:Sports in Newark, New Jersey

File:PrudentialCenter.MulberryCommons.Newark.2019.jpg]]

The New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League moved in 2007 from the Continental Airlines Arena in the Meadowlands to the Prudential Center, an arena jointly financed by the team and the city.{{cite web|url=http://blog.nj.com/ledgerarchives/2008/10/newark_devils_in_dispute_over.html|title=Newark, Devils in dispute over Prudential Center rent|author=McDermott, Maura P.|date=October 29, 2008|work=The Star-Ledger|access-date=July 3, 2012}} Part of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals were played there.

The Metropolitan Riveters of the now defunct National Women's Hockey League played at the Devils' practice facility from 2017 to 2022.{{cite web |url=http://www.todaysslapshot.com/from-the-ice/new-york-riveters-leave-brooklyn-for-new-jersey/ |title=New York Riveters Leave Brooklyn For Newark - Today's Slapshot |website=www.todaysslapshot.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160802203013/http://www.todaysslapshot.com/from-the-ice/new-york-riveters-leave-brooklyn-for-new-jersey/ |archive-date=2016-08-02}} {{Cite web |title=News: AMERICAN DREAM BECOMES THE NEW HOME ICE OF PHF'S METROPOLITAN RIVETERS - PREMIER HOCKEY FEDERATION |url=http://www.premierhockeyfederation.com/news/american-dream-is-the-new-home-ice-for-riveters |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=www.premierhockeyfederation.com|date=14 September 2022 }} Prudential Center is now home to the New York metropolitan area's representative in the Professional Women's Hockey League, the New York Sirens.

The 2013 NHL Entry Draft (the 51st NHL Entry Draft) took place on June 30, 2013, at the Prudential Center{{cite news|title=New Jersey, Philadelphia to host next two Drafts|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=635580|access-date=June 22, 2012|newspaper=nhl.com|date=June 22, 2012}}{{cite news|title=2013 NHL Draft Lottery and NHL Draft information|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=658503|access-date=April 9, 2013|newspaper=NHL.com|date=March 4, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Brennan|first=John|title=NHL 'draftniks' descending on The Rock|publisher=North Jersey.com|date=June 28, 2013|url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/hudson/213444041_NHL__draftniks__descending_on_The_Rock.html?c=y&page=2#sthash.pf7Bxjl0.dpuf|access-date=December 12, 2013}}

Historically, Newark was home to the minor professional Newark Bulldogs, a Canadian-American Hockey League franchise which played one season in 1928-29.{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/stte/newark-bulldogs-7097.html|title=Newark Bulldogs hockey team statistics and history at hockeydb.com|access-date=July 27, 2018}}

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Newark is the transportation hub for the Sports Illustrated Stadium, home stadium of Major League Soccer's Red Bulls, and the NWSL's Gotham FC across the Passaic River from Newark's Riverbank Park in Harrison, with shuttle bus service running from downtown train stations.{{cite web|title=Red Bull Arena Transportation Hub|publisher=Red Bull|url=http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/HUB/NJTransitRBAShuttle|access-date=2014-09-04}} PATH trains from Newark Penn Station are one stop to nearby Harrison station.{{cite news|title=Red Bull Arena Travel Information|publisher=New Jersey Transit|url=http://www.njtransit.com/sa/sa_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=CustomerNoticeTo&NoticeId=2204|access-date=2014-08-09}}

Newark, particularly the Ironbound, and the adjacent West Hudson towns on the Passaic, Harrison and Kearny, have a long tradition of soccer.{{cite news|last=Allaway|first=Roger|title=Rangers, Rovers, And Spindles: Soccer, Immigration, And Textiles in New England and New Jersey|publisher=St. Johann's Press|year=2005}}{{cite web|last=Turnball|first=John|title=Remembering New Jersey's immigrant soccer past|publisher=The Global Game|date=March 30, 2008|url=http://www.theglobalgame.com/blog/2008/03/remembering-new-jerseys-immigrant-soccer-past/|access-date=2013-12-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219064803/http://www.theglobalgame.com/blog/2008/03/remembering-new-jerseys-immigrant-soccer-past/|archive-date=2013-12-19|url-status=dead}} Kearny's nickname, "Soccer Town USA" is inspired by the era that begin in the mid-1870s, when thousands of Scottish and Irish immigrants settled there after two Scottish companies, Clark Thread Company and Nairn Linoleum, opened.Hernandez, Raymond. [https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/26/nyregion/world-cup-hits-home-in-soccer-town-usa.html "World Cup Hits Home In Soccer Town, U.S.A."] The New York Times June 26, 1994. Accessed September 12, 2013. "In a nation that has not yet shared the world's enthusiasm for soccer, Kearny (pronounced CAR-nee) is certainly an anomaly. The town has two local soccer historians. On Kearny Avenue, the main strip, a sign proclaims: 'Welcome to Kearny. Soccer Town, U.S.A.'"{{cite news|last=Allaway|first=Roger|title=West Hudson: A Cradle of American Soccer|publisher=sover.net|date=March 6, 2001|url=http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/hudson.html|access-date=2013-12-18}} The Newark Portuguese was one of many teams.

