Meadowlands Sports Complex through the years... and beyond

By nancy.willmore

  • (NJSEA): New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority created to oversee fnancing and constrution of the Meadowlands Complex

    In the mid-1960s, civic leaders in New Jersey began calling for a sports complex in the New Jersey Meadowlands that would lure a National Football League team from New York City. The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority Law was passed by the New Jersey Legislature in 1971.

  • Contruction on Giants Stadium and the Meadowlands Racetrack begin

    Werbiln, first chairman of the NJSEA secured a deal for the New York Giants to play in Meadowlands. The Giants were playing in Yankee's stadium in the Bronx

  • First complex venue opens

    Meadowlands Racetrack opens to a 42,133 crowd

  • Giants Stadium opens

    Giant Stadium opens with 76,042 fans watching the Giants play against the Dallas Cowboys.
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    Giants Stadium

    Opened to a 76,042 crowd Oct. 10, 1976, demolished after 2009 season and replaced by Metlife Stadium in 2010.

  • Izod Center opened as Brendan Byrne Arena

    Home to NBA NJ Nets and NHL NJ Devils for a quarter-century. Arena closed to public last year.

  • New York Jets move to Meadowlands

  • American Dream Meadowlands proposed

    Project first proposed in 2003 by the Mills Corporation under the name "Meadowlands Xanadu"

  • Giants Stadium demolished

    After 2009 season, replaced with new $1.6 billion stadium

  • MetLife Stadium, then called New Meadowlands Stadium opens

    Privately built and funded by NFL teams Giants and Jets

  • Triple Five Group, owners of "Mall of America" complete deal with NJSEA to assume ownership of Mall

    the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority completed a deal with Triple Five Group, which currently owns two of North America's largest malls—West Edmonton Mall and Mall of America. Triple Five assumed ownership of the Meadowlands Mall and renamed it to "American Dream Meadowlands"

  • New Racetrack Grandstand opened

    Privately financed grandstand cost $88 million to build and can seat 2,200, opened for racing to an estimated crowd of 15,000 in attendance.

  • MetLife Stadium hosts Super Bowl XLVIII

    First Super Bowl played outdoors in a cold-weather city.

  • The Hackensack Meadowlands Agency Consolidation Act (S2490) signed

    New Jersey Gov. Christie signs bill merging the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority with the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission. The merged agency will be called the Meadowlands Regional Commission.