Devils Sold

A group headed by investment banker Joshua Harris is the new owner of the New Jersey Devils hockey team and its home arena, the Prudential Center in Newark, Harris announced a deal between previous owner Jeff Vanderbeek and the group Aug. 15 at the 17,500-seat venue.

Photo: AP Photo / Mike Derer
Rights to operate the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., change hands with the sale of the New Jersey Devils hockey team to a group headed by investment banker Joshua Harris, it was announced at the venue Aug. 15.

“It is with great pride that I stand here today at the Prudential Center … and share with you the sense of excitement we have as the new owners of the New Jersey Devils,” Harris said. “I can assure everyone here that David [Blitzer, co-owner] and I take the responsibility for being stewards oft his great franchise seriuosly and we look forward to building excitement on and off the ice.”

The deal’s finer points came together in the days prior to the announcement, according to the NHL.

Scott O’Neil takes over as the team’s CEO and will lead the business side of the organization.

Vanderbeek remains on board as a senior adviser. Vanderbeek settled a long-running revenue-sharing dispute with the city of Newark in February.

The Prudential Center opened in 2007.