Jersey Express S.C. played at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. New Jersey Ironmen was an indoor soccer team of the Major Indoor Soccer League that played at Prudential Center from 2007 to 2009.

{{see also|List of baseball parks in Newark, New Jersey}}

File:Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium 2.jpg

The Newark Bears were a minor-league professional baseball franchise that were part of the independent Atlantic League (which also includes the Somerset Patriots and the Camden Riversharks).[http://www.atlanticleague.com/ Home page], Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Accessed June 26, 2012. They played at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium, a 6,200-seat ballpark that is also home to local college baseball teams.[http://www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com/sports/2007/10/17/facilities.aspx? Rutgers–Newark Athletic Facilities]. Accessed 2009-08-14{{cite web|title=Baseball|website=njithighlanders.cstv.com|publisher=NJIT|url=http://njithighlanders.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/njit-m-basebl-body.html|access-date=2013-12-12}} Both the stadium and team have struggled financially.{{cite news|last=Araton|first=Harvey|title=Did Newark Bet on the Wrong Sport?|work=The New York Times|date=August 21, 2011|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/22/sports/baseball/did-newark-bet-on-the-wrong-sport.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0|access-date=2013-12-12}} In November 2013, the future of the team became uncertain as they were unable to commit to a 2014 season and folded shortly thereafter.{{cite news|last=Giambusso|first=Elnardo|title=Newark Bears' future in question as they exit league|publisher=The Star-Ledger|date=November 29, 2013|url=http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2013/11/newark_bears_future_in_question_as_they_exit_league.html|access-date=2013-12-12}} In 2019, the stadium was demolished to make way for a new development called [https://riverfrontsq.com/ Riverfront Square].{{Cite news|url=https://therealdeal.com/tristate/issues_articles/bound-for-glory/|title=In and around Newark's Ironbound projects proliferate and rents rise|last=Pofeldt|first=Elaine|date=November 20, 2019|work=The Real Deal|access-date=January 27, 2020}}{{Cite news|url=https://hudsonreporter.com/2019/08/15/scoreboard-87|title=SCOREBOARD – The sad end to a beautiful ballpark|last=Hague|first=Jim|date=August 15, 2019|work=Hudson Reporter|access-date=January 27, 2020}}

Baseball in Newark began in the 1850s. The Newark Peppers of the Federal League, played the 1915 season across the river at Harrison Park. The original Newark Bears, a farm team for the New York Yankees played in the International League until the 1949 season playing at Ruppert Stadium.{{Citation|last=Mayer|first=Ronald A.|title=The 1937 Newark Bears: A Baseball Legend|publisher=Rutgers University Press|year=1994|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vZfgW4HGCa0C|isbn=9780813521534|quote=Jacob Ruppert, owner of the New York Yankees, purchased the team from the newspaper publisher Paul Block in 1931. Mayer traces the Bears' exciting first five seasons under Ruppert and the building of a farm system that eventually produced the great Yankee...sprinkled with some of the great names of the American pastime: Ed Barrow, Paul Kritchell, Al Mamaux, Red Rolfe, Babe Ruth, Shag Shaughnessey, Bob Shawkey, and George Weiss.}} They shared the stadium in the Ironbound with the Negro league's Newark Eagles, managed by Effa Manley. The Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium is named for the teams.{{cite news|title=Baseball in New Jersey|publisher=njsportsheroes.com|url=http://www.njsportsheroes.com/baseball.history.html|access-date=2013-12-12}}{{Citation|last=Cvornyek|first=Robert|title=Baseball in Newark|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|year=2003|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J0rdOAhfTZoC&q=Baseball+in+Newark|isbn= 9780738513263}}Crawford, Aimee. [http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/mlb_negro_leagues_story.jsp?story=effa_manley "The first lady of black baseball: Manley was an innovator in the Negro Leagues"], Major League Baseball. Accessed June 28, 2012. Newark had eight teams in the National Association of Base Ball Players, including the Newark Eurekas and the Newark Adriatics.[http://riverbankpark.org/index.php/faq/39-history/93-history-eureka-baseball-club "History of the Eureka Base Ball Club of Newark"], Riverbank Park, May 23, 2008. Accessed June 28, 2012. Newark was then home to the Newark Indians of the International League.

