Izod Center
From Iwe
Izod Center | |
Meadowlands Arena | |
The Izod Center as seen from a nearby parking garage. The banner displaying the arena's name has since been taken down and replaced by a permanent sign. | |
Former names | Brendan Byrne Arena (1981–1996) Continental Airlines Arena (1996–2007) |
Location | 50 State Route 120 East Rutherford, New Jersey |
Coordinates | 40°48′42″N 74°4′3″W |
Broke ground | 1977 |
Opened | July 2, 1981 |
Owner | New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority |
Operator | New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority |
Construction cost | US$85 million |
Architect | Grad Partnership and Dilullo, Clauss, Ostroki & Partners |
Capacity | 20,049 (NBA Basketball) 20,029 (NCAA Basketball) 19,040 (Hockey) 20,000 (Concerts) |
Tenants | |
New Jersey Nets (NBA) (1981–2010) New York Cosmos (NASL Indoor) (1981-1984); (MISL) (1984-1985) New Jersey Devils (NHL) (1982–2007) Seton Hall Pirates (NCAA Basketball) (1985–2007) New Jersey Red Dogs/Gladiators (AFL) (1997–2002) New Jersey Storm (National Lacrosse League) (2001-2003) Fordham Rams (NCAA Basketball) (2011) TicketCity Legends Classic (2011–present) |
The Izod Center is an indoor sports and entertainment venue located in the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA. The arena is located on NJ 120 and is across the highway from MetLife Stadium and the Meadowlands Racetrack. A covered footbridge connects one of MetLife Stadium's parking lots with the Izod Center's lot. The arena has a maximum capacity of 20,049.
The Izod Center was originally known as the Brendan Byrne Arena and later was renamed Continental Airlines Arena after the airline, which had a hub at nearby Newark International Airport (and still does), purchased naming rights. In 2007 Phillips-Van Heusen, a clothing manufacturer, bought the naming rights after Continental Airlines elected not to retain them; PVH rebranded the venue with its Izod clothing label and the arena adopted its current name of Izod Center.
The arena was originally built to accommodate a move of the New York Nets basketball team to New Jersey and opened in 1981. In 1982, the Colorado Rockies hockey team joined the Nets in the new building and became known as the New Jersey Devils. The Nets and Devils were joined by Seton Hall University's men's basketball team in 1985.
In 2007, the Prudential Center opened in nearby Newark and the Devils, for whom the arena was built, moved out of what was still known as Continental Airlines Arena. Seton Hall, whose campus in South Orange is closer to Newark than East Rutherford, followed and moved their basketball games there. The Nets remained for three more seasons at what was now Izod Center before moving to Newark, where they played two seasons before departing New Jersey for Brooklyn and the Barclays Center.
The last team to call Izod Center home was the men's basketball team from Fordham University, who played most of their 2010-11 home schedule at the arena.
Since the departure of all three of its major tenants, Izod Center has served as more of a concert venue and general entertainment venue than a sporting venue.
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