Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Woo Rant: Say NO to the NJSEA!

April 17, 2009, 9:38 AM ET [ Comments]
Sam Woo
New Jersey Devils Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Say NO to the NJSEA!

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/truce_talks_underway_in_war_be.html

My heart stopped when I read this quote from Richard Codey.

"At the end of the day, it will not be anyone but the Nets deciding where they are going to play," he said. "They will have to make a decision at some point of moving or throwing in the towel, but in the meantime, we need to do what's in best interest of both sides, and that's for the Sports Authority taking over the management of the Rock."


Is the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority taking over the management of the Rock? The NJSEA, which oversees the Meadowlands and the infamous Xanadu construction debacle, does not need anymore venues to mismanage. In the past, my experiences at the Meadowlands have been terrible and I fear this may ruin the New Jersey Devils game day experience.

I’ll be the first to admit it. I hate the NJSEA and for good reasons. As a Devils season ticket holder for the last seven years at CAA, I never felt welcomed and I made numerous complaints about the disgusting mistreatments to patrons by their employees. Every complaint went unanswered and it was frustrating. One of the biggest selling points of renewing my season tickets to the Prudential Center was that the Devils controlled the new building and any problems I may encountered would be rectified, unlike a NJSEA managed facility. Then, the Devils finally moved to the Prudential Center.

"The Meadowlands was a building without a soul," - Gary Bettman

This is an accurate depiction by the NHL commissioner. Personally, I think the Meadowlands is a dump and when I first stepped into the Prudential Center, I was in “awe” of the new building, but more impressed with the level of friendliness and professionalism of the new employees. Of course, there were some hiccups in the beginning like every new venue, but the sincere efforts to make the customer happy improved greatly. Finally, a place we can call home.

I can understand business-wise why the Devils may need the NJSEA to fill in concert days. But the Prudential Center is a first class facility and the Sports Authority is not even a top tier management organization. Look at the current state of mismanagement and track record at the Meadowlands. The entire property is one giant construction zone mess. You have a Xanadu project, which is a mall with a ski slope, and is not scheduled to finish because of financing problems. With the Giants and Jets building their new stadium after receiving a sweetheart real estate deal, now they want to upgrade the I-Zod center with even more taxpayers’ money? Someone needs to put their foot down.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker did just that. I agree with him that the I-Zod Center should be shut down and any upgrades would be a waste of taxpayer money, especially when the state of New Jersey is having budget problems. Besides that, the NJSEA were the biggest critic that the Newark arena would not work in the first place and now why would they want to manage it now? It doesn’t make sense.

After reading the old “horrific stories” of e-mails in 2007 when you, the Devils fans, sent me after our last game at CAA, I am fearful of the old NJSEA policies (AKA No Fun Zone policies) will be in effect where you cannot bring in pro Devils signs, have a lollypop in your mouth, and employees not knowing who the home team fans are. Moreover, it brings back a lot of old bad memories.

Just say NO to the NJSEA!

e-mail: [email protected]
Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment
More from Sam Woo
» RAISING HELL: Will The Devils Over Take The Hurricanes In Standings?
» PODCAST: Devils Clinch, Now Phase Two
» RAISING HELL: Timo Scores Twice, Devils Get Point In Shootout Loss To Tampa
» RAISING HELL: Will The Devils Spring Forward This Week?
» RAISING HELL: Devils Squeak by Caps With Meier’s Shootout Game Winner