Fans Go Nose to Nose on New Stadium

The New Meadowlands Stadium cost a pretty penny ($1.6 billion) to construct, and drew a winning Super Bowl bid (New Jersey will host the event in 2014), but does the stadium actually improve on its predecessor? We ask the fans what they think. (Photos by Colin Archer)

Although the NFL may consider the Giants and Jets to be New York teams, we prefer to regard them as Jersey’s own. There’s no arguing that their new stadium (the future home of Super Bowl XLVIII, 2014) has a Jersey zip code. That doesn’t mean all Jersey football fans agree the $1.6 billion New Meadowlands Stadium improves on its predecessor, Giants Stadium. Gone are the blue and red seats and escalators to each floor; here to stay are four 40-by-130-foot LED video screens, 490 bathrooms, more than 530 concessions stands, nearly 2,000 more seats, and those pricey, pesky personal seat licenses (PSLs). What do fans think? We headed to East Rutherford on two successive weekends to find out.

Rob Fulmer, 38, Toms River
“I think the new stadium is beautiful. My first time in it was very emotional. It was something that I wanted for a long time—for the Jets to not have to play in Giants Stadium. That was very important to me.”

Patrick Fusco, 39, Jersey City
“The bad thing about sharing the stadium? It’s grey. The old stadium was blue and red, and now it’s drab. There could at least be some football images or something. It truly looks still unfinished.”

Joyce Dixon, 54, Marlboro
“I don’t like the parking. If you pay for a PSL, you shouldn’t have to get here so early and fight for parking when the VIP lot is empty. That’s not right. What makes them so much better? It all comes down to money.”

Richard McGaw, 47, Montclair
“The seats are better, especially the cupholders. And the restrooms are cleaner and bigger, without much of a line. But to me, it’s not Meadowlands Stadium. It’s Giants Stadium. It will always be Giants Stadium.”

Rick Pearce, 53, North Arlington
“They made a mistake with the cost of the PSLs and individual game tickets. It’s out of control for the average blue-collar worker. I’ve had season tickets for 30 years, but I don’t know how long I’ll be able to hang on.”

Pat Smith, 34, Bayville
“We were on the waiting list for season tickets since the ’80s, but with the new stadium, there’s more seats. And with the PSLs, a lot of the older season-ticket holders bailed, opening up the opportunity for us.”

Lauren Collins, 35, Hoboken
“I think the old one was fine, but from a modern perspective, the new stadium is a bit more hip. They have the four big screens and an abundance of shopping. So you upgrade, move on, and make new memories.”

Drew Barry, 51, Middletown
“I like the bowl. I like to be out in the elements. People go in the booths, and I say you can keep the damn booths. I want to be in the trenches with everybody else, screaming and yelling.”

Danielle Mastrogiovanni, 28, Newton
“Access in and out is not very good. What I miss about the old stadium is that every level had its own escalator. Now we’re all herding into the same escalator and it backs up cause everyone is zigzagging around.”

Kevin Hannon, 51, Landing
“One of the problems is all of the bars and restaurants inside the stadium. I mean, you’re going in to watch a football game. If you want to attract fans, put them outside somewhere and save that space for seating.”

Robert Katz, 41, Wayne
“I just don’t understand why they put the same exact stadium next door. I don’t think it’s an improvement. If you’re going to put up a new stadium, put a retractable dome on it. Give me a reason to say it’s different.”

Samantha Batista, 32, Waterbury, CT
“I like it, especially because now they have a family bathroom. I have a son. But imagine if you’re a father and you have to take your daughter into the men’s room? Now you can go just you and your daughter.”

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