Newark Mayor Cory Booker Welcomes New York Liberty To Prudential Center
NEWARK, NJ (WCBS 880) - Madison Square Garden is undergoing a renovation, which means the New York Liberty WNBA team will be playing at the Prudential Center in Newark.
WCBS 880's Levon Putney With Mayor Booker
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Newark Mayor Cory Booker is thrilled the team will be playing at The Rock for the next three seasons.
"It's a tremendous shot in the arm, both in spirit, inspiration for the young people, thousands of free tickets for our folks and then financially to the bottom line, it creates more jobs, more economic opportunity. I'm thrilled by it," he said.
Booker still hopes the city can one day be a permanent home for an NBA team.
The Nets are playing in Newark while their new home - the Barclays Center - is constructed in Brooklyn.
Seton Hall also plays there and it hosted NCAA regionals this March.
"How many other arenas would ever have four courts down in less than three months?" said arena chairman Jeff Vanderbeek. "It's just another way for events at The Rock to touch the youth of Newark."
"It'll be a role model for all the kids that are around," says forward Essence Carson, a former Rutgers University star and Paterson native who is happy to be back in New Jersey.
"The fans of sports in New Jersey, they're known for their great support," she says.
If you're counting, this makes at least four teams playing in New Jersey under a New York name - the Liberty, the Red Bulls, the Giants, and the Jets.
