Prudential Center, nicknamed “The Rock” after its naming sponsor’s corporate logo, opened in downtown Newark, New Jersey on October 25, 2007. It was the first major league sports venue built in the New York metropolitan area since 1981, and it has served as the home rink of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils ever since, replacing the Continental Airlines Arena in the Meadowlands.
Beyond hockey, the arena hosts Seton Hall Pirates men’s basketball, the PWHL’s New York Sirens, and a packed calendar of concerts and touring events. By the early 2020s it had climbed into the top five highest-grossing arenas in the world by Billboard’s rankings, cementing its status as one of the busiest live entertainment venues in the New York area.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): New Jersey Devils (NHL), Seton Hall Pirates (NCAA), New York Sirens (PWHL)
- Location: Newark, New Jersey
- Opened: October 25, 2007
- Capacity (Hockey): About 16,514
- Capacity (Concerts): About 17,000-19,500
- Construction Cost: About $375-380 million
- Notable Fact: Home to one of the world’s largest in-arena scoreboards, at 9,585 sq ft
The Ride Experience
Fans entering Prudential Center pass beneath one of the world’s largest LED displays, roughly 4,800 square feet, before settling into a bowl designed for close sightlines to Devils hockey. The arena’s crown jewel is its center-hung scoreboard, installed in 2017, which at nearly four stories tall and over 9,500 square feet was billed as the largest in-arena scoreboard on the planet at the time.
The building was also engineered with hockey in mind: it is one of only a handful of NHL arenas with an attached practice rink, letting the Devils train and play in the same complex without traveling to a separate facility.
A Concert and Community Hub
While hockey pays the bills most nights, Prudential Center has become a heavyweight concert destination, drawing major touring acts and consistently ranking among the highest-grossing arenas worldwide. In 2023 alone the venue hosted 58 concerts as part of more than 200 total events, helping revitalize downtown Newark’s entertainment district in the process.
The arena was designed by HOK Sport for its interior bowl, with Morris Adjmi Architects shaping the exterior, giving it a look distinct from typical suburban arenas of its era.
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Prudential Center FAQs
Who plays at Prudential Center?
The New Jersey Devils of the NHL have called Prudential Center home since it opened in 2007. Seton Hall’s men’s basketball team and the PWHL’s New York Sirens also play there.
When did Prudential Center open?
It opened on October 25, 2007, becoming the first major league sports venue built in the New York metropolitan area since 1981.
What is Prudential Center’s seating capacity?
It seats about 16,514 for hockey and can hold up to roughly 17,000-19,500 for concerts, depending on the stage configuration.
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Photo: ajay_suresh / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.