Located within easy reach of the metropolitan areas of New York and Philadelphia, New Jersey has a number of bustling cities as well as miles of sprawling open countryside. The state is easily accessible to people from all across the country, thanks to the presence of Newark International Airport and the two major airports in New York. And since it is so close to Manhattan, New Jersey is often utilized for major events because, well, there’s simply more space. In fact, a few of New York’s professional sports teams actually play their matches in New Jersey, which means it is used to hosting big sports tournaments and events.
Newark Sports Venues
The most populated city in New Jersey, Newark sits in the heart of the Gateway Region, only eight miles west of Manhattan. It has a rich baseball history, despite never having had an MLB team, and a strong presence in the professional and collegiate sports worlds.
Riverfront Stadium is home to the Bears professional baseball team as well as Rutgers University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology baseball teams. It seats 6,200 boasts views of the Manhattan skyline and is located close to nearby hotels and attractions.
Prudential Center, an 18,000-seat arena, is home to the New Jersey Devils hockey team, the New Jersey Ironman major indoor soccer team and Seton Hall University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. Next to the center is a hockey practice facility that seats 800 spectators.
Nearby is Red Bull Park in Harrison, which sits along the waterfront across from Newark. It is home to the New York Red Bulls Major League Soccer team and is a soccer specific stadium, although it has been used for other non-sporting events. The roof is translucent, giving players on the field natural light as well as protection from the elements. It seats 25,000 spectators.
Newark is home to Rutgers University, which has an elite athletic program. The football team is the only NCAA division one team in the greater New Jersey/New York metropolitan area. The Golden Dome, an iconic structure on the Rutgers campus, is the heart of university athletics. The main arena seats 800 fans and is where the Scarlet Raiders men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams play their home matches. It also has a 7,000-square-foot fitness center and a 25-yard swimming pool.
Farther west of Newark in Bridgewater is TD Bank Ballpark, home of the Somerset Patriots minor league baseball team. It has 6,100 fixed seats and additional grass seating at the Turf Club. There is an executive party deck for larger events, and a picnic area that can hold up to 350 people. The park has also hosted collegiate tournaments and some high school events.
Sports Facilities in Atlantic City
Known as a popular resort destination and gambling hotspot, Atlantic City boasts a colorful history, loads of entertainment and attractions that keep most people up all night. However, there is another side to Atlantic City that many may not get to see very often, its recreational side. Located along the coastline of southern New Jersey, Atlantic City offers miles of sandy beaches and hiking and biking trails to enjoy. Not only that, but there are many facilities and parks where people can put on sports events and compete in various activities.
Boardwalk Hall has been a part of Atlantic City for 81 years. Built back in 1929, this Atlantic City sports facility has been known for a lot of firsts, including hosting the first indoor college football game in 1930. It is capable of variable seating capacities of up to 14,770 people, depending on the event. The Hall has seen a number of major boxing matches, men’s college basketball championships, professional bull riding, high school wrestling tournaments, figure skating competitions and hockey games.
The Atlantic City Convention Center has ample space that can be configured to suit any planner’s needs. Its five exhibit halls can be rented out individually or joined together for larger events, like wrestling or gymnastics. The pre-function space is perfect for setting up tournament headquarters, registration booths, food counters and more. There is also a hotel attached to the center as well as many others located nearby.
Atlantic City is home to the Stockton College Ospreys sports program, which offers top sports venues for teams to rent out. The Sports Center is where all students go to cheer on their teams, including basketball and volleyball. The G. Larry James Stadium is a lighted stadium just outside the Sports Center where the college’s men’s and women’s soccer teams play. A synthetic turf field that just opened in 2010 is where lacrosse, field hockey and intramural flag football are played. The field borders the baseball and softball stadiums, which have been updated with new dugouts and fences.
Mark G. Etess Arena is a multipurpose facility attached to the Trump Taj Mahal Casino and Resort. It seats 6,000 people and has hosted many sports events and concerts.
