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NBA Basketball
Arena Vitals
Opened: October 2007
Capacity: 18,500 seats
Mascot: Sly the Silver Fox
Dance Team:
Power N' Motion
Team Chant:
Draft Beer: $
Hot Dog: $ |
Prudential Center
Arena Address
165 Mulberry Street
Newark, NJ 07102
973-757-6000
Get Directions
Arena Parking: $ |
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NBA Basketball Arena Review
- The Prudential Center
 Ground broke on the Prudential
Center, aka The Rock, in October 2005 and it opened two years later
in October 2007. The NHL’s New Jersey Devils and the NCAA’s Seton
Hall Pirates were the first tenants. The next notable addition was
the New Jersey Nets in 2010. The Rock, seats 18,500 during a
basketball game and 17,625 during a hockey game. Estimates have the
total construction costs at $375 million dollars.
The New Jersey Nets moved into their new home, located in Newark,
New Jersey, for the 2010 NBA season. Often when a team moves into a
new home, the fan base experiences mixed emotions. However, one
doesn’t get that sense from Nets fans. This is largely because the
old arena had all of the personality of the bland Meadowlands Sports
Complex to which it belonged. The Prudential Center, on the other
hand, is distinct and exciting and, during the basketball season at
least, feels like “this is our house”.
Upon entering the Rock, the spacious concourses are the feature that
most visitors will notice first. It is a stark contrast from the
tight concourses in many NBA arenas and yet the Rock manages to pack
in all of the beer, food and merchandise vendors fans expect. Even
during packed house events, the Rock is one of the most comfortable
arenas to walk around. A highlight of these concourses is the open
view that exists on one end of the mezzanine level. This provides an
amazing sight that is truly unique among basketball and hockey
arenas, and it gives the Rock a baseball park-style flavor.
During both basketball and hockey events, the Rock doesn’t seem to
have a bad seat in the house. However, for those who can afford
them, the Fire Lounge and the Ice Lounger offer amazing site lines
and comfort while including food in the ticket price. Beer selection
is par for the course in NBA and NHL arenas and nothing about it is
particularly noteworthy. The food selection, on the other hand, is
where the Rock really shines, and it offers everything you would
expect from a New York establishment, even though it’s not actually
in New York.
The local area surrounding the Prudential Center is a mixed bag but
that comes with a caveat. Due to the convenience of mass transit,
you can be in the center of Manhattan within several minutes. Thanks
to Manhattan, there’s no limit to the activities, bars and
restaurants at your disposal. As for Newark, New Jersey is putting
forth a lot of effort to improve it, and it has some great options
already in place.
One of the nicest locations, the Brick City Bar and Grill, is right
across the street for the Prudential Center, and is extremely easy
to access both before and after the game. This place is large so you
won’t experience long wait times even on game nights, and it has an
eclectic menu that caters to all tastes. If you want to eat prior to
going into the arena, this is the spot for you.
Another notable location is the Arena Lounge, which is in walking
distance, two blocks, from the Prudential Center’s Verizon Tower.
This is a full-fledge bar and restaurant that provides a great
experience in terms of game day atmosphere. However, it’s small and
very crowded. Eating there prior to a game is not usually practical.
However, it’s perfect if you just want to get a few drinks and take
in the local pre-game culture.
In terms of access, you have the Prudential Station right across the
street and you Newark Penn Station, which connects to Penn Station
in New York, two blocks away. This means that coming by bus, taxi or
train, access is super convenient. If you have to come in through
Penn Station, the walk to the arena is simple, populated and safe.
Driving is always an option, and there are parking centers nearby.
However, this is not nearly as convenient as taking advantage of the
many mass transit options.
The fans at The Rock are tough to peg. The reason for this is that
while Nets fans are knowledgeable and hospitable, they have a
limited presence at times. This leaves the door open for large
visiting crowds. These crowds make the experience a bit
unpredictable. However, at Knicks and 76ers, I have never noticed a
hostile environment even though Nets fan can feel like an outsider
at one of these outings..
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City of Newark Local Information |
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Top Tourist Attractions:
Local Foods:
Popular
Bar Districts:
Best Restaurants:
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Fan
Resources:
Pocket Map of Newark
Metro Rail Map
Prudential Center Fan Guide
Arena Parking Map
Local Sports Media:
Where To
Stay:
If
you’re looking for a place to stay that's near the Prudential Center,
the
Hilton Newark Penn Station is ideal.
Located next to Newark Penn Station and a short two block walk from
Prudential Center, you can be within striking distance of the arena for
the weekend.
Getting to the Arena:
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Planning Your Next Trip to see the
New Jersey Nets at the Prudential Center?
NBABasketballArenas.com can help.
Below you'll find links for cheap New Jersey Nets tickets, arena seating
charts, local weather, hotel, and flight information.
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COMMENTS?
Tell me about your
experience at the Prudential Center watching the New Jersey Nets. Please feel free to
post
any suggestions or comments you might have for my journey to
the Prudential Center, including the following:
- Local Hotspots (Bar
Districts, Restaurants, Clubs)
- Local Foods (Traditional Cuisine, Micro Brews)
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- If you saw me let me know!
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