Jets, Giants Worried About Traffic From American Dream Meadowlands Project

The NFL Giants and Jets are concerned that the American Dream Meadowlands entertainment complex "would intensify traffic around their home field, MetLife Stadium, worsening what is already the No. 1 complaint from fans,” according to Heather Haddon of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. At the heart of the dispute is "an indoor water and amusement park” that the complex' owner and developer, Triple Five, “has proposed in addition to the mall.” Sources said that the teams want developers “to shut down an amusement and water park on the days of their 20 home games during the regular and preseason.” The sources also said that if “that doesn't happen, the teams would consider a legal challenge.” Triple Five VP/Marketing Maureen Hooley Bausch said that the mall's main section “is supposed to open by early 2014 -- in time for the Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium.” The developers have said that the 14.7-acre water park “is important to making the complex a regional destination.” However, sources also said that the teams believe an ‘06 Memorandum of Cooperation among themselves, Triple Five and the New Jersey Sports & Exhibition Authority “gives the teams the right to block changes to the project that would have an adverse effect on their business” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/15).

JOINING FORCES: In New Jersey, John Brennan noted Gov. Chris Christie Thursday announced that the NJSEA “would become part of the Department of State, which is overseen by Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, with the lieutenant governor gaining a seat on the sports authority board.” The plan would “merge the state Division of Travel and Tourism in Trenton and the Motion Picture and Television Commission in Newark into the sports authority’s jurisdiction.” The changes would come as NJSEA “is in the process of turning over Monmouth Park to private interests on May 1.” The last facility to “go private would be Izod Center, which sports authority President Wayne Hasenbalg said could happen later this year” (Bergen RECORD, 3/16).