Opening Night at Pru Center in Newark

Bon Jovi rocks "The Rock" to a packed house on opening night in Newark

By: Kristy Barry

Posted: 10/30/07

"This is the house Newark built," said Mayor Cory Booker at the ribbon- cutting ceremony for the Prudential Center on Oct. 25.

He opened his statements by hailing the "dogged determination" of his predecessor, Sharpe James who was a major force in bringing the arena to fruition. Booker, who wasn't originally in favor of the arena, has since changed his tune.

"It's not the critic who counts…it's the man in the arena," he said, adding that no great feat is achieved without error.

Sgt. Hector Corchado said that he, like James, supported the arena from day one and felt vindicated during Booker's speech. "I couldn't have said it better."

Jeff Vanderbeek, president of the New Jersey Devils, thanked elected officials, construction workers, and his family for their hard work, patience, and dedication. Vanderbeek had a hand in the ribbon-cutting with Booker and Business Administration Bo Kemp, among other officials.

Governor Jon Corzine said the arena was a "milestone in Newark's Renaissance," and praised the vision and the leadership of the arena.

High hopes for Newark are hinged on the arena which Booker said could "fuel a resurgence" for New Jersey's largest city, desperately in need of "economic dynamism."

"It's a great addition," said Julien Neals, chief justice of Newark. "It'll help to bring culture back to Newark to make it the cultural Mecca again, that it once was."

Corzine said he's anticipating attending New Jersey Devils hockey games and "looking for a few championships."

"This is a championship moment," he said.



Newark Sets The Stage for Downtown Revitalization

"I am the Jersey devil and this is my new home," Bon Jovi said on-stage on Opening Night at the Prudential Center on Oct. 25.

The $375 million arena, which seats nearly 20,000 concert-goers, will host Bon Jovi for ten concerts and be the new home for the New Jersey Devils hockey team.

The Prudential Center was projected to bring 100,000 visitors to Newark in the first week and 500,000 in the first month.

But some questioned the saying "If you build it, they will come."

William Agrait, an attorney in Newark, said he bought mid-floor level seats roughly three hours before the arena opened to the public. "I guess I'm lucky."

Karen Rodriguez, a child support hearing officer in Newark, said "parking was chaotic with cars everywhere."

The self-proclaimed die-hard Bon Jovi fan said she checked out the arena website before the show to find restaurants in Newark, but that phone numbers were "off the wall" and the other information was very limited.

"But," she said looking around the interior of the arena, "the energy tonight is interesting."

"Yeah," chimed in Rodriguez's friend, Maria Mancuso of Trenton. "This is really exciting for a local band to be here."

Despite the buzz, concerns over crime in Newark were ever-present in the city struggling with staggering homicide rates and a tainted overall reputation.

Police Director Garry McCarthy said that Newark has a downtown task force of 24 police officers who patrol the Prudential Center during events.

He said the arena will bring in commerce, spur more development in Newark and the revenue and jobs created "will bring funding so we can be better at what we do."

McCarthy said he recognizes that for college students, the city shuts down in the early evening and thinks the new arena will assist in making the downtown safer and more inviting after-hours.

Carla Katz, a union president in New Jersey, echoed similar sentiments saying the arena could help revitalize Newark. "It's obvious our urban centers need a boost."

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