MetLife Stadium

MetLife Stadium
The New Meadowlands, The Met
Former names	New Meadowlands Stadium (2010)
Location	MetLife Sports Complex, State Highway 120 East Rutherford, New Jersey 07073, United States
Coordinates	40°48′49″N 74°4′28″W / 40.81361°N 74.07444°W / 40.81361; -74.07444Coordinates: 40°48′49″N 74°4′28″W / 40.81361°N 74.07444°W / 40.81361; -74.07444
Broke ground	September 5, 2007
Opened	April 10, 2010[1]
Owner	New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority
Operator	MetLife Stadium Company, LLC (joint venture between the New York Giants and New York Jets)
Surface	FieldTurf
Construction cost	$1.6 billion ($1.6 billion in 2011 dollars[2])
Architect	EwingCole Skanska AB 360 Architecture
Structural engineer	Thornton Tomasetti
Capacity	82,566[3][4]
Tenants
New York Giants (NFL) (2010-present) New York Jets (NFL) (2010–present) Big City Classic (2010–present) Super Bowl XLVIII (NFL) (2014)

MetLife Stadium is a stadium in the New York City Metropolitan Area, part of the MetLife Sports Complex, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It is the home of the New York Giants and New York Jets of the National Football League and is adjacent to the site of the former Giants Stadium, which was home to the Giants from 1976 until December 2009 and the Jets from 1984 until January 2010. Like its predecessor, the new stadium is the only NFL stadium shared by two teams. However, unlike Giants Stadium, in which the Jets were tenants of the Giants, the new stadium is a 50/50 partnership between both teams.

The stadium is owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority on paper however, the two teams jointly built the stadium using private funds, and administer it jointly through the MetLife Stadium Company. The stadium opened as New Meadowlands Stadium on April 10, 2010, featuring the Big City Classic lacrosse event.^[1] In 2011, MetLife, an insurance company based in New York City, acquired the naming rights to the stadium. At a construction cost of approximately $1.6 billion, it is the most expensive NFL stadium ever built, and is the largest stadium in the NFL in terms of permanent seating capacity.^[1][5]

On May 25, 2010, it was announced that Super Bowl XLVIII was awarded to the stadium, the first time a Super Bowl would be played in the New York metropolitan area, and the first time that a non-domed stadium in the northern United States would host the largest American football game in the professional ranks.^[6]

History

As Giants Stadium approached 30 years of age, it was becoming one of the older stadiums in the NFL. The New York Jets, who had been the lesser tenants in the Meadowlands, sought to have their own stadium built. The proposed West Side Stadium would have been built in Manhattan proper, but with significant public funding required. When that fell through, the Jets entered into a partnership with the Giants to build a new stadium that the two teams would share on equal footing.

Design

Construction on MetLife Stadium, as seen in 2007 (top) and 2008 (bottom) near Giants Stadium

The stadium is distinguished by an outer skin of aluminum louvers and by interior lighting that switches colors depending on which team is playing at home.^[7] Essentially, unlike Giants Stadium, MetLife Stadium can easily be converted from a Giants game to a Jets game or vice versa within a matter of hours.^[8] This is a technique originated at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, which is shared between the city's two major soccer teams, Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich. The special louvers and the associated hanging system were custom designed and manufactured by Overgaard Ltd. of Hong Kong and Architectural Wall Systems of Des Moines, Iowa. The total linear length of louvers is exactly 50,000 meters (50 kilometers) or 163,681 feet (31.1 miles).

