| Opened: | Oct. 27, 2007 | Home Team: | New Jersey Devils |
| Owner: | Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment | Capacity: | 16,514 |
| Location: | 25 Lafayette Street, Newark, NJ | Former Names: |
Prudential Center is a multipurpose indoor arena in the central business district of Newark, New Jersey. Opened in 2007, it is the home of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the men’s basketball program of Seton Hall University, known as the Seton Hall Pirates. The arena officially seats 16,514 patrons for hockey games and up to 18,711 for basketball.
Fans and sports writers have affectionately nicknamed the arena “The Rock” in reference to the Rock of Gibraltar, the corporate logo of Prudential Financial. This financial institution owns the naming rights to the arena and is headquartered within walking distance of it. In December 2013, the arena ranked third nationally and ninth internationally for self-reported annual revenue. In January 2023, the arena was ranked fifth globally by Pollstar for concert revenue.
The arena was built amidst financial concerns and years of speculation that the Devils would relocate, even though the team was a perennial playoff contender and had been at or near the top of the NHL’s standings for over a decade. The arena is located two blocks from Newark Penn Station in downtown Newark, just west of Newark’s Ironbound district, which makes it easily accessible via New Jersey Transit, PATH, Newark Light Rail, and Amtrak.
At its opening, Prudential Center was the first major league sports venue built in the New York metropolitan area since Meadowlands Arena, the Devils’ former home, opened in 1981. It is owned by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) and was designed by Populous, with the exterior designed by Morris Adjmi Architects.
First Game
- Oct. 27, 2007 – Devils vs. Ottawa Senators (4-1 loss)
Notable Events
- Stanley Cup Final – 2012
- UFC 78, UFC 111, UFC 128, UFC 159, UFC 169, UFC 288