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Mayor Cory A. Booker and the New York Liberty announced that the team will play the next three seasons at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey during the Madison Square Garden transformation.

Madison Square Garden is currently undergoing a $775 - $850 million transformation that will turn “The World’s Most Famous Arena” into the world’s most state-of-the-art arena. The building will close for the next three summers for work on the transformation to be completed. The Liberty will be temporarily relocated to the Prudential Center during the 2011, 2012, and 2013 seasons. Prudential Center is a convenient 15 minutes away from The Garden by train.

“The Rock is the best possible location for the Liberty to play during the next three summers of the MSG transformation,” said Scott O’Neil, president, MSG Sports. “The venue will allow our fans and partners the opportunity to continue to support the team at an arena that is a short 15 minute train ride from The Garden. It isn’t just a coincidence that New Jersey is called the Garden State and we are fortunate to have a strong fan base there for the Knicks, Rangers and Liberty. We see this as an exciting opportunity to broaden the Liberty’s New York metropolitan presence.”

“The entire City of Newark is excited about the news that the WNBA’S New York Liberty will be playing its next three seasons at the state-of-the-art Prudential Center. From the WNBA to the NBA to the New Jersey Devils and the NFL Alumni Association, Newark, New Jersey is emerging as one of our country’s biggest sports towns. This is another slam dunk for the Brick City,” said Mayor Booker.

The interim relocation to Prudential Center will provide a homecoming for New Jersey native Essence Carson and her former Rutgers teammates Cappie Pondexter and Kia Vaughn. A rich history of women’s basketball in New Jersey, both at the high school and collegiate level, makes the State a fitting home to the WNBA. The Liberty will host numerous community events during the offseason in Newark and throughout New Jersey leading up to the 2011 WNBA season.

“We are excited to embrace the Newark community during our next three seasons at the Prudential Center,” said Carol Blazejowski, president & general manager, New York Liberty. “The Liberty will continue to provide a fun, affordable and interactive game day experience for our loyal and passionate fans as we compete for the WNBA Championship. We look forward to welcoming our great fans back to The Garden when the transformation is complete.”

Jeff Vanderbeek, chairman and managing partner of the Prudential Center added, “We are so pleased the New York Liberty will call the Prudential Center home for the next three seasons. To have the WNBA’s best known team add their name to the list of professional sports franchises now home at “the Rock” is great for our arena, Newark and New Jersey. We look forward to showcasing our Major League City and welcoming WNBA fans to Newark.”

“The move for the Liberty to the Prudential Center will provide an amazing venue for the team’s dedicated and loyal fanbase, while providing an opportunity for new fans to experience the excitement of the WNBA,” said Donna Orender, WNBA President.

Located in the heart of downtown Newark, just blocks from Newark Penn Station, Prudential Center is accessible via New Jersey Transit, PATH, Newark Light Rail service and Amtrak and situated at the crossroads of six major highway access routes including the Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike, Route 280, Route 78, Routes 1 & 9 and Route 21. Prudential Center boasts some of the most advanced technology in arena and in-game entertainment in the country. With over 700 flat screen TV’s located throughout the building, fans are guaranteed to not miss any of the action. An exterior marquee measuring over 52 feet high, as well as 100 50’ plasma screens, will make the Liberty in-game experience at Prudential Center first class.

NDD Recipient of International Award

NEWARK DOWNTOWN DISTRICT (NDD) RECIPIENT OF DOWNTOWN MERIT AWARD BY THE INTERNATIONAL DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION

During its most recent annual conference the International Downtown Association recognized the Newark Downtown District with a Downtown Merit Award for its work and initiatives related to its cutting edge Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, designed to maintain their multimillion-dollar Streetscape Improvement Project.

Specifically, the Newark Downtown District’s GIS Technology is a web based Geographic Information System, which combines a public information and education portal with a real-time complaint tracking and asset management solution. Competing against 73 submissions from countries all over the world, the Newark Downtown District won this award as proof of the organization’s commitment to create successful programs and strategies to recruit new businesses or to improve retention efforts in the downtown business district. “The NDD has consistently made efforts to come up with innovative ways to improve the downtown central business district and make it a thriving metropolis,” said Russell Tepper, NDD Board Member and Capital Committee Chairman and Vice President of Development for Matrix Development Group, a NJ-based, privately-held, full service real estate investment and development firm with significant ownership and investments in downtown properties adjacent to Newark Penn Station.

The Washington, D.C. based International Downtown Association (IDA) is a champion for vital and livable urban centers, and strives to inform, influence, and inspire downtown leaders and advocates. With 600 members and thousands of friends, IDA is a guiding force in creating healthy and dynamic centers that anchor the well-being of towns, cities, and regions.

“Once the NDD Board of Trustees made the commitment to bond the $10 million dollars to improve public streets with decorative lighting, trash receptacles, decorative tree pits, planters, granite curb-cuts, and benches, it presented me with the challenge of ensuring the longevity of these elements,” Anthony McMillan, Executive Director of the Newark Downtown District, said in the news release. “Our GIS technology is composed of three aspects: a website, handheld reporting devices, and numerical barcodes. Barcodes are placed on every asset and the handheld device is utilized to scan the coordinate location for status monitoring. The website is utilized for logging reports and delegating repair tasks to the appropriate entity. The public portal allows people to view and interact with a map that displays key locations by category; users can pan and zoom around the map and view links to additional information about upcoming events, transportation options, and the many amenities available in Downtown Newark.” Mr. McMillan continues, “The NDD’s website’s GIS map also shows the improvements being made to the Downtown District Improvements and uses layers to display our improvements by category on the map. Users can link to a map interface to submit a damage report for any asset in the district—for example, if a business owner notices that the NDD planter in front of their business was hit by a vehicle and cracked, they can use the map to zoom to their location and select the planter. Basic information and a photograph are displayed on the map to confirm that the correct planter was selected; they can then select the option to “Report Damage” and automatically submit a damage report to NDD Management. Additionally, a user that submits a report is notified automatically when the report is assigned for repair and when the issue has been resolved. “

It is clear to see why the NDD’s GIS Management System was the recipient of the 2010 Downtown Merit Award by the International Downtown Association.

