A new name for the arena, but not many big names come to visit
Our arena just got a third name. First it was the Sovereign Bank Arena when it was built in 1999, then in 2009 it became the Sun National Bank Center, and just as I was getting used to calling it that, it up and changed its name again to the Cure Insurance Arena the other day.
Well, I’m never calling it the Cure Insurance Arena. It’s a weird name. Nothing against Cure Insurance, based in West Windsor. I’m sure they’re a fine group of people, and their billboards are cute. But I’m just not going to get attached to something that’s bound to change again in a few years. (To be fair, I call Citi Field “Shea Stadium,” even though they are two completely different ballparks.)
But anyway, yes, I bet the name will change again in the future, and it’s probably because the arena, which used to be hopping, is currently limping. There used to a be a minor league hockey team that kept the place humming in fall and winter, and legit top-tier acts — Britney Spears, Cher, Justin Bieber, Elton John, KISS — would come through on their tours. LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony came through as high school students to play basketball. Bruce Springsteen came to check out Jon Bon Jovi practice, then ended up playing a show. Nancy Kerrigan, Katarina Witt, top ice skaters. The NCAA women’s tournament. The list goes on and on.
Anyway you look at it, A-list talent was coming to Trenton on a regular basis.
These days, though, not so much. A look at the upcoming calendar shows a whole lot of blah.
In October, a cheerleading competition, the “Garden Bros. Circus” (yeah, I never heard of it
Believe me, as a resident, I’d love to see nothing more than the arena come roaring back with minor league franchises and major league talent. ... Basically, the Cure Insurance Arena needs a cure. Or The Cure. Are they still touring?
either), and a second cheerleading competition. And that’s it.
Scheduled for November? Five cheerleading competitions and the touring Disney show. December? A second touring Disney show and the Indoor Dirt Nationals, which I will admit sounds pretty cool.
The next big act scheduled to come through is country singer Justin Moore in February, and if you’re anything like me, you just said, “Yeah, I never heard of Justin Moore either.”
Not entirely sure what happened to the arena and why the A-listers have turned us into seeya-laters. So I asked.
“The concert business has gotten very competitive these days,” said Mike Scanlon, who was the original general manager of the arena and is currently the senior vice president for Spectra, the Comcast subsidiary that runs the arena. “Casinos that have come on board have really changed the landscape. They have the ability to pay more to artists, to take more risks, and if they do suffer a loss on the ticket sales, they can make it up with hotel room nights and slot machines. That definitely has been the biggest change in the last 1015 years.”
So while A-listers leave us for Scranton, Scanlon does point out a not-so-obvious fact: Foot traffic has stayed relatively constant throughout the years thanks to more community-centric events (like graduations) and hosting the Conventions of Jehovah’s Witness. In short: Economically speaking, hotel rooms are still being booked, restaurants are still serving meals.
And the current GM, Fran Rodowicz, has an Atlantic City background and is already putting it to good use, with The Killers just completing 10 days at the arena practicing for their upcoming tour.
“We’re working on being more creative with deals and trying to bring that type of content back to the arena,” Rodowicz said.
He also told me they are looking into the possibility of bringing minor league hockey back to town.
Believe me, as a resident, I’d love to see nothing more than the arena come roaring back with minor league franchises and major league talent. Doesn’t sound like it’s going to happen overnight, but the arena is here to stay and you never know what tomorrow will bring.
Basically, the Cure Insurance Arena needs a cure. Or The Cure. Are they still touring?