Front row 50 yard line seats are 46 feet (14 m) away from the sideline, which is the shortest distance of all NFL Stadiums. To change the field decorations, two 4-man crews take about 18 hours to roll up 40 sections of FieldTurf that make up the teams' respective endzones.^[9] Unlike most NFL stadiums, the NFL logo is painted at midfield instead of the logo of one of the teams, also shortening the transition time. The replaceable team logos at midfield were removed in August 2010 after Domenik Hixon tore his anterior cruciate ligament at a practice at the stadium during training camp.^[10]

Unlike a number of other new NFL venues, MetLife Stadium does not have a roof, as proposals to include a roof failed due to a dispute over funding.^[11] Thus, indoor events such as the Final Four cannot be held at the facility, which runs counter to the original aims for a new stadium in northern New Jersey.^[12]

Twenty giant high-definition-ready light emitting diode (LED) pylons designed, manufactured, and installed by Daktronics at the north and east entrances display videos of the team that is playing. The pylons measure approximately 54 feet (16 m) high by 20 feet (6.1 m) wide. Inside, four 30 feet (9.1 m) by 116 feet (35 m) video displays from Daktronics, which incorporate high definition video technology, hang from each corner of the upper deck.^[13]

The new stadium has seating for 82,566 fans, including 10,005 club seats and approximately 218 luxury suites, making it the largest NFL stadium in total seating.^[14]

lower bowl	mid-bowl	upper bowl
33,346	21,323	27,897

MetLife Stadium includes a total of four locker rooms: one for the Giants, one for the Jets and two for visiting teams. The home teams have locker rooms on opposite ends of the stadium with a visitor's locker room adjacent to it; the unused visitor locker room is also used as a spillover area by the home team on game days.^[15][16]

Lease terms

View of New Meadowlands Stadium (under construction) and Giants Stadium (on right) in July 2009.

The lease for the new stadium is for 25 years, with options to extend it that could eventually reach 97 years. After the 15th year of the lease, every five years, one of the two teams may opt out of the lease after giving the state 12 months notice. However, if one team leaves for a new stadium, the other team would have to remain for the remainder of the lease. Based on the teams' histories, this clause presumably allows the Jets to eventually decide that they want to play in their own stadium and leave if they can find a way to finance it, although the high cost of the stadium and relocation of team facilities to New Jersey makes this unlikely. It is unknown if the lease starts upon construction or upon the stadium's opening. The teams also get parking revenue from the Meadowlands' western parking lots year round, even when there are no events at the stadium (this would occur when other parts of the Meadowlands host events).^[17]

Transportation

MetLife Stadium is accessible via Exit 16W on the western spur of the New Jersey Turnpike and is also located adjacent to Route 3 and Route 120. Coach USA provides bus service between the stadium and the Port Authority Bus Terminal. ^[18]

The Meadowlands Rail Line operates on event days between the newly constructed Meadowlands Station and Hoboken Terminal via Secaucus Junction, where there is connecting service to Pennsylvania Station (New York City), Pennsylvania Station (Newark), and other New Jersey Transit rail operations. The line opened to the public on July 26, 2009.^[19]

Naming rights

The exterior of MetLife Stadium.

Allianz, a financial services company based in Germany, expressed interest in purchasing naming rights to the stadium. The proposal was for a period of up to 30 years,^[20] and was estimated to be valued at somewhere between $20 million and $30 million USD. However, it sparked protests from New York's Jewish community (the largest outside of Israel) and the Anti-Defamation League, which opposed the move due to close ties in the past between Allianz and the government of Nazi Germany during World War II. However, Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, secretary general of the North American Board of Rabbis, agreed that although survivors' sensibilities are understandable, a naming deal is legitimate. "I have found Allianz to be receptive, to be sensitive and a friend of the Jewish people today," he said.^[21] Allianz sponsors the venue that inspired the color-change technology for MetLife Stadium: Allianz Arena in Munich. No agreement was reached and talks between Allianz and the teams ended on September 12, 2008.^[22]

On June 10, 2010, TMZ.com reported that Ashley Madison, an online dating site marketed primarily to those already in a relationship and one that is famous for its numerous failed attempts to advertise with the league, made an offer to rename the stadium to AshleyMadison.com Stadium.^[23]

On June 27, 2011, it was reported that insurance company MetLife entered discussions to purchase naming rights to the stadium.^[24] The new name, "MetLife Stadium,"^[25] became official when all parties signed a 25-year deal on August 23.^[26][27]

