If the arena is farther away, it can be a hassle. The concourses are narrow, and fans face long concession and restroom lines. There are no amenities such as the Pepsi Center's club-level seats. The Meadowlands has no train service, which would be available in Newark. There's a reason the Avalanche are always sold out, and its not just because the team is winning.
New arenas can be an attraction in and of themselves.
The blue-collar city has struggled for decades with a downtrodden reputation. In much the same way Coors Field helped push the redevelopment of Denver's Lower Downtown, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center has symbolized Newark's downtown economic recovery. The center attracted nearly 561,000 visitors to its events last year. But moving the team to Newark is a difficult proposition. The Meadowlands also is home to the National Football League's New York Giants and Jets, and a racetrack.