The arena at the Meadowlands
Monday, October 6, 2008 Last updated: Monday October 6, 2008, EDT 7:51 AM
"The arena at the Meadowlands";
Izod Center is the third name given to the Meadowlands sports and entertainment arena.
The facility opened on July 2, 1981, as Brendan Byrne Arena, after the former Democratic governor. Rocker Bruce Springsteen was the performer, playing the first of six sold-out concerts.
The arena, which opened five years after The Meadowlands Racetrack and Giants Stadium, cost $85 million to build.
Its first major sports tenant was the Nets, who have played at the arena since moving from the Rutgers Athletic Center in the fall of 1981.
The Devils moved in a year later, arriving from Colorado. The Devils played at the arena until last year, when the franchise moved to Newark's Prudential Center.
Seton Hall University, which began playing basketball at the Meadowlands in 1985, also moved to Newark last year.
The arena was renamed Continental Airlines Arena in January 1996, with a naming-rights deal worth a reported $29 million during a span of 12 years.
Last October, the Izod brand of the Phillips-Van Heusen company replaced Continental with a five-year, $7 million deal.
Other past pro sports tenants at the Meadowlands arena include:
* Major Indoor Soccer League's Rockets (1981-82)
* Cosmos, North American Soccer League, in 1981-82 and 1983-84; and Major Indoor Soccer League, 1984-85
* Box Lacrosse League's Saints (1987-88)
* Roller Hockey International's Rockin Rollers (1994-97)
* Arena Football League's Red Dogs (1997-2000) and Gladiators (2001-03);
* The Jayson Williams-owned Storm of Major League Lacrosse (2001-03);
* The Xtreme of the National Indoor Football League (which lasted for only one home game in 2005).
Source: NJSEA.com
— John Brennan
Izod Center is the third name given to the Meadowlands sports and entertainment arena.
The facility opened on July 2, 1981, as Brendan Byrne Arena, after the former Democratic governor. Rocker Bruce Springsteen was the performer, playing the first of six sold-out concerts.
The arena, which opened five years after The Meadowlands Racetrack and Giants Stadium, cost $85 million to build.
Its first major sports tenant was the Nets, who have played
