Meadowlands Sports Complex facts for kids
| The Meadowlands The New Meadowlands The Sports Complex |
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Aerial view, 2018
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| Address | East Rutherford, New Jersey United States |
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| Coordinates | 40°48′51″N 74°04′26″W / 40.81417°N 74.07389°W |
| Facilities | MetLife Stadium Meadowlands Racetrack American Dream Meadowlands Meadowlands Arena Quest Diagnostics Training Center |
| Public transit |   Meadowlands(select events) Meadowlands Rail Line
 Coach USA: 351 |
| Owner | New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority |
The Meadowlands Sports Complex is a huge sports and entertainment area in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States. The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) owns and runs this complex. It gets its name from the New Jersey Meadowlands, the area where it was built.
Today, the complex is home to MetLife Stadium, where the New York Giants and New York Jets football teams play. It also has the Meadowlands Racetrack, famous for harness racing (horse racing where horses pull a driver in a two-wheeled cart). The Quest Diagnostics Training Center is also here, serving as the Giants' practice facility.
The complex also features American Dream, a large shopping and entertainment center. The Meadowlands Arena, which is now closed, used to be home to the New Jersey Devils hockey team and the New Jersey Nets basketball team.
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History of the Meadowlands Complex
Building a Sports Hub in New Jersey
In the mid-1960s, leaders in New Jersey wanted to build a sports complex. They hoped to attract a professional football team from New York City. The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority Law was passed in 1971. This law helped make the complex possible.
David A. "Sonny" Werblin, a former president of the New York Jets, became the first chairman. By the end of 1971, he made a deal for the New York Giants to move to the Meadowlands. The Giants had been playing in Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Construction began on Giants Stadium and the Meadowlands Racetrack on November 19, 1972.
Opening the First Venues
To handle all the new visitors, roads around the complex were improved. The New Jersey Turnpike added a new section, the "western spur," with an exit directly to the sports complex. Other major roads like Route 3 and Route 120 also got upgrades.
The Meadowlands Racetrack was the first part of the complex to open. It started with harness racing on September 1, 1976. A huge crowd of 42,133 people came to watch the first races. Giants Stadium opened on October 10, 1976. On that day, 76,042 fans watched the New York Giants play the Dallas Cowboys.
Adding an Arena and More Teams
By 1977, there were plans to make the complex even bigger. A new arena was built across the road from the stadium and racetrack. It was connected by ramps and a bridge for people to walk across. This arena, first called Brendan Byrne Arena, opened on July 2, 1981. Musician Bruce Springsteen played the first of six sold-out shows there.
The arena was later renamed Continental Airlines Arena in 1996. Then, in 2007, it became the Izod Center. The New Jersey Nets basketball team was the first team to play in the arena in 1981. A year later, the New Jersey Devils hockey team and the Seton Hall University men's basketball team also moved in.
The New York Jets football team moved to Giants Stadium on September 6, 1984. They had played at Shea Stadium for almost 20 years.
New Developments and Changes
In 2007, work started on a huge shopping mall called Meadowlands Xanadu. Construction stopped in 2009, but a new company, Triple Five, took over in 2011. The mall, now called American Dream, finally opened in 2019.
The New Jersey Devils and Seton Hall Pirates basketball team left the complex in 2007. They moved to the Prudential Center in Newark. The New Jersey Nets also moved to the Prudential Center in 2010, and then to Brooklyn two years later. This left the Izod Center without a main team, but it hosted many concerts and events.
Giants Stadium closed at the end of the 2009 NFL season. It was then torn down. In September 2010, MetLife Stadium opened. It was built by the Jets and Giants. A new train line and a training center for the Giants also opened at the same time. MetLife bought the rights to name the stadium and the entire complex in August 2011.
The Meadowlands Arena (Izod Center) closed to the public in April 2015. It had lost its main teams and was losing money. Since then, it has been used for concert rehearsals and private video projects.
MetLife Stadium will host games during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including the final match. This will be the second time World Cup games are played at the Meadowlands. Giants Stadium hosted games during the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Other Events at the Complex
Besides the main venues, the complex also hosts events in the MetLife Stadium parking lot. The State Fair Meadowlands, a fun annual fair, has been held here since 1986. The parking lot also has a flea market twice a week. However, the flea market is canceled when the parking lots are needed for stadium events.
Main Venues at the Complex
MetLife Stadium: Home of Two NFL Teams
MetLife Stadium opened in 2010. It replaced Giants Stadium, which was torn down. MetLife Stadium is the home field for both the New York Giants and New York Jets of the NFL. It is one of only two stadiums in the NFL that hosts two teams.
