fields and headquarters, adjacent to Giants Stadium.

American Dream
Main article: American Dream Meadowlands

American Dream is a large mall and entertainment complex. Formerly known as Xanadu, the project resides within the Meadowlands Sports Complex adjacent to the Izod Center that will have over 450 stores.[5] The first of four opening stages occurred on October 25, 2019,[6] with the other stages opening on a staggered schedule on October 1, 2020.[6][7]

Only 45 percent of American Dream's space is devoted to retail locations.[8] The stores will include six anchor retail tenants with more than 50,000 square feet (4,600 m2) each, 12 major retailers with 20,000 to 50,000 square feet (1,900 to 4,600 m2) each, and 339 smaller shops of up to 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2).[9] It will include more than 100 eateries,[9] as well as a 38,000 square feet (3,500 m2), 18-vendor food court with a kosher food hall.[10]

The other 55 percent of the space contains entertainment facilities.[8] The amusement facilities include or will include an indoor NHL-sized ice rink, an indoor theme park called Nickelodeon Universe, an indoor water park called DreamWorks Water Park, and a concert/performing arts venue with 2,400 to 3,000 seats.[11][8][12] Other attractions include the Big SNOW American Dream indoor ski slope,[13] two miniature 18-hole golf courses,[8][14] a CMX Cine’Bistro dine-in luxury movie theater,[15] a family entertainment center,[8][16] a bowling alley,[17] a Legoland Discovery Center,[8][18] a Sea Life Aquarium,[8][18] an indoor rock climbing facility,[8] and a Mirror Maze attraction.[8]

Meadowlands Station

New Jersey Transit operates the Meadowlands Station at the complex, the terminus of the Meadowlands Rail Line.[19] in preparation of the opening of American Dream Project. The station opened for service on July 26, 2009.[20] Studies are also underway about an extension of the Hudson–Bergen Light Rail line to the MetLife Sports Complex. Despite the opening of American Dream in 2019, the rail line is currently not being used daily.[21]

Auto racing
Main article: Meadowlands Grand Prix

In 1983, a Formula One auto race was planned for the New York City area. A temporary street circuit at the Meadowlands Sports Complex was one of the finalists for the location. A course at Flushing Meadows Park, in the New York City borough of Queens, was chosen, but the event was canceled before the first running.[22]

In July 1984, the CART IndyCar series held the first Meadowlands Grand Prix on a temporary circuit built in the Giants Stadium parking lot. The race was only moderately successful, and crowds were mediocre at best. In 1988, the course layout was moved to the streets surrounding Brendan Byrne Arena and redesigned to a 1.2-mile (1.9 km), six-turn layout in an effort to improve competition. The race continued until 1991, and crowds continued to stay away.

From 1988 to 1991 the race was part of the Marlboro Million, a cash prize to be awarded to any driver who won the Marlboro Grand Prix, the Marlboro 500, and the Marlboro Challenge All-Star event in the same year.[23] The prize was never won. In 1992, race officials announced plans to move the race to Manhattan, using a street course at the World Trade Center.[24] Within a few months, however, the race was canceled because of cost concerns.

In the early 2000s, conceptual plans were drafted to build a NASCAR-style speedway at the Meadowlands Sports Complex as part of a revitalizing project. However, the plan was rejected and abandoned.

Tenants

MetLife Stadium

Former Giants Stadium tenants

Former Meadowlands Arena tenants

Notes
  1. Brennan, John (August 23, 2011). "It's official: MetLife Stadium". The Record. Bergen County. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  2. Cady, Steve (August 29, 1976). "Jersey Complex Opens Trot Track Wednesday". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  3. Cady, Steve (September 4, 1977). "Meadowlands Starts Flat Racing Tuesday Night". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  4. "Giants, Quest team up for player safety". giants.com. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  5. Bagli, Charles V. (October 2, 2015). "Huge Mall Rising at Troubled Site in North Jersey". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  6. Anzidei, Melanie (July 3, 2019). "It's finally happening: American Dream mall will open Oct. 25". NorthJersey.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  7. Pries, Allison (September 20, 2019). "American Dream's theme park to open in October. For other attractions, you'll have to wait". NJ.com. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  8. Pries, Allison (May 20, 2019). "American Dream opening delayed -- again. But now there will be birds, bunnies and Instagram moments". NJ.com. Archived from the original on May 20, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  9. Brennan, John (August 11, 2015). "American Dream Meadowlands by the numbers". NorthJersey.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  10. Pries, Allison (December 2, 2018). "Waterslides are being installed at the American Dream mega-mall and it is glorious". NJ.com. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  11. Brennan, John (February 21, 2013). "Work on American Dream complex set to resume in March, official says". NorthJersey.com.
  12. "SpongeBob, Ninja Turtles sign on with American Dream". NorthJersey.com. September 13, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  13. Thomas, Lauren (October 22, 2019). "More than 17 years in the making, American Dream megamall's story was shaped by retail's upheaval". CNBC. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  14. Bagli, Charles V. (May 31, 2017). "Looking for (Another) $1.1 Billion to Finish an Amusement Mall". The New York Times.
  15. "Dine-in theater with private rooms and '4D' coming to American Dream megamall". NJ.com. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  16. Marroquin, Mario (April 4, 2017), American Dream making progress: KidZania latest to lease space, NorthJersey.com
  17. "Meadowlands megamall announces its next big entertainment venue". NJ.com. June 29, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  18. "Aquarium, Legoland coming to Meadowlands complex". NJ.com. October 1, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  19. Record Newspaper Accessed July 9, 2009. Archived February 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  20. Clunn, Nick (July 26, 2009). "Thousands hop on board new Meadowlands rail service". The Record. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  21. Alex, Dan; er. "NJ Transit bus service to American Dream mega mall at Meadowlands". New Jersey 101.5. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  22. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-27. Retrieved 2007-12-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. "Extra Indy-Car Incentive". The New York Times. July 20, 1988. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  24. Tadema-Wielandt, Michael (March 23, 2002). "Remember when?". www.grandprix.com. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
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