In what could be a key step in the development of a $3 billion convention center that would anchor the Meadowlands — and serve as a destination for the region and the state — the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday revealed renderings and site designs for a long-proposed facility.
The project would have a number of additive features that could bring approximately $30 billion in economic activity over the next 30 years, including:
- A 300,000-square-foot exhibit hall (that could be divided into three 100,000 SF halls);
- A 60,000-square-foot main ballroom (the biggest in the state);
- 100,000 square feet of meeting space (including 75 breakout rooms);
- A 1,000-key headquarters hotel (part of a desire to bring 2,000 rooms to the sports complex);
- A 70,000-square-foot outdoor terrace (and plenty of green space, which would be welcome addition to the area);
- And 2,000 parking spaces (because you can never have enough).
More than that, it would have 6,000-seat flexible arena that would be ideal for drawing out-of-town youth sporting events (think volleyball, basketball and cheerleading competitions).
(Get more details and watch a cool video of what the area will look like here.)
Meadowlands Chamber CEO Jim Kirkos, who has been pushing this concept for more than a decade, told BINJE he was thrilled it took another step forward.
“Before we had concepts of what it could be, we had renderings — now we have a site design,” he said. “Now we can start to plan definitely what needs to happen next.”
What happens next is more due diligence — sharing the site plans with local stakeholders and elected officials to get feedback and buy-in.
Kirkos said he hopes to have an even more thorough presentation to give to Gov. Mikie Sherrill in the first week of May — or before the area is consumed by the World Cup and her time is taken over by budget discussions.
Funding, of course, is a key.
The project, a capital investment, would not be part of budget discussions, though the project will require more funding from the state to continue its progress — figure an additional $2 million in funding that adds to the $2.5 million the state already has appropriated for studies.
The project will require the issue of bonds to pay for the initial construction.
Those involved say the state’s improved credit rating makes it more affordable — plus the ability to lease the hotel to a national vendor could provide additional funding.
In a best-case scenario, an RFP could be issued by the end of the year. A 2–3-year build — complete with more than 5,000 union jobs — would follow, creating a potential ribbon-cutting in 2030.
State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge), who represents the area and is the Senate Budget Chair, said he is squarely behind the project. Sarlo pointed to the ancillary benefits that will come to all of the businesses in the district.
The key, Sarlo said, is to ensure that the project’s benefits for the entire state are well known.
Ron Simoncini, the CEO of Axiom Communications and the lead consultant on the project, said recent studies show that will be the case.
Simoncini explained how the convention center would not compete with the Javits Center in New York (the only convention center in the area) or the Prudential Center in Newark (which is bigger and draws different events).
“Everything here is additive,” he said.
Kirkos said he was grateful for the support the project has received from Sarlo and the positive feedback he has received from elected officials up and down the state.
“We want what’s good for the state,” he said.
A new convention center — one that could the area attract another Super Bowl, be used in connection to major events at MetLife Stadium (think Taylor Swift, Bruce of Beyonce fan fests), not to mention being able to stand on its own (the facility could be in use on more than 300 dates per year) — will accomplish all that, he said.
“Since we started this project, I’ve been looking for a reason why this won’t work, why this won’t be an incredible economic engine for the region and the state,” he said. “I haven’t found one.”
