UPDATE: It appears as though our friends at the WWL would prefer we didn't revisit The Mullet's regretful commentary, as the screen now reads "the video you requested is currently unavailable." I've replaced it for the time being with this image of people lined up to enter the Prudential Center, so that Mr. Melrose can analyze the frame to see which fans are literally carrying their own lives in their hands. In summary, Melrose said that the area around the arena is "awful," that "the inside and the outside where it's built is pretty humorous" and warned those who dare see a game to not "go outside if you have a wallet or anything else." This naturally drew the ire of Devils fans and Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who told Fox 5 in New York that he's "sick and tired of people kicking our city around."
Determined to come off as a complete elitist, Melrose apologized on Tuesday to all offended parties in an interview with the Associated Press and revealed he had not actually visited the arena yet, basing his comments on "footage aired by Canadian broadcaster TSN before the Devils' first game at the new arena last Saturday." Meaning that you and I know about as much about the surface of Mars as Barry Melrose does about the Prudential Center. Now, as someone who's actually been to the arena, let me tell you where Melrose was right and where Melrose was wrong ...
Melrose is completely wrong when he calls the area around the arena unsafe and dangerous. First of all, it's the business hub of the city, not some tenement. But more importantly, it's pretty harmless on a game night. Opening night against Ottawa, it felt like the uniformed police officer to hockey fan ratio was roughly 1:1. Cruisers rolled down streets with lights flashing, mounted police patrolled the pregame crowds, and that same presence was felt after the game as thousands of Devils fans crushed the city's mass transit system. Let me put it this way: It'll be safer for a visiting Rangers fan two blocks away from the arena than in the $10 section of the upper deck.
There's no reason to believe that protection won't continue during the arena's inaugural season, because it's no secret that Newark faces an image problem. As I covered previously on FanHouse, there is a segment of the population in the Garden State that would rather have a sleepover with that puppet from "Saw" than spend an evening in a place that's still synonymous in their minds with "murder" and "race riots." I don't think they're in the majority, but they could be if anything tragic happened to a fan after the game or if there was a criminal trend that targeted fans coming to the arena. The Devils know this, and the city knows this -- it was the same situation they faced with Newark's Performing Arts Center years earlier, and the Associated Press reports that the results are clear:
Police presence has been strong, with no crimes reported against arena patrons, said Daniel Zieser, chief of operations for the Newark Police Department. To handle extra security, a 30-person team of special events officers is deployed for events at the arena and the nearby Performing Arts Center and Symphony Hall. Other officers have been shifted from days to nights, and the cost is about $20,000 per event, he said.Melrose had a valid point when he said the city hopes the arena will lead to a revitalization for Newark. Like I said in my coverage of opening night:
"I'm here 35 years, and I've never seen downtown Newark like this," Zieser said. "People are not afraid to walk around."
It reminded me of when the MCI Center opened in D.C., as there were only a few watering holes and restaurants in what is now a booming area for downtown nightlife. In Newark, there are a few decent bars, but it's clearly an area that might see a little economic transitioning; as my father pointed out, the ratio of nail salons to professional hockey arenas was quite disproportionate.Nail salons, "discount" electronics shops ... not exactly the sorts of city highlights the Devils are going to pimp in their season-ticket brochures. The hope has to be that, like in D.C., the arena will transform that section of Newark into a hip, thriving scene that still attracts patrons during the non-hockey months.
Look, it's like any entertainment venue in an urban area: Use your head, and you won't lose "a wallet or anything else." The Newark I saw around The Rock isn't nearly as bad as its critics -- frequently sight unseen -- claim it is, nor is it as benign as others claim. It's a living, breathing city, which is something -- warts and all -- that this Devils fan has been hoping his team could call home after over two decades in a concrete nightmare whose urban charms were limited to what parking lot you were getting loaded in before face-off.
As for ESPN's hockey analyst, he tells the Associated Press:
... he wants to come to Newark to have lunch with Booker and tour the area around the arena. Booker sounded agreeable. "I welcome him coming to the city so we can dispel his ignorance," Booker said. "I'm happy to hear that he's willing to come and see the truth and I'm hoping he's responsible enough to write about it."Well, that's if he can keep his mind on his work. I hear the area around Bristol is awful ... Rick Reilly better watch his "wallet or anything else."
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 12)
1. Um...I live in Newark, in the Ironbound. The area around the arena IS awful.
Posted at 11:13PM on Nov 6th 2007 by Bryan
2. I'm not reading the whole thing cause I'm lazy like that, but did you just spend 4,000 words arguing that Newark DOESN'T suck?
Posted at 11:14PM on Nov 6th 2007 by Chris
3. You can put lipstick on a pig but it is still a pig...
Bottom line, Newark officials are trying desperately to create a false sense of security around the arena. It is true the you will be safe inside the arena and maybe 1 block surrounding the arena but dont walk 2 blocks in the wrong direction (west or south). Newark may be able to create a "safe" zone in downtown Newark but the rest of the city is a warzone. Anybody who tells you different is lying or doesnt know Newark. If you truly believe you will be safe then maybe you shouldnt go to Newark because you are the next victim.
My parents moved out of Newark 40 years ago for a reason.