A team in the American Basketball Association, the Newark Express was introduced to the city in 2005. The team formerly played their home at Essex County College and Drew University in Madison and now plays at East Orange Campus High School.Kitchin, Mark. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130724222444/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/dailyrecord/access/1726709741.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+12%2C+2007&author=MARK+KITCHIN&pub=Daily+Record&desc=Express+take+root+at+Drew&pqatl=google "Express take root at Drew"], Daily Record (Morristown), July 12, 2007. Accessed June 26, 2012.

The New Jersey Nets played two seasons (2010–2012) at the Prudential Center until moving to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.Mazzeo, Mike. [https://www.espn.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/7847416/new-jersey-governor-chris-christie-says-good-riddance-brooklyn-bound-nets "Chris Christie: No love lost for Nets"], ESPN New York, April 24, 2012. Accessed June 26, 2012. "The New Jersey Nets are playing their final game in New Jersey on Monday night and leaving for Brooklyn at the end of this season, but the governor of New Jersey isn't about to get all nostalgic over it." New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) also played there for three seasons (2011–2013) during renovations of Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York.[http://www.prucenter.com/default.asp?prucenter=107&objId=296 "New York Liberty Return to Madison Square Garden for 2012 Home Opener"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013121832/http://www.prucenter.com/default.asp?prucenter=107&objId=296 |date=2012-10-13 }}, Prudential Center, May 14, 2012. Accessed June 26, 2012. "The Liberty's 2012 season will mark the second of three seasons the team will call Prudential Center home court while Madison Square Garden continues a historic, top-to-bottom Transformation."

Both the 2011 NBA draft{{cite web|title=Prudential Center to Host 2011 NBA Draft|url=http://www.prucenter.com/default.asp?prucenter=107&objId=145|publisher=Prudential Center|date=October 28, 2010|access-date=November 30, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313223547/http://www.prucenter.com/default.asp?prucenter=107&objId=145|archive-date=2012-03-13|url-status=dead}} and 2012 NBA draft were held at the arena.

The national headquarters of National Football League Alumni is located at One Washington Park in Downtown Newark.

File:New Meadowlands stadium exterior.jpg

Newark was a host city and its airport a gateway for Super Bowl XLVIII which was played on February 2, 2014.{{cite news|last=Strunsky|first=Steve|title=Newark airport gets upgrades for Super Bowl XLVIII|work=The Star-Ledger|date=October 11, 2013|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/10/newark_airport_preps_for_the_super_bowl.html|access-date=2013-12-12}}{{cite news|title=Super Bowl XLVIII To Create Traffic Jam At Newark, Teterboro Airports Port Authority Is Consulting With Airports In Cities That Hosted Previous Super Bowls|publisher=CBS New York|date=August 24, 2013|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/08/24/super-bowl-xlviii-to-create-traffic-jam-at-newark-teterboro-airports/|access-date=2013-12-12}}{{cite news|last=Kell|first=John|title=Newark Airport Gets Ready for 2014 Super Bowl|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=March 29, 2011|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2011/03/29/newark-airport-gets-ready-for-2014-super-bowl/|access-date=2013-12-12}} The game took place at MetLife Stadium, home of the hosting teams New York Giants and New York Jets, at the nearby Meadowlands Sports Complex, accessible with the Meadowlands Rail Line via Newark Penn Station or Broad Street Station. In anticipation of the convergence of thousands for the events, New Jersey Transit had created a weekly pass for travel throughout the region as well as game-day express bus from the airport.{{cite news|last=Frassinelli|first=Mike|title=Super Bowl travel options include 'Fan Express' bus, New Jersey Transit 'Super Pass'|publisher=Frasinelli|date=December 9, 2013|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/super_bowl_travel_options_include_fan_express_bus_nj_transit_super_pass.html#incart_river_default|access-date=2013-12-12}} Super Bowl Media Day, kicked off at the Prudential Center on January 28, 2014, with a series of events.{{cite press release|title=Super Bowl XLVIII Media Day|publisher=Prudential Center|url=http://www.prucenter.com/default.asp?prucenter=87&objId=1318|access-date=2013-12-12|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216015846/http://www.prucenter.com/default.asp?prucenter=87&objId=1318|archive-date=2013-12-16}}{{cite news|last=Fensom|first=Michael J.|title=Gov. Christie, NFL announce Super Bowl events to be held in New Jersey|work=The Star-Ledger|date=January 24, 2013|url=http://www.nj.com/super-bowl/index.ssf/2013/01/gov_christie_nfl_announce_super_bowl_events_to_be_held_in_new_jersey.html|access-date=2013-12-12}} The original Vince Lombardi Trophy produced by Tiffany & Co. in Newark in 1967 is displaced at the Newark Museum.{{cite news|last=Nix|first=Naomi|title=Original Vince Lombardi trophy comes home to Newark|work=The Star-Ledger|date=January 7, 2014|url=http://www.nj.com/super-bowl/index.ssf/2014/01/post_5.html#incart_river_default|access-date=2014-01-07}}

