NEW YORK SIRENS TO PLAY HOME GAMES AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER IN 2024-25
The Big Apple’s team is going to be calling the Garden State home this season.
On Friday, the New York Sirens of the PWHL announced that the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey will be the team’s primary home venue for the 2024-25 season.
The Sirens played two games at the Prudential Center near the end of the league’s inaugural regular season, losing 2-1 to Boston on April 20 before beating Ottawa on April 30. It was part of a 2024 campaign in which New York experimented with where the team would fit best in the busy sports market.
“We saw last season how quickly Prudential Center and our loyal fans could create an electrifying atmosphere,” general manager Pascal Daoust said in a release. “Our players and staff are thrilled and can’t wait to play again in this high-class venue and call this place home for the upcoming season. We know our fans will be a driving force in our pursuit of excellence.”
Last season, New York played four games at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and six contests at the home of the New York Islanders, UBS Arena. The bouncing around didn’t help the team by any stretch, as they finished with the worst home record in the PWHL (3-1-1-7) and last overall with a 5-4-3-12 record. The team earned enough Gold Plan points to secure the first overall pick in this year’s PWHL Draft, picking former Princeton star Sarah Fillier in June.
As part of the new deal, the team will share its home arena with the New Jersey Devils. The Sirens will also call the Essex County Codey Arena their new training facility, which also houses the Devils.
Finding a stable home was a goal for the Sirens heading into the franchise’s second season. According to sources, players were frustrated with the constant travel to their “home games.” New York had to travel from its practice facility in Connecticut last year to Elmont, which is over an hour-long driver.
“Establishing Codey Arena,” head coach Greg Fargo explained. “…as our practice venue is a significant step in our ongoing commitment to providing the best possible environment for our team and players to grow and develop.”
This is not the first time a pro women’s hockey team will call New Jersey home. The Metropolitan Riveters of the old Premier Hockey Federation (formerly known as the National Women’s Hockey League) played around New Jersey during their history, including in the practice rink at the Prudential Center for a couple of seasons.
The 2024-25 PWHL schedule has yet to be announced. This season, each team will play 30 games, including neutral site games that have yet to be revealed.
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2024-09-13T14:18:24Z dg43tfdfdgfd