Prudential Center

Prudential Center
Company type	Indoor arena
Industry	Sports and entertainment venue
Founded	2007; 19 years ago
Headquarters	Newark, United States
Area served	Newark metropolitan area
Owner	Newark Housing Authority
Parent	Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (operator)

Prudential Center is a versatile indoor arena located in Newark, New Jersey, United States. Since its opening in 2007, it has been the home venue for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL), the New York Sirens competing in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), as well as the men's basketball team from Seton Hall University. By 2023, it was ranked among the top five highest-grossing concert venues globally. Ownership of the arena lies with the Newark Housing Authority, while its operations are managed by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), who also own the Devils.

Background

The arena has earned the nickname "The Rock" from fans and sports journalists, a nod to the Rock of Gibraltar, which serves as the emblem for Prudential Financial, a financial services company holding the naming rights and headquartered nearby. In December 2013, it was positioned third in national rankings and ninth worldwide based on self-reported annual revenue figures.

Upon its inauguration, Prudential Center was notable as the first major league sports facility constructed within the New York metropolitan area since the opening of Meadowlands Arena in 1981, which had been the previous home of the Devils. The design was crafted by Populous alongside Morris Adjmi Architects. The arena remains under ownership of the Newark Housing Authority and is operated by Josh Harris and David Blitzer through their company, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE).

Professional hockey

The Prudential Center functions as the home arena for the New Jersey Devils, an NHL team that played at Meadowlands Arena from 1982 until relocating in 2007. Beginning with the 2024–2025 season, it will also serve as the venue for the New York Sirens of the Professional Women's Hockey League. Additionally, it hosts the NCAA men's basketball games for Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball, whose home court was previously Meadowlands from 1985 to 2007. The arena also occasionally accommodates games for both the Seton Hall Pirates women's basketball and NJIT Highlanders men's basketball squads. Previously, it was home to the New York Titans of the National Lacrosse League until their relocation to Orlando in 2009.

A significant milestone occurred on May 25, 2012, when the Devils secured their first playoff series-clinching victory at Prudential Center with an overtime win against their rivals, the New York Rangers, propelling them into the Stanley Cup Finals. The arena hosted Games 1, 2, and 5 during that year's Finals.

Professional basketball

Originally intended to be the home court for the New Jersey Nets, plans changed after ownership transferred to developer Bruce Ratner, who pursued building a new arena in Brooklyn. Consequently, the Nets continued playing at Meadowlands until completion of Barclays Center. Despite setbacks including litigation and economic downturns during the late-2000s recession affecting construction timelines, the Nets held two preseason matches at Prudential Center in 2009, which ultimately led to finalizing an agreement to move there.

On April 23, 2012, Prudential Center hosted its last Nets game before their relocation to Barclays Center and rebranding as the Brooklyn Nets for the start of the 2012–13 NBA season. Furthermore, from 2011 to 2013, due to renovations at Madison Square Garden, the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) utilized Prudential Center as their temporary home venue.

Concerts and live productions

Prudential Center stands as a leading destination for major entertainment gatherings, having been the site for the MTV Video Music Awards on several occasions. It has welcomed performances from renowned artists such as Celine Dion, Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, Marc Anthony, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Elton John, Justin Bieber, Dua Lipa, and The Weeknd. In 2017, Billboard recognized it as "the East Coast home of K-pop" due to its frequent hosting of concerts by BTS, Suga, NCT, Blackpink, Stray Kids, Jin, IU, and KCON events.

The arena’s maximum concert capacity is reported to be as high as 19,500; however, its official website currently lists various configurations: Center Stage – 16,755; End Stage – 16,659; Half House Theater – 7,777; Lower Bowl Half House – 4,094; Cocktail Reception – 2,500; Banquet – 1,000; and Theatre Style – 2,000.

Mixed martial arts

Since November 17, 2007, Prudential Center has been a frequent venue for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events, beginning with UFC 78: Validation, which marked the UFC’s hundredth event. Key matchups hosted include UFC 111: St-Pierre vs. Hardy (March 27, 2010), UFC 128: Shogun vs. Jones (March 19, 2011), and UFC 159: Jones vs. Sonnen (April 27, 2013). The arena also held UFC 169: Barão vs. Faber 2 (February 1, 2014), drawing an audience of approximately 14,308 and generating $1.651 million in live gate revenue.

