Dahday’s Five Favorite IZOD Center Memories
March 10, 2015
Opened in 1981 as Brendan Byrne Arena, IZOD Center hosted its last concert on March 8, 2015. True the Meadowlands stood the butt of many jokes related to its crazy swatches of parking, the construction-laced traffic patterns and the losing ways of the New Jersey Nets, but the arena hosted great moments throughout the decades. These are five of our favorite:
Wu Tang Clan – August 20, 1997:
The arena may be most associated with Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi concerts, but it was also the home of many a hip hop concert, like this classic Wu Tang show in 1997:
http://youtu.be/QkVGNHuVpm0?t=6m39s
New Jersey Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers – Game 3 of the NBA Finals, June 2, 2002:
After decades of mostly futility, the Jason Kidd-led New Jersey Nets rose to the class of the NBA’s Eastern Conference the 2001-2002 season, hosting its first ever NBA Finals game. Newark native Shaquille O’Neal and superstar Kobe Bryant led the new Showtime Lakers to a Game 3 victory and eventually swept the series, but the energy in the arena — then called Continental Airlines Arena — was something to remember for Nets fans:
New Jersey Nets vs. San Antonio Spurs – Game 4 of the NBA Finals, June 11, 2003:
The next season, Kidd and Company maintained their status in the east, winning the conference finals for the chance to face Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs. The Nets would win its first ever NBA Finals home game before eventually losing to the Spurs in six games:
UCONN vs. Clemson – 1990 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Eastern Regional Semifinal, March 22, 1990
UCONN was in the midst of a Cinderella season, going from also-rans in the tough Big East Conference to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Clemson Tigers were looking to play the role of spoiler, led by two future NBA stalwarts Elden Campbell and Dale Davis. However, the Huskies — thanks to star guard Tate George and passer Scott Burrell — had destiny on their side. Imagine the office pools that were destroyed after this play…
Chris Brown and Trey Songz – February 21, 2015:
There was uncertainly as to whether Chris Brown’s “Between the Sheets” tour would make its scheduled stop at IZOD Center, but indeed he rocked the house one last time last month. Here is Brown and Trey Songz performing 12 Play to lots of screaming female fans:
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