Outdoor return to Meadowlands could be catalyst to New Jersey Devils playoff push

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey – Before the New Jersey Devils bus pulled up to Metlife Stadium on Saturday it rolled past a reminder of the franchise’s past. 

The old Meadowlands Arena, previously known as Brendan Byrne Arena and then Continental Airlines Arena, is still standing. It hasn’t hosted a hockey game since 2007 and last hosted a sporting event in 2010. It officially closed to the public in 2015, fading into the background as a massive mall was built around it. 

The building – which looks too clean to be condemned, but clearly doesn’t get regular use – is a ghost from Devils history sitting less than half a mile from the NFL stadium where the Devils won 6-3 against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night. 

It’s where the Devils had their glory years, reaching the playoffs 18 times an