Izod Center

Izod Center
Heath Brandon · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Izod Center
Location	East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States
Opened	1981
Closed	2015
Demolished	2019–2022
Owner	New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority
Capacity	~20,000 (concerts)
Architect	HOK Sport (Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum)
Former names	Brendan Byrne Arena; Continental Airlines Arena; Izod Center

Izod Center was an indoor arena located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on the Meadowlands Sports Complex near MetLife Stadium and the former Giants Stadium. Opened in 1981, the arena served as a regional venue for New Jersey Nets, New York Islanders (temporary), Seton Hall University basketball, and numerous concerts, wrestling events, and conventions. Its lifecycle intersected with organizations such as the New Jersey Devils (minor events), entertainment promoters like Live Nation, and municipal authorities including the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.

History

The arena was conceived amid competitive venue development in the late 1970s, alongside projects like Madison Square Garden renovations and expansions of the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. Designed by HOK Sport, the facility opened as Brendan Byrne Arena to host the New Jersey Nets, relocating from Iselin, New Jersey venues and competing with the New York Knicks for the National Basketball Association market. During the 1980s and 1990s the site hosted playoff series featuring teams such as the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as hockey matchups involving the New York Rangers during temporary relocations. Renamings reflected corporate sponsorship deals with Continental Airlines and later Izod, mirroring trends set by arenas like Staples Center and KeyBank Center. Competition from newer arenas including Barclays Center and the redevelopment of Madison Square Garden contributed to changing tenant dynamics. Management and booking practices involved partnerships with promoters like AEG Presents and Clear Channel Entertainment before consolidation into larger entertainment conglomerates. Over time, declining tenancy and the opening of modern venues led the authority to decommission the arena prior to its eventual demolition.

Architecture and Facilities

The structure's design emphasized multipurpose flexibility comparable to contemporaries such as The Spectrum and Capital Centre. HOK Sport's configuration allowed conversion between National Hockey League-sized ice for temporary hockey installations and NBA-format basketball for the Nets and collegiate contests like Seton Hall Pirates games. Seating capacity for concerts reached near 20,000, accommodating tours by artists promoted by firms like Ticketmaster and Clear Channel. Backstage facilities supported large-scale productions previously staged at Radio City Music Hall or Madison Square Garden. The arena included luxury suites purchased by corporations including Prudential Financial and hospitality areas for clients from MetLife and other New Jersey firms. Infrastructure integrated with the Meadowlands transit hub and access roads linking to Interstate 95 and Route 3, addressing audience flow similar to transportation planning around Giants Stadium events. Operational systems—scoreboards, rigging, and acoustics—reflected upgrades paralleling technology used at United Center refurbishment projects.

Events and Tenants

Throughout its tenure, the arena hosted a broad array of tenants and events, from professional franchises to touring productions. The New Jersey Nets used the venue as their primary home until their relocation to Newark and eventual move to Brooklyn, joining other NBA market shifts associated with teams like the Vancouver Grizzlies and Seattle SuperSonics relocations. Professional wrestling promotions—WWE and WCW—held marquee events, while boxing cards featured contenders promoted by organizations such as Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions. Concert tours by international acts promoted by SFX Entertainment and later conglomerates brought artists comparable to those who performed at Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center, including stadium-scale productions utilizing arena rigging similar to Wembley Arena standards. Collegiate athletics included Seton Hall Pirates basketball and NCAA tournament games, reflecting the arena's role in regional college sports. The facility also accommodated conventions, trade shows, and family events like circus productions promoted by companies such as Ringling Bros. and holiday spectacles akin to touring shows at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Demolition and Redevelopment

After extended vacancy, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority arranged for decommissioning and site clearance amid broader Meadowlands redevelopment plans, paralleling urban renewal projects seen in Jersey City and Newark. Demolition proceeded in phases, coordinated with contractors experienced in arena dismantling comparable to work done at the former Sears Centre and other deconstructed venues. Debris removal, environmental remediation, and land regrading followed protocols similar to redevelopment at former industrial lots like Hoboken Terminal adjacent projects. Proposals for the cleared footprint included mixed-use schemes promoted by developers with portfolios including projects at Liberty State Park and Journal Square, with concepts for retail, office, hotel, and public open space influenced by regional planning initiatives endorsed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and local municipal planners. Negotiations involved stakeholders such as MetLife and local economic development agencies concerning transportation access and tax incentives akin to negotiations for American Dream Meadowlands.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

The arena's legacy persists through memories of championship playoff games featuring franchises like the Chicago Bulls dynasty matchups, concerts by artists who also performed at Madison Square Garden, and televised events broadcast alongside networks such as NBC Sports and MSG Network. It influenced regional venue planning, contributing lessons adopted by projects like Barclays Center and Prudential Center, and figures in local heritage narratives about the Meadowlands sports complex. Former employees, promoters from Live Nation, and athletes associated with the facility appear in oral histories and archival materials preserved by institutions including the New Jersey Historical Society and university special collections at Rutgers University. The site's redevelopment continues to shape discussions about urban land use, transportation, and cultural memory in northern New Jersey communities.

Category:Indoor arenas in New Jersey Category:Demolished buildings and structures in New Jersey