The Newark Downtown District is the advocacy and management organization representing the interests of property owners in downtown Newark, NJ, and is a member of the International Downtown Association.
 

Interested in Hosting an NDD Mix & Mingle?

This year, the Newark Downtown District, in collaboration with other Downtown businesses, is hosting Mix & Mingles to get the business community together in an effort to unify Downtown Newark's students, residents, workers, and students.

Several of the Mix & Mingles will be held in-office at the NDD located at 15 Clinton Street, however, the rest will be held at locations to-be-determined.

We are open to holding any one of these events at any of the restaurants in the downtown area. The benefits are promotion of your establishment, consumer traffic into your doors, exploration of your menu, and the possibility of new catering opportunities for future events held by other businesses. The only request that the NDD has is that you offer specials for the time slot that the Mix & Mingles are being held.

If you are a restaurant owner or manager and would like for a Mix & Mingle to be held at your location or would simply like more information, please contact Ramona Thompson or Kim Barton on the contact us page.
 

Ribbon Cutting of Outdoor Cafe at Championship Cafe a Huge Hit

Mayor Cory Booker, Devils Arena Entertainment Chairman Jeff Vanderbeek and Newark Downtown District Executive Director Anthony McMillan cut ribbon on July 11, 2011 to open outdoor cafe at Championship Plaza.

Newark Downtown District will program Championship Plaza as a downtown bistro with lunch tables and other activities;
Restaurants competed in “Signature Sandwich Competition Taste-Off”

Newark, NJ – July 11, 2011 – Mayor Cory Booker, Devils Arena Entertainment Chairman Jeff Vanderbeek and Newark Downtown District Executive Director Anthony McMillan cut the ribbon today to open the outdoor café area at Championship Plaza. Championship Plaza is located on Mulberry Street between Edison and Market Streets. The opening ceremony included the inaugural “Signature Sandwich Champion Taste-Off,” in which nine Newark restaurants presented a “Signature Sandwich “to Mayor Booker, Mr. Vanderbeek and Mr. McMillan, for judging.

Programmed by the Newark Downtown District, Championship Plaza will offer an outdoor café where people can bring their lunch or purchase food from the local restaurants setting up on-site as food vendors. The café will operate, weather permitting, Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., into October. Conveniently located next to the Prudential Center, it is easily accessible to tenants of the Gateways, Riverfront Center, The Legal Center, PSE&G, Prudential, the Newark National Building, and many other offices, retail stores and residential units in the downtown.

“The opening of this outdoor café at Championship Plaza adds a new dimension to Newark’s downtown life,” Mayor Booker said. “We are transforming our downtown and making it more exciting and attractive  for residents, workers and visitors alike. I am proud to open Championship Plaza as Newark’s newest lunch destination.”

The NDD will program the Plaza with music, a farmers market on Tuesdays, “Karaoke Fridays,” and other entertainment for all to enjoy in the nice weather. Several downtown restaurants plan to offer take-out/delivery service for their patrons dining at Championship Plaza. Future restaurants such as the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, which is expected to open next to the Arena next year, will be welcome to utilize the tables and chairs in the Plaza for their diners.

“We are excited that Championship Plaza is now open daily for lunch. Bringing Newark residents and workers to the Plaza every day to enjoy great food, some music and other events is exactly what we planned for when we built the plaza,” Mr. Vanderbeek said.

“The Newark Downtown District is thrilled to partner with the New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center to program Championship Plaza,” said Mr. McMillan. “It’s a great public space and one in which Newarkers should have the pleasure of utilizing.”

Restaurants participating in the “Taste-off” were to include Loft 47, Better Bites, McGovern’s, Hobbys’, Port 44, The Spot, Brick City Bar & Grill, Nicky’s, and Uber Burger.

The Newark Downtown District (NDD) is the business improvement district for downtown Newark, and its mission is to improve the economic viability of downtown Newark through supplemental services, marketing, and capital improvement programs. Currently the NDD runs the Beaver Street Café on Beaver Street, which features outdoor dining, music daily, and karaoke and gourmet food vendors every Wednesday. The NDD also runs a farmers market at the PSE&G Plaza every Thursday.

For more information about any City of Newark policy or program, contact the Non-Emergency Call Center at (973) 733-4311.

-NEWARK-

Contact:    Newark Press Information Office: (973) 733-8004
E-mail:      Pressoffice@ci.newark.nj.us

About the City of Newark, New Jersey
Newark, commonly referred to as Brick City, is the third oldest city in the United States and the largest in New Jersey, with a population of more than 280,000 people. Newark sits on one of the nation’s largest transportation super-structures including an international airport, major rail connections, major highway intersections and the busiest seaport on the east coast.

With a new Administration as of July 2006, Newark continues to see signs of a strong revival. In population, it is one of the fastest growing cities in the northeast. Its six major colleges and universities are further expanding their presence. The production of affordable housing has doubled, businesses are returning and crime is going down. There is still much work to be done but Newark is on its way to achieving its mission: to set a national standard for urban transformation.

For more information on the City of Newark, please visit our website at www.ci.newark.nj.us

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