The New Jersey Devils say they want to move to Hoboken as soon as a new arena can be built, even though their lease keeps them at Continental Airlines Arena until the 2007-08 season.
The Devils have played their home games in East Rutherford, N.J., since 1982 after owner John McMullen moved the Colorado Rockies to the Garden State.
Although McMullen said the team will honor its lease with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, he said he’s hoping the state will allow it to make the 3-mile move to Hoboken sooner if a proposed new $175 million arena is built before the agreement expires.
“If the arena is finished before the lease is up, then obviously I’d expect them to let us move,” McMullen said.
While McMullen said he has no target date to start construction of the arena, the Sports and Exhibition Authority said it won’t allow the franchise to move until the lease expires.
“The Devils will be playing their home games at Continental Airlines Arena until the year 2007,” said John Samerjan, a spokesman for the authority. “As far as we’re concerned, there will be no exceptions.”
At a news conference, McMullen, accompanied by Hoboken Mayor Anthony Russo and civic leaders from surrounding communities, unveiled plans for a new arena that would seat as many as 20,000 for hockey games and be used for other events.
The structure would have as many as 150 luxury suites and have a great economic impact on the state, McMullen said. The Continental Airlines Arena has 29 luxury suites.
“I’m sick and tired of being second-best,” McMullen said, alluding to competition with the New York Rangers. “I think New Jersey deserves a first-class arena and this is the way to do it.”
He wasn’t specific on who would pay for the arena, although he said it wouldn’t “adversely affect the public.”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman didn’t object to the proposed move.
“Though there is much work to be done before the proposed Hoboken arena can become a reality, this project could be a very exciting one for the New Jersey Devils, their fans and the state of New Jersey,” Bettman said.
The plans for this project were started in June of 1996, McMullen said, and the Devils owner said New Jersey Gov. Christine Whitman is aware of them.
“She’s been very supportive of the idea,” McMullen said.
A spokesman for Whitman couldn’t immediately be reached to comment. Whitman is a Devils fan and regularly attends games.
Under terms of the Devils’ lease, the only way the team can terminate the agreement is if another National Football League, NHL or National Basketball Association team moves to New Jersey before 2003, the authority said.
McMullen negotiated his current lease in 1995, after the Devils won their only Stanley Cup, while threatening to move the team to Nashville. In unveiling that agreement in July 1995, McMullen said, “It’s clearly the right place for the team at this time.”
The Devils’ news conference comes at the same time the New Jersey Nets are starting negotiations with the Sports and Exhibition Authority on a new lease. The team’s current agreement expires after the 1999-2000 season, although the Nets have said they are seeking a long-term lease.