Princeton Sports Events
Princeton is an historic, scenic city full of tradition. Located only two hours from two major cities—Philadelphia and New York City—Princeton is easily accessible. Not only does the city offer guests a plethora of art galleries, museums and historical structures, not to mention one of the top universities in the country, but Princeton also has a strong athletic lineage.
Princeton University has 38 varsity sports and thousands of talented athletes, making it one of the top Ivy League athletic departments. Princeton Stadium has been home to the university’s football team since 1997. A new turf field was installed five years ago, along with a state-of-the-art video screen. It seats 27,800 spectators and up to 30,000 with standing room areas inside the building. For swimming competitions, consider renting out DeNunzio Pool. The pool measures 50 meters by 25 yards, with two moveable bulkheads to give coaches the ability to configure the pool for various courses or water polo. It features one- and three- meter spring boards, plus a 10-meter platform. There are bleacher seats for 1,700 people. Lenz Tennis Center is a world-class tennis facility in Princeton. It features 23 courts that surround the two-story Cordish Family Pavilion, which houses locker rooms, offices, viewing platforms and a gathering area perfect for tournament headquarters. There is seating for 700 fans around the center.
Princeton does have other higher education institutions, such as Rider University. The school offers a few venues that teams can rent out for tournaments and events. The Athletic Fields include two multi-purpose basketball courts with lights, which are next to six outdoor tennis courts, a varsity soccer and field hockey turf arena, Sonny Pittaro Baseball Field, the Herb and Joan Young Softball Complex, and a 400-meter track facility. The Alumni Gymnasium is home to the men’s and women’s basketball team as well as volleyball, wrestling and gymnastics.
Other Sports Venues in New Jersey
Located just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Camden offers a lot for visitors to enjoy, including educational museums and attractions, great dining, shopping areas and affordable accommodations. There are a few great sports venues in Camden, too. Campbell’s Field is a 6,500-seat minor league baseball stadium, home to the Camden Riversharks. It was named 2003 Ballpark of the Year by Digitalballparks.com. Located right on the banks of the Delaware River, the stadium offers great views of the water, the Philadelphia skyline and Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Rutgers University has a campus in Camden. The Boathouse is where the college crew team practices, while the RUC Gymnasium and Community Park play host to indoor events, like basketball and volleyball, and outdoor matches, such as baseball, softball and soccer.
New Brunswick, located in central New Jersey, is a small but vibrant city where residents are fans of all sports teams—though which ones they are loyal to is evenly divided among New York and Philadelphia. Either way, New Brunswick sport venues are some of the best in the state, and all teams are welcome here to host a tournament.
Rutgers University’s main sports facilities can be found on the New Brunswick campus. Rutgers Stadium, recently renamed High Point Solutions Stadium, is home to Scarlet Knights football and is considered the jewel of the athletics department. It completed renovations in 2009 that expanded the seating capacity to 52,454 and added a new scoreboard, sound system, restrooms and concessions. The RAC, or Louis Brown Athletic Center, is home to Rutgers’ men’s and women’s basketball. The 8,000-seat venue was named the second loudest in the nation by CBS Sports.
Trenton, the capital city of New Jersey, has one of the best minor league baseball stadiums in the state. Mercer Waterfront Park is home of the Trenton Thunder team, double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. It officially seats 6,341 people and offers quality amenities that help teams easily host sports tournaments. Located nearby is 8,500-seat Sun National Bank Center, home to the ECHL’s Trenton Titans hockey team. It is also used for basketball, wrestling and boxing events.
New Jersey’s central location, proximity to major cities, welcoming environment and strong ties to athletics make it a great location for any sports event. There are hundreds of top sports venues in New Jersey, and area organizations and commissions are more than willing to help plan tournaments. So if you’re looking to host a sports event, consider the Garden State. You won’t be disappointed.