EPA agreement

In June 2009, the New Meadowlands Stadium Corporation and the EPA signed a memorandum of understanding that outlines plans to incorporate environmentally-friendly materials and practices into the construction and operation of MetLife Stadium. The agreement includes strategies to reduce air pollution, conserve water and energy, improve waste management, and reduce the environmental impact of construction. The goal of the agreement is to save the emission of nearly 1.68 million metric tons of carbon dioxide during the stadium's construction and its first year of operation. Under this agreement, the stadium construction must use around 40,000 tons of recycled steel, recycle 20,000 tons of steel from Giants Stadium, install seating made from recycled plastic and scrap iron, and reduce air pollution from construction vehicles by using cleaner diesel fuel, diesel engine filters, and minimizing engine idle times. Other goals of this agreement include providing mass transit options for fans and replacing traditional concession plates, cups and carries with compostable alternatives. The New Meadowlands Stadium Corporation will report the progress on its goals to EPA every six months. Based on the reports, EPA will quantify the benefits of the venue’s environmental efforts.^[28][29]

Super Bowl

Main article: Super Bowl XLVIII

Inside MetLife Stadium during the first-ever preseason game between the Giants and Jets on August 16, 2010.

MetLife Stadium will host Super Bowl XLVIII in February 2014.^[30] The NFL requires that a Super Bowl hosting stadium must have an average temperature of 50 degrees or higher in February or be held in an indoor climate-controlled facility. However, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell would waive this requirement. The stadium was allowed on the ballot because of a "unique, once-only circumstance based on the opportunity to celebrate the new stadium and the great heritage and history of the NFL in the New York region".^{[31] [32]}

Notable moments

Pre-game ceremony prior to the Jets-Cowboys game on September 11, 2011

• September 12, 2010: The Giants hosted the first NFL regular season game in the stadium's history against the Carolina Panthers, winning 31–18.^[33]
• September 13, 2010: The Jets played their first game at the stadium against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football with a 10–9 loss.^[34]
• December 19, 2010: The Philadelphia Eagles stage a comeback against the Giants in their first ever visit to the stadium in what has become known as "Miracle at the New Meadowlands," coming back from being down 31–10 with about 8 minutes to go in the fourth quarter to win 38–31, capped off by DeSean Jackson's game winning punt return when time expired.
• September 11, 2011: On the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, a ceremony was held prior to the game between the Jets and the Dallas Cowboys. Members of the two teams were joined on the field by members of the military, the FDNY, the NYPD, and the PAPD, honoring the victims of the attacks.^[35] The Jets came back from a 24-10 deficit in the fourth quarter to win 27-24.^[36]

Other events

The first concert at the New Meadowlands was New Jersey natives Bon Jovi, who performed four shows at the venue on their The Circle Tour. The second concert at the stadium was Hot 97's Summer Jam. Eagles performed here on June 10 as part of their summer tour. U2 performed at the stadium on July 20, 2011 on their U2 360° Tour. The show was originally to be held on July 19, 2010, but had to be postponed following Bono's emergency back surgery. The show was the third to visit the Meadowlands on the U2 360° Tour, the first two being at Giants Stadium on September 23 and 24, 2009.

