Politically incorrect to tell the truth now?

Question

Barry Melrose took heat for his statements recently about the new Devils arena- specifically, it's location.

The link- http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=AoQrbJOdRlI18rjJPa4l5Ft7vLYF?slug=ap-melroseremarks&prov=ap&type=lgns

I have posted questions on here recently because I am heading to the new arena this week and I could not find a decent place in the Newark area- I went and read reviews from people who have stayed at the hotels- cars stolen-robberies-hookers-crackheads etc. It is not an area I wanted to stay.
Ironically, I am staying in East Rutherford, close to the Devil's old home. How stupid is that? Put a brand new state of the art arena where people do not want to venture.
Oh, I understand their stupid line of thought- bring people to that area. Well, people don't want to go. Very stupid thought process.
Also, WTF is Barry Melrose apoligizing for? Telling the truth? He and the mayor may tour the area- it would be funny if they got robbed. Stupid.

Haley- I think the Yahoo article lists ESPN as the source so relly it is an ESPN article- not positive but I think it said so. Cheers

Haley- Actually it is AP but it is the same article.


I am saying as my perspective, as a tourist- I have passed through Jersey, been to Meadowlands area, been through the Newark airport but the arena area does not sound tourist friendly or that it will be any time soon. For that matter, people from other parts of Jersey are probably reluctant to go. Going to lead to bad numbers and therefore IMO, a bad idea.

Haley- It did say that he based it on the TSN story because he had never been. I thought it meant the arena.
Hard to believe Barry Melrose has never been to Newark, although maybe not I guess-besides the airport anyway. Why would anyone go there I guess? Oh yeah, the new rink-which many will avoid, especiallly when you can't stay safely nearby.
All reviews say go back to your hotal directly and do not venture out.
Just seems stupid to me. Think of families too.

Answer 1

Only way it works is if they do it in the way the Yankees do. I would rather be in Newark than in the Bronx any time, except when there's a Yankees game. From about 2 hours before gametime until about an hour after gametime, there is no safer part of NY than the South Bronx. The police presence there is like a war zone. As a result, all the Yankees fans from NJ and LI come home safe and have a good time (if you don't mind hours in a stadium that looks like mold and smells like urine).

With enough police presence around the arena, it could work.

Answer 2

I, too, heard the plan was to revitalize that area. I don't know enough information to make any sort of prediction as to whether that plan will follow through successfully...

I do know of a similar example though:
Building a new arena for the Penguins just across the street from the old one is already having a positive affect on the community. Uptown, where the arena is located, isn't rundown, but the Mellon Arena has the Hill District all around it. The Hill District's, uh... not a nice place. HOWEVER, the new arena deal and its construction has provided jobs for people and really has been a fire-starter for rennovating the area. Even plans to build a grocery store there is big deal for a place like the Hill District.

Pittsburgh's not Newark though. Sounds like they have A LOT of work to do there. Then a lot of convincing, because you're right, people aren't going to want to go there.

A picture taken during the National Anthem at the last Pens/Devils game in NJ: http://bp3.blogger.com/_fw7iF68JR8k/RzAJPmMnQNI/AAAAAAAAHng/SH3yO8aUDsA/s1600-h/-6.jpeg

One of the big Pittsburgh papers said this:
" If it's any consolation to the Devils, they were able to suffer pretty much in private in the building they and the City of Newark spent about $375 million to build.

Erecting a state-of-the-art arena was one way to use that money. Another would have been to give $1 million to each fan who showed up there last night.

The announced attendance was 14,032, but that total represented either tickets-in-circulation or an arms-and-legs (as opposed to a head) count, because at least half of the 17,625 seats were empty.

"It was surprising," Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik said. "A beautiful new arena. I was surprised by the lack of a crowd."

And the decibel level was lower than the body count. There are religious services that are more rowdy.

"I think it'd be tough be New Jersey and look around and not see a whole lot of people, and it's not overly loud," Penguins forward Erik Christensen said. "

Answer 3

New Jersey did the same thing with their minor league arena complex in Trenton. The arenas revitalized the waterfront in the area. While the area immediately surrounding the hockey and baseball stadiums is thriving, however it has done little if anything to improve the conditions in the rest of the city. There was a short term boost during the construction period since there were higher paying jobs available. However, the seasonal types of jobs available once construction was finished and the teams were in place was not able to sustain it. Perhaps the higher tax income from a major sports franchise will make more of a difference but I doubt it.

EDIT: Mike, the trolls have been very active lately. I received violation for a question about rockering on a hockey skate last week. It couldn't have been any more hockey related.

Answer 4

I don't think anyone needs to apologize for their opinion. Even if I agree or disagree with them.

I think the idea is for the new arena to attract more businesses to revitalize Newark. In time, that should make the area safer than it is now. It's what the proponents of the proposed soccer stadium in Delaware County, PA have used to promote the idea.

The city of Chester was once an industrial giant in the 40's and 50's but as businesses left so did many people. In their place, property values plummeted and so did the quality of life. Chester is still a crime ridden city, much worse than it was when I was living there while growing up in the 60's. But they built a new casino and horse racing track to bring jobs and prosperity back to the area. While a good argument can be made for the county tax dollars being spent on schools and social programs the same can be said for how a sports stadium can affect a blighted area.

In time, Newark will benefit from the new arena, but the greater concern to me is how one cannot express how they feel about something.

Answer 5

Having grown up in NJ, I can tell you that Newark is the unwashed butthole of that state. Probably the only thing Newark has going for it is an airport that is slightly cheaper than JFK and LaGuardia.

I know someone mentioned Camden, NJ as well - the same revitilization was attempted there. It succeeded in clearing up the immediate areas around the waterfront, but nothing else.

Answer 6

I guess I am going to champion the unpopular opinion.

Melrose has never been to Newark, so I think he took an unfair swipe at the city. Of course he's entitled to his opinion, but there is a time and place for everything. He was taping a segment for ESPN when he made those comments. ESPN does not pay him to be a social commentator.

Basically, I think it is uncalled for when a sport's commentator makes political/social statements while representing a network, regardless if I agree or disagree. Melrose is probably right, but he used the wrong forum.

Answer 7

Wow, they can go down in history as the only NHL squad to see attendance go down after moving into a spanking new arena. They've never heard the real estate mantra "location location location"? They just listen to "If you build it they will come" that's baseball (and the movies). What will they do now? Offer a shuttle bus service to and from the old rink? "Relax, enjoy the game, and your car will still be there after the second period!" Well if all else fails the most travelled team can come full circle, Kansas City still wants their Scouts back, I hear.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Hey, gentrification is not an overnight prospect. If you have the time on your visit, cross the river to nyc and visit the Chelsea region, specifically Chelsea Piers.

That facility stands as an example of private investment and local government getting together to create a destination point that has successfully helped revitalize an entire region of the city over the course of a decade.

I don't know if the new arena will have a similar impact since the two facilities have vastly different usage rates, but you can't condemn the effort quite yet.

With that said, I won't be parking around that arena anytime soon. lol

Answer 10

I think the idea of putting the Arena where it is was hoping that it would class up the area around it with some decent sports bars instead of run down watering holes.

I don't think its politically incorrect to call a spade a spade. They put there arena in a place where you have to lock your doors and roll up your windows to get through safely. Any surprise attendance is going down?