Newark had a team which competed in the first American Football League in 1926, the Newark Bears.{{cite journal|title=The Staten Island Stapletons|journal=Coffin Corner|publisher=Professional Football Researchers Association|volume=7|issue=6|year=1985|pages=1–9|url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/07-06-241.pdf|author=Hogrogian, John|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127043212/http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/07-06-241.pdf|archive-date=2010-11-27}} The Tornadoes were a long-lived professional American football franchise that existed in some form from 1887 to 1971, having played in the National Football League from 1929 to 1930, the American Association from 1936 to 1941, the Atlantic Coast Football League from 1963 to 1964 and 1970 to 1971, and the Continental Football League from 1965 to 1969. Established in 1946, the Newark Bombers in 1947 moved to Bloomfield and became the Bloomfield Cardinals.

In the modern football era, the Meadowlands was home to the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League from 1983-85. The USFL was a challenger to the NFL, and featured many of the top professional football players and several future Pro Football Hall of Famers. The Generals roster included Heisman Trophy winners Herschel Walker and Doug Flutie. Despite a disappointing 6-12 inaugural season in 1983, the Generals finished 11-7 and 14-4 the following two seasons, losing in the playoffs to the eventual champion Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars both years. Giants Stadium hosted the 1985 USFL Championship Game, which became the final USFL game ever when the league folded before the start of the 1986 season.

The New York/New Jersey Knights were the metro area's entry in the World League of American Football, a developmental league introduced by the NFL in 1991. The league featured ten teams in five countries, including three in Europe. The team drew respectable crowds in their two-year stay in New Jersey, including a Giants Stadium crowd of 41,219 against the London Monarchs in 1992. The league took a hiatus in 1993, and when it returned its six franchises were all located in Europe.

The Meadowlands also hosted a trio of short-lived teams in other nationwide professional leagues since, including the New York/New Jersey Hitmen of the original XFL (2001), the New York Sentinels of the United Football League (2009), and the New York Guardians of the second incarnation of the XFL (2020). The original XFL folded after one season, and its successor shut down due to COVID and has yet to return.

The New Jersey Titans of the Women's Spring Football League Women's Spring Football League#11-woman division play at Belleville Municipal Stadium in adjacent Belleville.{{cite web|title=New Jersey Titans home filed|publisher=New Jersey Titans|url=http://www.njspartans.com/gameday/home-field/|access-date=2013-12-15}}

Garden State Roller Derby is a flat track roller derby league based in the city that was founded in 2006,{{cite news|last1=Gorce|first1=Tammy La|title=With Names That Could Kill, Women Rev Up Roller Derby|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/nyregion/new-jersey/09rollernj.html|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=24 August 2017|date=7 November 2008}} it has three home teams, and two travel teams which compete against teams from other leagues. Garden State Roller Derby is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).{{cite web|title=Garden State Roller Derby – WFTDA|url=https://wftda.com/wftda-leagues/garden-state-roller-derby/|website=wftda.com|publisher=WFTDA|access-date=24 August 2017}}

