The violence struck city of Newark will witness Bon Jovi, the sensational rock star along with his band christening the $380 million Prudential Center arena. With this kind of a grand opening of the arena the city officials will be hoping that this home to the New Jersey Devils will bring them immense commercial success. Similar to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, which stands three block away from the arena, the city will hope that this Prudential Center develops rapidly and sustains an upward trend set by the Performing Arts Center over a decade ago. Commenting upon the arena Mayor Cory.A.Booker said,
When people started coming in, they saw that this was the best performing arts facility in the region and they began to see a new face of Newark. This is going to further encourage that as they see a top-of-the-class arena.
This 19,500 capacity arena is the first pro sport and concert venue opened in more than quarter century. The city witnessed the opening of the Meadowlands sports complex way back in 1981. This new arena sure looks to be an added feather in the cap of Newark’s extravagant structures.
The chief tenants of this new exquisite arena will be the New Jersey Devils who have all these years played at the Meadowlands. Not only will baseball be the order of the arena but even other sports like basketball and soccer craze will set in. the Seton Hall University men’s basketball team and the New Jersey Ironman of Major Indoor soccer league will see this arena as their home ground.
To kick start this stupendous run of success none other than New Jersey’s very own rock star, John Bon Jovi will perform in ten concerts spanning over two weeks. For al hose anticipating a sneak peek into the arena with Jovi’s concert its time to sulk. Reports have it that the 10 scheduled concerts by the star have had a sellout. Not only the complex but the near surrounding of the arena has been polished. With millions of dollars being spent on street surfacing, new sidewalks, traffic signal, street lights and demolition of decaying building, the officials have ensured that the venue sets a high standard of class and style.
For security purposes the Newark Police Department has planned to have upto 60 officers patrol the arena and neighbouring places especially on a major event night. With over $210 million paid by the city and rest by The Devils, few natives are not too satisfied with the amount of money spent in the overall development of the sports center. Residents feel that the city rather spend more in aiding those families who are struggling for survival in this violence hit city. Benson,32, an official of New York’s human resource department says,
I think of it as a cosmetic fix for the city. I would love to see those dollars spent elsewhere.
With such contradicting reactions within the same city many will be hoping that the arena is accepted as a part of the city’s grandeur. But many citizens will only accept the Prudential Center as a part of their city once the government takes other concerning issues seriously. Many would be hoping that the depleting standards of living will spread a word of caution and the officials will strike the balance the residents are awaiting for
Image Credit: newarkusa.blogspot.com
