New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| State of New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority |
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| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1971 |
| Jurisdiction | New Jersey |
| Headquarters | 50 State Route 120, East Rutherford, NJ 07073 |
| Agency executives | Dennis R. Robinson, President & Chief Executive Officer Carl J. Goldberg, Chairman |
| Website | |
| http://www.njsea.com/ | |
The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) is an independent authority established by the State of New Jersey in 1971 to oversee the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Originally consisting of Giants Stadium and the Meadowlands Racetrack in 1976 the IZOD Center was added to the Complex in 1981. Its first Chairman and CEO was David A. "Sonny" Werblin. Its present Chairman is Carl Goldberg and its CEO is Dennis Robinson.
Over the years, the NJSEA's purview expanded to include Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport and the Wildwoods Convention Center in Wildwood. In Atlantic City, the Authority oversaw the construction and development of the Convention Center and the renovation of the historic Boardwalk Hall, the long-time home of the Miss America Pageant.
In the 1990s the NJSEA built the New Jersey State Aquarium (now known as the Adventure Aquarium) in Camden. The NJSEA also contributed to the construction of the Meadowlands Environment Center in Lyndhurst, just across Berry’s Creek from the Sports Complex.
The 16-member Board of Commissioners is appointed by the Governor to four-year terms, subject to confirmation by the New Jersey Senate and it includes three ex officio members: The Authority President, the State Treasurer and a designated representative of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission. The Authority holds regulary scheduled meeting which are open to the public. The minutes of all Authority meetings are subject to approval by the Governor.
The NJSEA facilities are home to the New York Giants, New York Jets, New Jersey Nets and are major venues for concerts and family shows. Since 1976, NJSEA buildings have hosted many major events including seven game of the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 1994, the NCAA Final Four, NFL Playoff games and Super Bowl championship celebrations, NBA Playoffs and Championship series, the Stanley Cup Finals, the Women’s World Cup, many international soccer matches including Pele's farewell game, a Papal Mass by Pope John Paul II and countless major concerts.
The Meadowlands Racetrack, a leading standardbred racing and simulcasting facility, is home to harness racing’s prestigious Hambletonian Stakes and hosts a fall thoroughbred meet.
Historic Monmouth Park is the site of a summer thoroughbred meet highlighted by the Haskell Invitational won in dramatic fashion in 2009 by the filly, Rachel Alexandra.
The NJSEA also operates the Off Track Wagering (OTW) facility, Favorites at Woodbridge, and has received approval to open a second OTW in Bayonne.
