Devils

The NFL Giants office building on Route 3, built by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority on the Meadowlands site.

As State Sen. Kevin O'Toole (R-Cedar Grove) prepares to introduce legislation that will stop professional sports teams who don't use New Jersey on their uniforms from receiving any public dollars, two key lawmakers today praised the New Jersey Devils for their state pride.

"The New Jersey Devils are a class organization who have made our great state their home. And we share in the pride that the words ‘New Jersey' represents in their name," said State Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Woodbridge).

Teams that play in New Jersey and don't use "NJ" on their uniforms are beginning to face criticism from public officials.  Earlier this week, O'Toole slammed the Nets for their decision to remove "NJ" from their team uniforms while on the road. 

Vitale is objecting to a super-sized "NY" that appears on the side of a Meadowlands office building that a state agency built for the Giants.

"It is my hope that the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority will feel that same level of pride and recognition that we all do by removing the ‘NY' logo from a building that real New Jerseyans have mostly paid for," Vitale told PolitickerNJ.com.

Last year, Assembly Majority Conference Leader Joan Quigley (D-Jersey City) strongly objected when the NY/NJ Metro Stars changed their team name to Red Bull New York after taxpayers helped the soccer franchise finance a $165 million stadium in Harrison.

"I've got to hand it to the Devils for not only making New Jersey home, but doing it with pride as other teams have kicked New Jersey around, even as they benefited from support from New Jersey fans and taxpayers," Quigley said.

But Gov. Jon Corzine said he is unlikely to support legislation to tie state funding to team uniforms.

"It would be an overreaction for us to demand that they put the logos on their jerseys. Would there be an advertising value for us if they put 'New Jersey' on their jerseys? Yes," Corzine told PolitickerNJ.com.

Another legislator, Assemblyman Michael Doherty (R-Oxford) says that he opposes the use of public funds to subsidize any professional sports teams, no matter what.

"I hope the Nets stay in New Jersey and we should not use any tax dollars to support professional sports teams regardless of whether they use New Jersey of their logo or not," said Doherty.

Senator Menendez lauds the New Jersey Devils for their support for the non-profit organization and local team

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez introduced a resolution in the Senate to honor Hockey in Newark and the New Jersey Devils for their important work in providing a solid foundation for dozens of Newark students through youth hockey programs.  The Newark-based National Hockey League team has helped give dozens of young Newark residents an opportunity to play hockey at the Prudential Center, allowing students, like the members of the Newark East Side Hockey Team, to trade downtime for sports and stay out of situations that could put their future in jeopardy.

Senate President Codey & Senate Republican Leader Kean to Present Resolution to the NHL’s All-Time Wins Leader as Hundreds of Fans Descend on State House

            TRENTON – The New Jersey Devils’ record-breaking goaltender Martin Brodeur will be honored with a resolution by the New Jersey State Senate in a special ceremony at the State House on Thursday, June 18, at 2 pm.  Prior to the Senate session, the sponsors of the resolution, Senate President Richard J. Codey and Senate Republican Leader Thomas H. Kean, Jr., will join Brodeur and top Devils officials for a press availability at 1:30 pm in room 103 of the State House, across from the Senate Chambers.