MetLife Stadium hosted Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014. It will also host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Meadowlands Arena: A Former Sports Hub
The Meadowlands Arena (also known as Brendan Byrne Arena, Continental Airlines Arena, and IZOD Center) was a large indoor arena. It opened in 1981. It was home to the New Jersey Nets basketball team until 2010. The Seton Hall University men's basketball team and the New Jersey Devils hockey team also played there until 2007.
The Devils and Seton Hall basketball team moved to the Prudential Center in Newark. The Nets later moved to Brooklyn and became the Brooklyn Nets. The Meadowlands Arena closed in April 2015.
Meadowlands Racetrack: Horse Racing Excitement
The Meadowlands Racetrack is a track for horse racing. It hosts both thoroughbred racing and harness racing. Many people in the area call it "The Big M."
The Racetrack opened in the mid-1970s. Its first harness race was on September 1, 1976. Thoroughbred racing started on September 6, 1977. The Meadowlands Racetrack is where the Hambletonian Stakes takes place. This is a very important event in harness racing. Most races happen at night.
In the middle of the track, there is a lake shaped like the state of New Jersey. The Meadowlands Racetrack is also a top place for simulcasting. This means people can watch and bet on races happening at other tracks around the world.
Quest Diagnostics Training Center: Giants' Practice Home
The Quest Diagnostics Training Center is the main headquarters and practice facility for the New York Giants football team. It opened in 2010. It replaced the Giants' old practice fields next to Giants Stadium.
The Giants hold their Training Camp here every summer. Fans can often watch practices and meet legendary players.
American Dream: Shopping and Fun for Everyone
American Dream is a huge mall and entertainment complex. It used to be called Xanadu. It is located within the Meadowlands Sports Complex, next to the former Izod Center. It has over 450 stores. The first parts of American Dream opened on October 25, 2019. Other sections opened in stages through 2020.
About 45 percent of American Dream's space is for stores. The rest, 55 percent, is for entertainment. Fun attractions include an indoor ice rink, an indoor theme park called Nickelodeon Universe, and an indoor water park called DreamWorks Water Park. There is also a concert venue.
Other cool attractions include the Big SNOW American Dream indoor ski slope. There are also two mini-golf courses, a luxury movie theater, a bowling alley, a Legoland Discovery Center, and a Sea Life Aquarium. You can also find an indoor rock climbing facility and a Mirror Maze. It even has a special food court with kosher food options.
Since September 14, 2022, The Rink at American Dream has been home to the Metropolitan Riveters hockey team.
Getting to the Meadowlands Complex
Train Access to Meadowlands Station
New Jersey Transit operates the Meadowlands station at the complex. This is the end of the Meadowlands Rail Line. The station opened on July 26, 2009, to prepare for the opening of the American Dream mall. There are also studies about extending the Hudson–Bergen Light Rail line to the complex. Even though American Dream opened in 2019, the train line is not used every day.
Roads Leading to the Complex
Four main highways surround the Meadowlands Sports Complex. These are New Jersey Route 3 to the south, Route 17 to the west, Route 120 to the north, and the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) to the east. These roads make it easy to get to the complex from many different directions.
Auto Racing History
IndyCar Races at the Meadowlands
In July 1984, the CART IndyCar series held its first Meadowlands Grand Prix. This race took place on a temporary track built in the Giants Stadium parking lot. The race was not very popular, and not many people came to watch.
In 1988, the track layout was changed. It moved to the streets around the Meadowlands Arena (then Brendan Byrne Arena). The new track was 1.2 miles long with six turns. This was done to make the races more exciting. The race continued until 1991, but crowds still stayed away.
Teams That Have Called the Meadowlands Home
MetLife Stadium Teams
The Rink at American Dream Team
- Metropolitan Riveters (PHF)
Former Teams at MetLife Stadium
- New York Guardians (XFL) (2020)
Former Teams at Giants Stadium
- New York Giants (NFL)
- New York Jets (NFL)
- New York Cosmos (NASL) (1977–84)
- New Jersey Generals (USFL) (1983–85)
- New York Red Bulls (MLS) (1995–2009)
Former Teams at Meadowlands Arena
- New Jersey Nets (NBA) (1981–2010)
- New Jersey Devils (NHL) (1982–2007)
- Seton Hall University Men's Basketball (NCAA) (1981–2007)
- New Jersey Red Dogs/Gladiators (AFL) (1997–2002)