EliteXC: Primetime was a mixed martial arts event promoted by Elite Xtreme Combat that took place on May 31, 2008, at the Prudential Center.{{cite news|title=EliteXC Mixed Martial Arts Schedules Stop At Prudential Center|publisher=Prudential Center|date=May 25, 2008|url=http://www.prucenter.com/default.asp?prucenter=107&objId=46|access-date=2013-12-12}} The main card aired live on CBS, marking the first time an MMA event aired in primetime on major American network television.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/11/09/ufc-not-the-first-on-network-tv-but-can-it-learn-from-others-m|title=UFC Not the First on Network TV, but Can It Learn From Others' Mistakes?|date=9 November 2011|publisher=mmafighting.com|access-date=2013-10-10}}

The UFC held UFC 78 on November 17, 2007, one of the first events to take place at the new arena.{{cite web|title=Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Organization Returns to New Jersey|url=http://www.prucenter.com/default.asp?prucenter=107&objId=24|publisher=Prudential Center|date=October 7, 2007|access-date=October 7, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031205717/http://www.prucenter.com/default.asp?prucenter=107&objId=24|archive-date=October 31, 2007|url-status=dead}} It also played host to UFC 111, which took place on March 27, 2010.{{cite web|title=Dana White Calls UFC 111 Co-Main Events "Can't Miss Fights"|first=Raj|last=Giri|url=http://www.fightline.com/news/fl/2010/0112/476170/dana-white/index.shtml|work=Fight Line|date=January 12, 2010|access-date=February 5, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005210803/http://www.fightline.com/news/fl/2010/0112/476170/dana-white/index.shtml|archive-date=October 5, 2011}} On March 19, 2011, it hosted UFC 128,{{cite web|title=UFC Returns to NJ on March 19 for UFC 128|url=http://www.prucenter.com/default.asp?prucenter=107&objId=160|publisher=Prudential Center|date=January 5, 2011|access-date=February 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317122108/http://www.prucenter.com/default.asp?prucenter=107&objId=160|archive-date=2013-03-17|url-status=dead}} and hosted UFC 159 on April 27, 2013.

Ultimate Fighting Championship's UFC 169: Cruz vs. Barao, mixed martial arts event will also be in at the Prudential Center during Super Bowl week on February 1.{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Eunice|title=UFC's Super Bowl weekend event moving to New Jersey in 2014|publisher=The Star-Ledger|date=July 6, 2013|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/07/bye-bye_vegas_ufcs_super_bowl_weekend_event_moves_to_new_jersey_in_2014.html|access-date=2013-12-12}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/07/ufcs-annual-super-bowl-weekend-card-shifts-from-las-vegas-to-newark-in-2014|title=UFC's annual Super Bowl weekend card shifts from Las Vegas to Newark in 2014|work=mmajunkie.com|date=2013-05-13|access-date=2013-05-13}}

