The Devils through parent company Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment have invested in the NWHL and formed a partnership with its Riveters franchise. With the partnership, HBSE and the Devils will become a co-owner of the Riveters, and the team will be rebranded as the Metropolitan Riveters. The deal marks the first time an NHL team is partnering in the business of an NWHL franchise. The alliance will aim to support the growth of the NWHL, as well as increase the development of girl's and women's hockey in New Jersey. The Devils and Prudential Center will also share operational management with the Riveters, including marketing, sponsorship and ticket sales, events and game presentation. The team will continue to play at the Devils' training facility, the Barnabas Health Hockey House in Newark, which it did last season. As part of the new alliance, the Devils and Riveters will hold a doubleheader Oct. 28 at Prudential Center, hosting the Riveters' season opener at 1:30pm ET, followed by the Devils game at 7:00pm. Season-ticket holders for either team will receive seats for both, while fans will be able to purchase special tickets to attend both. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed (Ian Thomas, Staff Writer). In N.Y., Seth Berkman notes the rebranded Riveters' uniforms "will change from a red, white and blue color scheme to the Devils' red, black and white." NWHL Commissioner Dani Rylan said that the Devils will "promote Riveters events on television broadcasts, arena displays and online media platforms." Rylan: "We expect this deal to be a large domino, not only in our current markets but in future expansion markets as well. We think this is ultimately going to change our trajectory significantly" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/5).