The stadium hosted an international friendly soccer match between the United States and Brazil on August 10, 2010. Brazil won 2-0 in front of a near-sellout crowd of 77,223; the game was played on a temporary grass field.^[37][38] The stadium hosted another international friendly between the United States and Argentina on March 26, 2011, which ended in a 1-1 draw and was played in front of a sellout crowd of 78,926.^[39]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Belson, Ken (April 8, 2010). "New Stadium, a Football Palace, Opens Saturday With Lacrosse". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/09/sports/football/09stadium.html. Retrieved April 25, 2010. 
2. ^ Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2008. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
3. ^ Your Stadium - Seating/Seat Views
4. ^ Your Stadium - Welcome
5. ^ "Home Field Advantage: The 10 Most Expensive NFL Stadiums". Powerwall. http://powerwall.msnbc.msn.com/politics/home-field-advantage-the-10-most-expensive-nfl-stadiums-10763.gallery#!wallState=0__%2Fpolitics%2Fhome-field-advantage-the-10-most-expensive-nfl-stadiums-10763.gallery%3FphotoId%3D45071. Retrieved September 11, 2011. 
6. ^ Associated Press (May 25, 2010). "Owners warm up to New York/New Jersey as Super Bowl XLVIII host". National Football League. http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8184fc83&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true. Retrieved May 25, 2010. 
7. ^ Sandomir, Richard (September 5, 2007). "Kaleidoscope of Colors Coming to New Stadium". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/05/sports/football/05stadium.html. Retrieved 2009-08-03. 
8. ^ "New Meadowlands Stadium getting ready for soft opening". Associated Press. NFL.com. 2010. http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d81769e5f&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true. Retrieved July 19, 2010. 
9. ^ Rosenberg, Rebecca; Calder, Rich (September 13, 2010). "Now that's a big 'turnover'". New York Post. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/now_that_big_turnover_y6egXQIvA0PzPS4axbdT2N. Retrieved 2009-09-14. 
10. ^ Vacchiano, Ralph (August 13, 2010). "Mathias Kiwanuka concerned over FieldTurf at Meadowlands Stadium following Domenik Hixon injury". Daily News (New York). http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-08-13/sports/27072454_1_fieldturf-logos-g-chris-snee. Retrieved 2011-11-07. 
11. ^ "Giants, Jets revise billion-dollar stadium plan". ESPN.com. March 31, 2006. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2391829. Retrieved 2009-08-03. 
12. ^ NJSEA About Us
13. ^ "Daktronics to get contract for Jets-Giants stadium displays". http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/59249. 
14. ^ Meyers, Gary (March 20, 2010). "Welcome to the Meadowlands: Exclusive Tour of Giants, Jets Brand New $1.7 Billion Stadium". Daily News (New York). http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/2010/03/20/2010-03-20_exclusive_tour_of_giants_jets_brand_new_stadium.html. Retrieved 2010-04-18. 
15. ^ Seward, Aron (October 15, 2010). "New Meadowlands Stadium". The Architect's Newspaper. http://archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=4880. Retrieved 2011-10-30. 
16. ^ Myers, Gary (March 20, 2010). "Welcome to the Meadowlands: Exclusive tour of Giants, Jets brand new $1.7 billion stadium". Daily News (New York). http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-03-20/sports/27059602_1_meadowlands-stadium-jets-giants-vice-president. Retrieved 2011-10-30. 
17. ^ Story not found - NJ.com
18. ^ "351 Meadowlands Express". Coach USA. http://www.coachusa.com/info/coachusa/ss.351express.asp. Retrieved 2011-09-17. 
19. ^ "N.J. officials launch rail service to Meadowlands". The Star-Ledger. Associated Press. July 20, 2009. http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/nj_officials_launch_rail_servi.html. Retrieved 2009-08-03. 
20. ^ Sandomir, Richard; Robinson, Joshua (August 31, 2008). "Negotiations With Allianz on Naming of Stadium". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/01/sports/football/01nfl.html. Retrieved 2009-08-03. 
21. ^ Yaniv, Oren (September 11, 2008). "Giants and Jets fans join uproar over stadium naming rights bid by firm with Holocaust ties". Daily News (New York). http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/2008/09/10/2008-09-10_giants_and_jets_fans_join_uproar_over_st.html. Retrieved 2008-09-11. 
22. ^ Sandomir, Richard (September 12, 2008). "Allianz Drops Bid for Naming Rights". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/sports/football/13stadium.html. Retrieved 2010-02-28. 