{{anchor|Newark Armory}}Until the 1920s the Newark Armory was a major venue for boxing.{{cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%25209%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Sun%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Sun%25201919%2520Grayscale%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Sun%25201919%2520Grayscale%2520-%25201524.pdf%23xml%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3D5c450d76%26DocId%3D3376048%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cindex%2520O%252dG%252dT%26HitCount%3D40%26hits%3Dc%2Bd%2Be%2Bf%2B10%2B11%2B12%2Bde%2B11e%2B2ea%2B3be%2B64c%2B654%2B655%2B666%2B694%2B6c6%2B6d6%2B6fe%2B724%2B748%2B76e%2B788%2B7a1%2Bd2f%2Bd43%2Bd80%2Bda9%2Bdb5%2B109c%2B10aa%2B10e5%2B112b%2B154c%2B15b0%2B16a0%2B1a0f%2B1bbe%2B1eed%2B1ff7%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&uri=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%25209%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Sun%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Sun%25201919%2520Grayscale%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Sun%25201919%2520Grayscale%2520-%25201524.pdf&xml=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3D5c450d76%26DocId%3D3376048%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cindex%2520O%252dG%252dT%26HitCount%3D40%26hits%3Dc%2Bd%2Be%2Bf%2B10%2B11%2B12%2Bde%2B11e%2B2ea%2B3be%2B64c%2B654%2B655%2B666%2B694%2B6c6%2B6d6%2B6fe%2B724%2B748%2B76e%2B788%2B7a1%2Bd2f%2Bd43%2Bd80%2Bda9%2Bdb5%2B109c%2B10aa%2B10e5%2B112b%2B154c%2B15b0%2B16a0%2B1a0f%2B1bbe%2B1eed%2B1ff7%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&openFirstHlPage=false|format=PDF|title=Thirteen Thousand Boxing Followers Jam Newark Armory and See Lightweight Champion Score on Points|page=13|work=The Sun|date=January 21, 1919}}{{cite news|title=Act in Newark Boxing Forbid Bouts in Armory Until Fire Protection is Adequate|work=The New York Times|date=August 1, 1920|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70E15F63A5511738DDDA80894D0405B808EF1D3|access-date=2013-12-15}}{{cite news|title=No More Boxing Bouts in Newark Armory|publisher=Milwaukee Journal|date=August 8, 1920|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19200808&id=yYkWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2102,386218|access-date=2013-12-15}} The Laurel Garden Arena, in the Central Ward, operated as a sports venue from the 1920s until its closing, hosted numerous boxing and wrestling matches,{{cite web|last=Bodian|first=Nat|title=Laurel Garden|publisher=Old Newark|url=http://www.oldnewark.com/memories/sports/bodianlaurel.htm|access-date=2013-12-12}} and was also important music venue.{{Citation|publisher=Rutgers University Press|isbn=9780813531168|title=Swing City: Newark Nightlife, 1925-50|author=Barbara J. Kukla|date=2002|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cbt1NiemfHsC&q=Laurel+Garden+Newark&pg=PA234}} Newark produced many fighters during The Golden Age of the American Jewish Boxer.{{cite news|last=Bodian|first=Nat|title=Remembering Newarkers from Golden Age of the American-Jewish Boxer|publisher=Old Newark|url=http://www.oldnewark.com/memories/sports/bodianajboxing.htm|access-date=2013-12-16}}{{cite news|title=Boxing in New Jersey|publisher=New Jersey Sports Heroes|url=http://www.njsportsheroes.com/boxing.history.html|access-date=2013-12-16}} In the 1930s many Jewish prizefighters once in the employ of crime boss Longie Zwillman became part of the Minuteman, a group dedicated to preventing Nazi activities in the city.{{Citation|last=Grover|first=Warren|title=Nazis in Newark|publisher=Transaction Books|year=2003|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vkuz6WlEzS0C&pg=PA52|isbn=9781412829465|quote=S. William Kalb, a physician who led the Newark Division of the Non-Sectarian Anti-Nazi League, and Nat Arno, a prizefighter and gang member who led the Minutemen. Together they forged an alliance against Nazism, employing propaganda, public relations, and physical assaults. Among the extraordinary events that resulted were Jewish prizefighters who had protected Newark crime boss Longie Zwillman's bootleg whiskey shipments – turning their attention to stopping the Nazis after Prohibition ended in 1933.}} Day of the Fight, the first picture directed by Stanley Kubrick, shows Irish-American middleweight Walter Cartier during the height of his career, on the day of a fight with Bobby James, which took place on April 17, 1950, at Laurel Garden.{{Citation|last=Niemi|first=Robert|title=Day of the Fight (1951)|work=History in the Media: Film and Television|publisher=ABC-Clio|year=2006|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WVFhcBcv_X8C&pg=PA194|page=194|isbn=9781576079522}} One of the last bouts in Laurel Garden-era was on May 30, 1953, in which Joey Giardello defeated middleweight Hurley Sandler in a nationally televised event.{{cite web|last=Bodian|first=Nat|title=Eyewitness Description of an 1880s Boxing Match in Newark|publisher=www.oldnewark.com|url=http://www.oldnewark.com/memories/sports/bodianboxing.htm|access-date=2013-12-15}}

The AT&T American Cup, an annual elite senior level international gymnastics competition, was held at Prudential Center in 2016 and 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/03/pre-olympic_gymnastics_cup_to_be_held_in_nj_for_1s.html|title = 'Preview of Rio' gymnastics cup in N.J. For 1st time|date = 4 March 2016}}

The Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball program is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of Seton Hall University in South Orange. The team competes in the Big East Conference and plays their home games at the Prudential Center. In 2011, the GoNewarkHoopFest was hosted by Seton Hall University for the East Regional playoffs of the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.{{cite web|title=Prudential Center Chosen To Host The 2011 Division 1 NCAA Men's Basketball East Regional|publisher=Prudential Center|date=September 21, 2009|url=http://www.prucenter.com/default.asp?prucenter=107&objId=87|access-date=2013-12-12}}{{cite news|title=Complete guide to Newark dining for the NCAA East Regional|publisher=The Star-Ledger|date=March 24, 2011|url=http://www.nj.com/ncaa-east-regional/index.ssf/2011/03/complete_guide_to_newark_dinin.html|access-date=2013-12-12}}{{cite web|title=Go Newark Hoop Fest Fact Sheet|publisher=Prudential Center|year=2011|url=http://www.prucenter.com/resources/pdfs/go-newark-hoopfest.pdf|access-date=2013-12-12}}{{cite news|last=Giambusso|first=David|title=Eyes are on Newark, as city hosts March Madness NCAA tournament|publisher=The Star-Ledger|date=March 14, 2011|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/03/hosting_of_march_madness_tourn.html|access-date=2013-12-12}}

