Meadowlands station
| Company type | NJ Transit rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | July 20, 2009 |
| Headquarters | East Rutherford , United States |
Area served | Meadowlands Sports Complex, East Rutherford, New Jersey |
| Products | Rail transportation services |
| Parent | New Jersey Transit |
Meadowlands station, also referred to as Meadowlands Sports Complex station, functions as the western endpoint of the Meadowlands Rail Line and is operated by New Jersey Transit. It is situated within the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The station is strategically positioned amid key venues such as Meadowlands Racetrack, Meadowlands Arena, American Dream, and MetLife Stadium. It offers a direct aerial link to MetLife Stadium and comprises one island platform and one side platform, each approximately long, interconnected by an enclosed, accessible pedestrian overpass.
NJ Transit runs the BetMGM Meadowlands Rail Line service to this station during events at stadiums expecting crowds exceeding 50,000. Although American Dream opened in 2019, routine daily train service has not yet been implemented; NJ Transit has stated that regular operations will commence once system reliability is ensured so that commuter service remains unaffected.
On September 14, 2022, NJ Transit finalized a three-year naming rights agreement valued at $3 million with BetMGM, a sports wagering company owned by MGM Resorts International, leading to the rail line’s rebranding under this partnership.
History
The station began operations on July 20, 2009, marked by a ribbon-cutting event attended by New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, along with New York Giants owner John Mara and Jets owner Woody Johnson. Public service started on July 26, 2009, coinciding with the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup final between the United States and Mexico, during which approximately 6,000 of the 80,000 spectators utilized the station.
In August 2009, New Jersey assembly members Frederick Scalera and Gary Schaer suggested employing the station as a park and ride facility offering weekday rush-hour service to alleviate traffic congestion toward New York City. Nevertheless, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority highlighted possible scheduling conflicts with evening events at venues such as the Izod Center.
During the first two NFL regular season games, train service efficiently transported between 6,000 and 7,000 fans per event. However, on September 23, 2009, a U2 concert attracted around 20,000 attendees who overwhelmed transit capacity. Many concertgoers faced waits up to two hours to board trains after the event due to a maximum throughput of 10,000 passengers per hour.
External links
- Meadowlands Rail Service – New Jersey Transit
- Train to the Game – Metropolitan Transportation Authority
- Meadowlands Railroad and Roadway Improvement Project – New Jersey Transit