Prudentail Center - Newark, NJ

[aidensmom73]

Has anyone been there? We are going Saturday night for the Harlem Globetrotters and I was trying to get an idea of just how expensive food and parking could be. Thanks!

 

[NJGirl]

Parking will probably be 20 bucks at least. there's not much parking in good old downtown Newark. Is there anyway you can take the NJ transit train? It lets off a block from the arena. Kids ride free on the weekend...

 

[aidensmom73]

Parking will probably be 20 bucks at least. there's not much parking in good old downtown Newark. Is there anyway you can take the NJ transit train? It lets off a block from the arena. Kids ride free on the weekend...

We are a few families going..not sure they would go for it.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Parking is expensive and you have to go early to get a lot anywhere near the center. I would suggest parking at Jersey City PATH train. Parking will be about $7-12 and the path takes you to Newark Penn. there is an enclosed building and tunnel you walk through that brings you 1 block from the center. This is what we did for Hannah Montana and it was really convenient and judging from the traffic in Newark after - really smart!

Enjoy the show - it's a nice, new venue.

Oh! Food was ridiculous and people had to hand over their "brought-from-outside" water bottles, etc. on the way in.

 

[rflorek]

I wouldn't suggest wandering too far away looking for food either. While there is a lot of police presence around the Center & it's surrounding parking (as well as between the train station & the Center), the surrounding areas are not that nice.

 

[aidensmom73]

I wouldn't suggest wandering too far away looking for food either. While there is a lot of police presence around the Center & it's surrounding parking (as well as between the train station & the Center), the surrounding areas are not that nice.

I know that, we didn't plan on doing that.

 

[Ariel8676]

The Prudential Center is great!! Woohoo GO DEVILS!!! lol
Ok we usually take the train in, if you have to drive.. you have to go REALLY early.
Ok eating...a few blocks down on Ferry street there is a restaurant called Iberia (you can look online just search Iberia in Newark)..there are 2.. one on the right side of the street and a sister restaurant about a block down on the left. WE always go to the one on the right..it is Portugese/Spanish food, and it is amazing. It is inexpensive and they give you a ton of food..and the Sangria is great..lol (we normally get the white!) Chicken and rice and garlic shrimp and an order of french fries feeds my family of 5 plus my Grandmother and add a pitcher of Sangria..i think it may have cost us $50!! You can park in the parking lot there also for about $5...

 

[artesian]

I wouldn't suggest wandering too far away looking for food either. While there is a lot of police presence around the Center & it's surrounding parking (as well as between the train station & the Center), the surrounding areas are not that nice.

Although I would say with small children stay around or eat in the stadium that statement is not totally true. Just east of the train station is the ironbound section of Newark that has many great places to eat.

 

[rflorek]

Although I would say with small children stay around or eat in the stadium that statement is not totally true. Just east of the train station is the ironbound section of Newark that has many great places to eat.

Great places to eat does not necessarily mean safe environment - especially with kids. I would say the same thing about shows at the NJPAC - especially when onsite security tells me the same thing at both venues.

Anyway, enjoy the show - it's a great new venue!

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I've never had a problem getting parking close to the stadium. It's going to cost you $20 at least to park and realize ahead of time that most of the lots/garages are valet so be prepared to hop out of the car once you pick your lot. There is a garage right across from the Rock that you park your own car, DH probably remembers the name but I can't recall.

Food wise, they actually have a pretty good variety there considering it is an arena and all. It's not cheap though by any means . Eating for a game or concert makes disney look like dollar store! I think a soda is like $4.50 or something ridiculous like that. The last few times we were there we just had dinner at the restaurant, it was $100 for the two of us but honestly we could spend that on fried icky food which we would have to eat off of our laps anyway

I do love that they have cup holders built into the seats, I don't love that the seats are teeny.

Have Fun! Oh yeah, on the prudential center website they list a bunch of the parking places around so you can see ahead of time where you might want to park.

 

[rflorek]

I do love that they have cup holders built into the seats, I don't love that the seats are teeny.

That's true - the seats are not Pooh-friendly

 

[LisaNJ25]

I would pre-buy your parking. I do that everytime we go. If you get stuck in the parking garage get there early. There is nothing worst than getting stuck on the top level. You will be there forever, My favorite spot is parking lot 14 i believe. Its a flat lot right buy the door.

Some seats are more pooh friendly than others.

 

[JerseyGirl84]

I would pre-buy your parking. I do that everytime we go. If you get stuck in the parking garage get there early. There is nothing worst than getting stuck on the top level. You will be there forever, My favorite spot is parking lot 14 i believe. Its a flat lot right buy the door.

Some seats are more pooh friendly than others.

I agree prepay your parking and you don't have to worry about driving around looking for an open lot. I've been there twice by myself with my 2 kids (idols concert) and my 13 year old with 4 of her friends (rock band live). Another time I wend with my sister and 2 of her friends to see Celine Dion. I wanted to be safe with kids, so we just ate in the arena. It was fine, not too pricey.

Of course I have to add that we waited after the american idols concert for autographs and left the arena perimeter almost 2 hours after the concert ended and the police force was no longer a big presence. We had to walk a couple blocks to our car. I was nervous, but didn't let on. All was quiet around the arena and it was almost midnight. The next time I pre paid for the garage lot - which has a direct entrance into the arena. Since I had 5 kids with me and only 1 was mine, I wasn't taking any chances. I do love the Prudential Center and it is very easy to get to.