Posted at 11:30PM on Nov 6th 2007 by Mick
4. Melrose is just uninformed. I went to "the Rock" on Saturday night. We felt safer there than in the Meadowlands. The area is amazing with so much urban redevelopment. Between NJPAC, Riverfront Stadium, the offices, UMDNJ, Rutgers...it is obvious that a renaissance has started and is well underway. Real estate values are zooming. So for Melrose this is all humour? Hey Barry, did you hear the one about the Newfie hockey game that had to be called off?
Posted at 11:32PM on Nov 6th 2007 by Eric Weis
5. Think of what you said: the area around the arena is safe and the cop to fan ratio felt like it was 1:1 - DUH - that's because it HAS to be. The only reason Newark faces an image problem is becuase it has one. It's 90% ghetto/hood. And I used to work there AND play hockey there. It's a toilet. That's not racism, it's a fact.
Posted at 8:00AM on Nov 7th 2007 by MVP
6. Why is it when someone says something that is true we get so up in arms. Let those who think the area is so great take a walk around there during a game. Just walk around. Put your feet where your mouth is.
Posted at 8:18AM on Nov 7th 2007 by trussell56
7. I don't see Melrose cowering. Yet another misleading headline from AOL. Why do I click on their links.
Posted at 8:18AM on Nov 7th 2007 by jayrockerz
8. what's the big deal......that's his opinion...maybe it's the truth
Posted at 8:19AM on Nov 7th 2007 by rose
9. THE TRUTH SOMETIMES HURTS. All the PC bull in the world does not make a turd into a flower. The area is NOT the former, its the latter.
Posted at 8:22AM on Nov 7th 2007 by The Purist
10. Being a lifelong Newark resident it would be crazy for me to say that Newark doesnt have problems, of course it does. Having said that though a fee other cities come to mind.. DC (MCI center)..the Bronx (Yankee Stadium)...New Orleans - pre Katrina (The Superdome) that are urban with problems as well. (let us not forget Brooklyn, future home of the Nets). Most of the people who speak about the area where the arena is havent even been to Newark and just want to read and believe that all of Newark is embodied by the worse that any urban city has to offer. A city can change if given the opportunity. And for the prvious people that claim to have been in and live in Newark, nobody is saying the city is perfect but at this point there is a better chance of getting mugged outside of MSG coming from a Rangers game than coming from the 'Rock". The bottom line is this: If the Devils get back to championship form people will come and nobody will talk about Newark ...just like they dont speak badly about the Bronx...Detroit...Cleveland....etc, etc... winning cures all.
Posted at 8:25AM on Nov 7th 2007 by blaircrew0529
11. First of all , the Meadowlands is a dump so they needed to build a new place but, why there? Newark is one of the most dangerous cities in the country. Why couldnt they put in Bergen co. or some nicer area? I will tell you why, the rich people in those area's dont want all of the traffic , people and otherwise. So as a great American once said, " Money talks and B.S. walks". (Ozzie Meyers of ABSCAM fame ) lol
Posted at 8:32AM on Nov 7th 2007 by bru
12. if barry says its so, its so !!
Posted at 8:37AM on Nov 7th 2007 by mike
13. IM A PRIOR RESIDENT OF NEWARK/IRVINGTON AND IF YOU GO THERE YOU BETTER BRING YOUR GUN AND YOU BETTER NOT MAKE A WRONG TURN GETTING OUT!!!WHY DO YOU THINK THEY NEED 30 COPS THERE!IT IS WHAT IT IS,AND OH YEAH AFTER GOING THERE WHY NOT STROLL DOWN TO THE AQUARIUM IN CAMDEN????
Posted at 8:41AM on Nov 7th 2007 by LJ
14. As a famous person said you can't make chicken salad out of chicken sh--. I don't care how many cops are there. Can one walk me to my car? Newark is the arm pit of New Jersey. I will stick with the Islanders.
Posted at 8:44AM on Nov 7th 2007 by paul mancini
15. This is hilarious. Why are you upset about something that an ESPN analyst said? They have been proven over and over to be clueless on most things including sports coverage. They are there to promote their own stardom which, by the way, no longer exists.
You say the area outside of ESPN is awful? I say the area inside is much worse and you can take that in any direction you want.
Posted at 8:45AM on Nov 7th 2007 by John Blakely
16. Who cares. GO FLYERS!!!!
Posted at 8:48AM on Nov 7th 2007 by lightfighter29
17. All of South N.J.looks a mess. Newark should look pretty good with some of the Casino money going there & up North N.J.
Posted at 8:52AM on Nov 7th 2007 by Simzee
18. If it's true: What's the issue:
Lord knows someone looking for more handouts will find HARM in his words.
If I went to a game there, I appreciate the warning:
Posted at 8:52AM on Nov 7th 2007 by floorme
19. i knew several people from that area in college. from what they told me it sounds like melrose's description is still pretty accurate.
Posted at 8:56AM on Nov 7th 2007 by ric
20. You can't polish a turd. The outside of the place is awful and is so dangerous they have increased the level of law enforcement officers to almost the number of attendees. Heck, Barry's comments should be considered a public service announcement. He may have saved someone from harm. If the mayor has a problem with the image, he needs to do more to make the area safer. Provide some more incentives to businesses to invest in the area beyond the nice new arena. Time will tell whether Barry or the Mayor is right. One mugging or murder outside that arena and Barry gets a big "I told you so."
Posted at 8:58AM on Nov 7th 2007 by dmal