Additional prominent UFC events at the venue encompass UFC on Fox: Machida vs. Rockhold (April 18, 2015), UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Bader (January 30, 2016), and UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Lawler (August 3, 2019). More recent showcases include UFC 288: Sterling vs. Cejudo (May 6, 2023), UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier (June 1, 2024), and UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs. O'Malley 2 (June 7, 2025).

These events have played a crucial role in enhancing the arena’s revenue streams and establishing it as a premier location in the mixed martial arts industry.

Design

The building’s exterior features red and gray tones that pay homage to Newark’s brickmaking and railroad history. Visitors approaching the arena are greeted by a massive externally mounted LED screen measuring approximately 4,800 square feet (446 m²), ranking among the largest worldwide. This Daktronics display is divided into sections to preserve unobstructed views from within. Two substantial cylindrical towers on the east side serve as entrances to the main concourse via escalators and stairways.

Inside the lower concourse area, large windows provide panoramic views of downtown Newark. Unlike its predecessor—the Continental Airlines Arena—Prudential Center includes separate concourses for both lower and upper seating levels. The walls are decorated with jerseys representing most New Jersey high school hockey teams alongside murals honoring Devils legends such as Martin Brodeur, Scott Stevens, and Ken Daneyko, as well as tributes to local sports icons and landmarks in Newark.

Amenities and facilities

As a state-of-the-art NHL venue, Prudential Center offers extensive amenities throughout. The rink is outfitted with LED ribbon boards and features a Trans-Lux scoreboard installed in 2017—the largest center-hung scoreboard globally—replacing an earlier Daktronics model. The arena boasts a total of seventy-six luxury suites—the highest number in North America—each furnished with private dining areas, WiFi, and HDTVs. In total, there are around seven hundred fifty flat-screen televisions spread across the facility.

In the lower bowl section, three central sections on each side comprise approximately 2,330 Club seats designed with extra legroom and Devils branding. Club members and season ticket holders have access to a restaurant seating three hundred fifty guests located on the suite level overlooking both the main rink and practice rink. Additionally, the Goal Bar offers terrace-style seating options. Various lounges situated along the main concourse provide buffet-style dining choices and house broadcast studios for television and radio coverage.

At street level on Edison Place’s northern side are located the ticket office, a Devils Team Store spanning about 2,600 square feet (242 m²), and Championship Plaza celebrating team achievements. Adjacent to these are the Devils' corporate headquarters along with an exclusive practice rink featuring dual locker rooms—a unique feature among NHL arenas—catering separately to home and visiting teams.

From October 2017 until June 2023, Prudential Center hosted the Grammy Museum Experience, enriching its cultural offerings for visitors.

Practice rink

Situated on the arena’s southern side, the Devils' training facility, known as the RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House (previously called the AmeriHealth Pavilion), occasionally opens for public skating sessions. Between 2016 and 2019, this rink served as the home venue for the Metropolitan Riveters of the National Women's Hockey League. It also accommodates local hockey teams such as the Saint Peter's Prep Marauders and the NJIT Highlanders club squad. Additionally, it hosts the NJSIAA state championship games for high school ice hockey.

Championship Plaza and surroundings

Championship Plaza, inaugurated on October 3, 2009, honors the legacy of the Devils and is located across from the arena on Mulberry Street. Its focal point is a 22-foot tall, 7,000-pound stainless steel sculpture of a hockey player. The plaza also features The Rock, a design element inspired by Prudential’s emblem. Visitors have had the opportunity to purchase customized bricks that are embedded throughout the plaza.

A statue commemorating former Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur was unveiled outside the Lafayette Street entrance near the practice rink on October 22, 2016.

The establishment of Prudential Center has been a catalyst for Newark’s urban renewal, prompting new hotel developments, loft conversions, and a burgeoning restaurant district near the Four Corners area adjacent to the arena. However, progress on the Mulberry Commons mixed-use project was delayed for nearly ten years before construction finally commenced in October 2017. The $10 million park officially opened on May 30, 2019, representing a significant advancement in downtown Newark’s revitalization efforts.

Planning

Despite securing the Stanley Cup in 1995 and reaching the finals again during the 2002–03 season, the New Jersey Devils were frequently subject to relocation speculation. Attendance figures remained modest, averaging just 14,858 spectators per game at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford.

