Prudential Center - Seton Hall Pirates
- Justin Cayea
- Jan 18
- 5 min read
Photos by Justin Cayea, Stadium Journey
Prudential Center FANFARE Score: 4.00
Prudential Center 25 Lafayette St Newark, NJ 07102
Year Opened: 2007 Capacity: 18,711
The Hall at The Rock
Home to one of the best atmospheres in the Big East, the Prudential Center is the home of Seton Hall Men's Basketball. Seton Hall University is a Catholic institution located roughly 5 miles away from the Prudential Center in East Orange, New Jersey.
The Prudential Center opened in 2007 and is home to the Seton Hall Men's Basketball team and the National Hockey League's New Jersey Devils. The Prudential Center also hosts a variety of concerts and different events throughout the year.
The venue has also earned the distinguished honor of being included in the Front Office Sports Best Venues List for being recognized for its technology, fan experience, and design. Since the arena's opening in 2007, the venue has received the nickname “The Rock” in reference to the Rock of Gibraltar, the corporate logo of the arena's sponsor, Prudential Financial.
Food & Beverage 4
Inside the Prudential Center, you will find a wide variety of food and beverage options while attending a men's basketball game. You will notice that some of the concession stands will be closed. If you are looking for tacos and a Latin-inspired meal, you can stop by the Goya Catina.
The arena also offers New Jersey Boardwalk-style meals, where you can find cheesesteaks, sausage & peppers, as well as Funnel Cake Fries. There are also concessions throughout the arena where you can find your traditional arena food like hot dogs, tenders, pizza, and popcorn. As for the prices, they are a little bit on the high side, but not any higher than your typical large sports arena.
The prices for food average between $15 to $20. If you are looking for an alcoholic beverage, Rock Whiskey seems to be the most popular bar spot where you can find beer, seltzers, and mixed drinks. Expect to pay a premium here, with the cost of beer being around 15 dollars and mixed drinks starting at 20 dollars. There are also the grab-and-go concessions with snacks, sodas, and beer that are spread about the arena as well.
Atmosphere 5
The atmosphere in The Rock during a Seton Hall Men's Basketball game is electric. The arena blocks off the top level of the seating area, so all people in attendance are in the lower bowl to create a better and louder environment. The student section, located under the basket on the visitor's side of the court, definitely makes an impact on games.
The cheerleaders, dance team, and Seton Hall's mascot, The Pirate, lead the way in providing the atmosphere. The atmosphere feels lively and authentic to a Big East matchup, giving fans a sense that they’re right on Seton Hall's campus.
Neighborhood 3
The Prudential Center is located in Newark, New Jersey. Newark is 9 miles outside of Manhattan. The arena is in a densely urban area, with a lot of foot traffic around the arena. With that said, it is definitely smart to pay attention to your surroundings while wandering around the neighborhoods that surround the arena.
If you are looking to grab a bite to eat before or after the game, Redd's Biergarten and American Whiskey are located right next to the arena on Market Street and offer good game-day vibes. If you are looking for a meal without the gameday vibes, the Chateau of Spain restaurant is located just a few blocks away on Hill Street.
There is also a Wendy's, IHOP, Domino's, and a Blaze Pizza close by if you are looking for something quicker. There is a Courtyard by Marriott that is attached to the Hyundai parking deck if you are looking for a place to stay for the night.
Fans 5
The average attendance for Seton Hall’s home games for the 2025-26 season has been right around 10,000 fans. The only negative to the games being played at the Prudential Center, as I have stated, is that it is not on campus. With that being said, the fans of Seton Hall men's basketball still show up for their team. The fans were invested and loud from the first tip all the way to the end of the game.
Access 5
Accessing the Prudential Center is fairly easy by train or by car. The Newark Penn Station stop is within walking distance and is located off McCarty Highway, just a few blocks away from the arena, which has a New Jersey Transit Train that will take you either into New York City at Penn Station or out towards the Newark Liberty International Airport.
You can also take the PATH train, which will bring you into NYC and drop you off near One World Trade Center. If you are looking to drive to the arena, there is a Hyundai parking deck that is connected to the arena, as well as many different public parking areas that surround the arena that vary in price. The only negative of driving is if you are coming in for a weekday evening game, expect a decent amount of NYC and Newark rush hour traffic.
Return on Investment 3
The prices of tickets and food can be high for the marquee Big East games, so if you are looking to catch a game for a lower price, your non-conference games and non-rivalry Big East games will be your best bang for your buck.
Extras 3
The biggest extra for the Prudential Center is the location outside of New York City. If you are looking to spend a day in the city with a game afterward, it is very easy to do. For hockey fans, there is a Martin Brodeur statue outside the main entrance of the arena. For fans looking for Seton Hall merchandise, there is a merchandise stand on the main concourse outside of section 19. In between timeouts, you will see various on-court games, as well as a T-shirt toss by the cheer squad.
Final Thoughts
I wasn't sure about how I felt about a college team playing in a big arena, but I was pleasantly surprised by how things turned out. The closing of the top level of the arena gave it a smaller, more intimate feeling for the fans. Seton Hall and the Prudential Center should be in the discussion for one of the best venues in the tri-state area to catch a college basketball game. If you are in the area and looking for some good basketball, you can definitely find it at the Prudential Center and Seton Hall Men's Basketball.
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