23. ^ "NFL Stadium Offered $25M to Promote Adultery". TMZ.com. May 30, 2010. http://www.tmz.com/2010/06/09/nfl-new-york-jets-new-york-giants-stadium-meadowlands-ashley-madison-cheaters-adultery-website/. Retrieved 2010-09-23. 
24. ^ Lefton, Terry (June 27, 2011). "MetLife eyes the Meadowlands". Sports Business Daily. http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2011/06/27/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/MetLife.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-27. 
25. ^ Decambre, Mark (August 19, 2011). "New Meadowlands Stadium to become MetLife Stadium". New York Post. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/metlife_inks_deal_with_meadowlands_PG2HRPjVKrrtaSLaklGdEN. Retrieved 2011-08-19. 
26. ^ Ehalt, Matthew (August 23, 2011). "MetLife name unveiled at stadium". ESPN.com. http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/6888145/new-york-giants-new-york-jets-announce-naming-deal-metlife. Retrieved 2011-08-23. 
27. ^ "MetLife announces it has bought the naming rights to New Meadowlands Stadium for 25 years". The Washington Post. Associated Press. August 23, 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/metlife-announces-it-has-bought-the-naming-rights-to-new-meadowlands-stadium-for-25-years/2011/08/23/gIQA9cJ8YJ_story.html. Retrieved 2011-08-23. 
28. ^ "EPA, New York Giants and New York Jets Team Up to Make New Meadowlands Stadium a Beacon of “Green”" (Press release). United States Environmental Protection Agency. June 1, 2009. http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/EB8BD7874DB85F38852575C8005452A8. Retrieved 2010-02-21. 
29. ^ "EPA, New Meadowlands Stadium Developers Lay Green Groundwork". Concrete Products. July 1, 2009. http://concreteproducts.com/architectural-structural-prestressed/meadowlands-stadium-groundwork-20090701/. Retrieved 2010-02-21. 
30. ^ Mehta, Manish (May 25, 2010). "Super Bowl 2014 vote: NFL owners award Super Bowl XLVIII to Giants, Jets & new Meadowlands". Daily News (New York). http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/2010/05/25/2010-05-25_a_super_victory_for_giants_jets.html. Retrieved 2010-05-26. 
31. ^ "SUPER: New Stadium Can Bid for 2014 Game". New York Jets. December 17, 2009. http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/articles/show/3499-super-new-stadium-can-bid-for-2014-game. Retrieved 2010-05-26. ^{[dead link]}
32. ^ info, sports venue. "New NFL Stadiums with Super Bowl Dreams". http://sports-venue.info/NFL/new_NFL_Stadiums_Super_Bowl_Hosts.html. 
33. ^ Vacchiano, Ralph (September 12, 2010). "New York Giants open New Meadowlands with 31-18 win over Panthers, Hakeem Nicks catches three TDs". Daily News (New York). http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-09-12/sports/27075169_1_panthers-brandon-jacobs-barry-cofield. Retrieved 2011-09-17. 
34. ^ "NFL Game Center: Baltimore Ravens at New York Jets - 2010 Week 1". Associated Press. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2010091300/2010/REG1/ravens@jets/recap#recap-channels:cat-post-recap-full-story. Retrieved 19 August 2011. 
35. ^ Begley, Ian; Mazzeo, Mike (September 12, 2011). "Giants, Redskins, Jets remember 9/11". ESPN.com. http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/6958413/new-york-giants-washington-redskins-new-york-jets-remember-9-11-anniversary. Retrieved 2011-09-14. 
36. ^ "NFL Game Center: Cowboys vs. Jets". National Football League. 12 September 2011. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2011091112/2011/REG1/cowboys@jets. Retrieved 23 September 2011. 
37. ^ Leonard, Pat (August 10, 2010). "Young Brazil squad, led by Neymar and Alexandre Pato, dust off veteran U.S. at Meadowlands, 2-0". Daily News (New York). http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2010/08/10/2010-08-10_us_brazil_worlds_apart.html. Retrieved 2010-08-11. 
38. ^ "Grass field at Meadowlands for U.S.-Brazil soccer in August". New York Post. Associated Press. May 28, 2010. http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/soccerblog/grass_field_at_meadowlands_for_brazil_AlkvpkFbhpPUTs0jQ9mymL. Retrieved 2010-08-12. 
39. ^ Bell, Jack (March 26, 2011). "Teenage Striker’s Energy Propels U.S. to a Tie". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/27/sports/soccer/27argentina.html. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 

External links

• Official website
• New Meadowlands Stadium Project Scoping Document
• Overgaard Ltd. / Facade Design & Supply