The Rutgers–Newark Scarlet Raiders field teams for NCAA competition in 14 Division III sports (7 each for men and women): men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field, men's and women's volleyball, baseball (men) and softball (women). The Scarlet Raiders are members of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) and the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. Built in 1977, the Golden Dome Athletic Center is the hub of Rutgers–Newark athletics, seating 2,000. Soccer and softball games are held on Alumni Field. Rutgers–Newark baseball team plays at Riverfront Stadium[http://www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com/sports/2007/10/17/facilities.aspx? Rutgers–Newark Athletic Facilities]. Accessed 2013-12-12

The New Jersey Institute of Technology's sports teams are called the NJIT Highlanders. NJIT's athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division I (full membership officially September 1, 2009[http://www.njithighlanders.com/news/2009/7/22/GEN_0722095715.aspx 'NJIT : NJIT Officially Gains Active NCAA Division I Membership']). They play in the ASUN Conference. The men's volleyball team plays in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) conference, the men's swimming team plays in the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association. The club-level ice hockey team plays in the Great Northeast Collegiate Hockey Conference. The Fleisher Center was replaced by the Wellness and Events Center as the school's athletic center.

Essex County College teams are represented in the Garden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) and Region 19 of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Saint Benedict's Preparatory School basketball team, coach by Dan Hurley between 2001 and 2010, consistently ranks as one of the top high-school basketball teams in the United States among USA Today High School Boys Basketball Super 25.{{cite news|last=Cohen|first=Micah|title=St. Benedict's Basketball Plays Two|work=The New York Times|date=January 19, 2007|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/19/sports/othersports/19preps.html?_r=0|access-date=2013-12-12}}{{cite press release|title=New Jersey Powers St. Benedict's (Newark), St. Anthony (Jersey City) Move into Top 5 of USA Today High School Sports Super 25 Boys Basketball Rankings|work=USA Today|date=February 19, 2013|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/marketing/media_kit/pressroom/2013/releases/021913_usat_hss_super_25_boys_bball.html|access-date=2013-12-12}} and is part of the "NBA Pipeline".{{cite news|last=Araton|first=Harvey|title=N.B.A. Pipeline Bypassing New York for New Jersey|work=The New York Times|date=December 18, 2012|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/19/sports/basketball/new-york-basketball-players-crossover-move-to-new-jersey.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&hp|access-date=2013-12-12}}

St. Benedict's had the top-ranked high school soccer team in the nation by ESPN/Rise in 1990, 1997–98, 2001, 2005–06 and 2011.[http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-1803713057412334754/pennington-1-at-st-benedicts-4-prep-a-tournament-final-round-boys-soccer/ "Pennington (1) at St. Benedict's (4), Prep A Tournament, Final Round – Boys Soccer"], Trenton Times, November 6, 2011. Accessed December 5, 2011. "With the victory, St. Benedict's completed a perfect 24-0 campaign and will finish as the No. 1 ranked team in the country for the seventh time in school history and first time since 2006. The title is the 23rd straight Prep A crown and 25th overall state title for St. Benedict's, which will carry a 36-game winning streak into next year.... St. Benedict's, which was guaranteed the ESPN/Rise No. 1 spot in the national rankings with a victory, also won national championships in 1990, '97, '98, 2001, '05 and '06."[http://sbpsoccer.com/prep_news/prep_news_item.php?n_id=82 "Seventh Heaven! Gray Bees Pick up Their 7Th National Championship; Beat Pennington to cap perfection & earn 23rd straight state title"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216020905/http://sbpsoccer.com/prep_news/prep_news_item.php?n_id=82 |date=2013-12-16 }}, St. Benedict's Soccer, November 6, 2011. Accessed August 21, 2012. "The Gray Bees wrapped up a perfect season and claimed their 7th National Championship and 23rd successive state title with a 4-1 victory over Pennington Sunday in the Prep A Championship game before a boisterous crowd at NJIT."