In 2002, city council approved funding for a new arena with an 18,000-seat capacity in Newark while ownership was held by Puck Holdings, a subsidiary of YankeeNets. Two years later, former Lehman Brothers executive Jeffrey Vanderbeek acquired the team and became a strong advocate for building a venue that would reflect the team’s NHL status and contribute to downtown Newark’s revitalization. After overcoming legal disputes related to eminent domain and municipal financing, city council gave final approval to the project in October 2004.

Construction and funding

The selected site in downtown Newark was bounded by Edison Place, Lafayette Street, Mulberry Street, and Broad Street. This location encompassed parts of the abandoned Renaissance Mall project and former railway property. The arena’s design was developed by HOK Sport, with exterior architectural elements by Morris Adjmi Architects. Initial renderings emerged early in 2005 under the tentative name "Newark Arena." Construction began on October 3, 2005, utilizing a workforce of 2,725 union laborers.

Progress almost stalled due to financial uncertainties until January 24, 2006, when the Devils committed to contributing $100 million toward completion. Although there were doubts during Mayor Cory Booker’s administration mid-year, an amended agreement including property transfers and financial concessions secured city council approval by October.

Newark pledged $210 million for construction costs using settlement funds from a leasing dispute with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, while the Devils financed remaining expenses—thus avoiding direct taxpayer burden. Some public funds were allocated to infrastructure upgrades necessary to support both the arena and adjacent private developments.

In January 2007, naming rights were secured by Prudential Financial for $105.3 million over two decades, which helped lower municipal expenditures. Consequently, the facility was officially named Prudential Center and earned its nickname "The Rock," inspired by Prudential’s logo.

Construction concluded in October 2007 with an estimated overall cost of $380 million. The build incorporated over 18,000 tons of steel and extensive ventilation systems. During final preparations of the arena, the Devils played their first nine games of the 2007–08 NHL season away from home.

Opening

The Prudential Center's initial soft launch occurred on October 20 with a performance by the Newark Boys Chorus, marking the venue's debut event. Its official grand opening took place on October 25, 2007, highlighted by ten concerts from New Jersey rock group Bon Jovi. Supporting acts included Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, Daughtry, The All-American Rejects, and My Chemical Romance.

The New Jersey Devils hosted their first home contest at the arena on October 27, 2007, facing off against the Ottawa Senators, who had been their final adversaries at the Continental Airlines Arena. The opening goal in the arena was scored by Chris Neil, while Brian Gionta recorded the Devils' inaugural goal. The Senators prevailed 4–1, with goaltender Martin Gerber securing the first victory at the venue.

On November 11, 2007, the arena held its first collegiate basketball matchup, where Seton Hall triumphed over Monmouth 89–81 in an overtime thriller.

Lighting incidents

During a game between the Devils and the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 8, 2010, a power surge caused half of the arena’s sports lighting to malfunction. Despite nearly two hours of attempts by PSEG and Prudential Center electricians to restore illumination, repairs were unsuccessful, resulting in the suspension of the match. The game resumed two nights later with approximately 3,000 of the original 15,129 spectators present; Tampa Bay secured a 4–2 victory. Notably, Lightning center Steven Stamkos scored twice across both portions of the contest.

Before a preseason matchup on October 7, 2021, featuring the Devils and New York Islanders, a power failure led to an outage affecting lighting in the arena’s northeast section. Following an extended delay, officials canceled the game.

Location and accessibility

Alongside prominent arenas in the New York metropolitan area such as Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, and UBS Arena, Prudential Center is recognized as one of the most accessible venues nationwide. Located just two blocks from Newark Penn Station in downtown Newark, it benefits from convenient pedestrian access via multiple transit options including New Jersey Transit, PATH, Newark Light Rail, and Amtrak.

Major highways serving the vicinity include I-95 along the New Jersey Turnpike, as well as I-78, I-280, US 1/9, NJ 21, US 22, and the Garden State Parkway.

The arena is adjacent to Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood, famed for its array of Portuguese, Spanish, and Brazilian culinary establishments. It also lies near Halsey Street, a bustling retail and dining area close to Rutgers' Newark campus.

Constructed near what was once Newark's Chinatown, Prudential Center faces onto Mulberry Commons, a public park featuring recreational facilities. In 2023, work commenced on the Mulberry Commons Pedestrian Bridge, intended to connect the arena with Newark Penn Station by spanning over McCarter Highway. This project aims to improve pedestrian access similarly to New York’s High Line.

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