Daily Pulse

Giants Challenge Xanadu

The New York Giants were denied a court order August 5th to halt construction on the $1.3 billion Xanadu entertainment project in East Rutherford, N.J.’s Meadowlands Complex, but the team will still seek to have Xanadu closed on game days.

Team officials are worried the project will create traffic nightmares for the approximately 80,000 football fans who pack Giants Stadium, which is to share the Meadowlands with Xanadu.

The Giants have been negotiating with Xanadu developers on a deal governing how and when the entertainment complex will operate, but have been unable to reach an agreement.

Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon said the team’s next step is to sue for the right to enforce terms of its lease with the state.

According to the lease, the state sports authority cannot permit other facilities that would be in competition or conflict with the Giants’ use of the football stadium or parking and pedestrian areas during game days.

The lease specifically prohibits “any event in another portion of the sports complex which is scheduled on a game day and would commence within three hours after the estimated time of the end of a football game.”

Carl Goldberg, chairman of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, said he believes the state has not violated its lease with the Giants regarding other uses of the complex, but added, “Ultimately, it may be up to the courts to provide a full interpretation.”

The Giants recently reached an agreement with the state on a new, 80,000-seat stadium that would be ready for the 2009 season. The team plans to pay for the $750 million facility.

Earlier this year, the team sued to halt construction on Xanadu and force New Jersey to make “state of the art” renovations at Giants Stadium.

Construction is already under way on Xanadu, which is to include sports-themed theatres, bars, restaurants and retail outlets to be built around the Continental Airlines Arena.

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