Numerous alumni of the soccer program at St. Benedict's have become world-renowned players.{{cite web|last=Parchman|first=Will|title=St. Benedict's is a N.J. beacon for soccer|publisher=Top Drawer Soccer|date=September 23, 2013|url=http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/high-school-soccer-article/st-benedicts-is-a-nj-beacon-for-soccer_aid30308|access-date=2013-12-15}}

In 2009, a {{convert|22|ft|m|abbr=on}} stainless steel sculpture of a hockey player was installed at Championship Plaza at Prudential Center.{{cite news|last=Santiago|first=Katherine|title=22-foot-tall hockey player sculpture installed outside Prudential Center|work=The Star-Ledger|date=August 17, 2009|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/22foottall_hockey_player_sculp.html|access-date=2013-12-19}}{{cite news|title=Giant Steel Hockey Player|publisher=Roadside America|url=http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/23432|access-date=2013-12-19}} A bronze statue, created by sculptor Thomas Jay Warren,Althea Gibson Statue, Newark, N.J. [http://www.warrensculpture.com/page25/page25.html warrensculpture.com] Retrieved May 7, 2013. was dedicated to the memory of Althea Gibson in Branch Brook Park in March 2012[http://www.branchbrookpark.org/Park-Information/Athletics.aspx Branch Brook Park Alliance] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407005541/http://www.branchbrookpark.org/Park-Information/Athletics.aspx |date=2013-04-07 }}. Retrieved May 7, 2013.[http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/03/statue_of_first_black_woman_to.html Eunice Lee, "Statue of first black woman to win Wimbledon unveiled in Newark park"], NJ.com, March 29, 2012. "I hope that I have accomplished just one thing," she once wrote, "that I have been a credit to tennis, and to my country."{{sfn|Gibson|Curtis|1968|p=27}} "By all measures," reads the inscription "Althea Gibson certainly attained that goal."Bronze statue of civil rights pioneer Althea Gibson dedicated in Essex County (March 28, 2012). [http://www.nj.com/independentpress/index.ssf/2012/03/bronze_statue_of_civil_rights.html Independent Press archive]. Retrieved May 7, 2013. In June 2012, a life-size bronze statue of Roberto Clemente was also unveiled in the park.{{citation|last1=Simpri|first1=Arlene|last2=Strunsky|first2=Sterve|title=Roberto Clemente bronze statue unveiled in Newark's Branch Brook Park|newspaper=The Star-Ledger|date=June 3, 2012|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/06/roberto_clemente_bronze_statue.html|access-date=2013-12-08}} The Salute, created by Jon Krawczyk, is a statue of the longtime New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur was installed at Prudential Center in 2016.{{Cite news |last = Dave Caldwell|first = Dave Caldwell |title = Fan's Statue Will Honor Martin Brodeur, Foundation of Devils' Glory Years |newspaper = The New York Times |date = January 6, 2016 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/07/sports/hockey/martin-brodeur-statue-new-jersey-devils-newark.html}}

Althea Gibson statue.jpg|Althea Gibson

Brodeur.statue.Prudential 01.jpg|Martin Brodeur

{{further|:Category:Sportspeople from Newark, New Jersey}}

• BCR (Brick City Rock)
• List of people from Newark, New Jersey
• Newark Schools Stadium
• Sports in New Jersey
• List of college athletic programs in New Jersey
• Timeline of Newark, New Jersey history

{{Reflist|2}}

;Bibliography

• {{cite book

| last1 = Gibson

| first1 = Althea

| last2 = Curtis

| first2 = Richard

| title = So Much to Live For

| url = https://archive.org/details/somuchtolivefor00gibs

| url-access = registration

| year = 1968

| publisher = Putnam

| location = New York

| edition = Hardcover

| asin = B0006BVL5Q

}}

• [http://www.luckyshow.org/baseball/trunkmakers.htm Records of Professional Baseball Teams that have played in Newark]
• [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=53 Newark Bears Record: 109-59 International League]
• [http://www.newarkhistorysociety.org/past-programs.html High-school sports in Newark 1930–1965 symposium]
• {{Citation|last=Cvornyek|first=Robert|title=Baseball in Newark|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|year=2003|isbn=9780738513263|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J0rdOAhfTZoC&q=Baseball+in+Newark}}
• [http://www.legacyofwrestling.com/Newark54.html Wrestling season Newark 1954]

{{NYC Metro sports}}

{{New York metro area sports venues}}

Category:History of Newark, New Jersey