Metropolitan Riveters to play home games at New Jersey megamall American Dream

The Premier Hockey Federation’s Metropolitan Riveters will play their home games at the American Dream, a megamall in New Jersey, starting this season, the team announced Wednesday.

The Riveters have entered into a three-year agreement to hold all practices and home games at the American Dream’s NHL-sized arena, which can hold about 2,000 spectators. The rink is located near an indoor water park, a Ferris wheel, and several corridors of retail stores.

“They have a tremendous number of attractions,” Frank Supovitz, a fan experience consultant for the Riveters, told ESPN. “It’s an entertainment center that’s geared toward every member of the family. And that’s what the experience of a Riveters game is going to fold into so nicely.”

The American Dream is in East Rutherford, next to the arena where the New Jersey Devils played from 1982 to 2007. The Riveters have played their home games at the Devils’ practice field in Newark since 2016.

Riveters president Digit Murphy said the relationship with American Dream started when the team held practice there last season, but she initially had some reservations about using the mall for home games.

“I’m like, ‘Our team doesn’t play in a mall,’” Murphy said. “But then I went down there and it was like being in Disney [World]. I thought, ‘We’ll definitely be playing here next season.’ The Devils’ training facility was fantastic, but this was an offer we couldn’t refuse.”

Ticket plans are still being worked out. On the first floor near the ice rink will be two rows of seats. The second floor will have “premium seating” at tables, with tickets that may include food, merchandise and player meetings as perks. The Riveters expect the third level of the mall to be open to pedestrians and spectators.

“There’s an opportunity to spread excitement among people who didn’t know they were going to have a hockey experience when they woke up that morning,” Supovitz said.

The Riveters said they expect shoppers at the American Dream to try their games without buying a ticket. Along with the open third floor above the rink, there are blocked viewing areas on other levels that are part of the public site.

“We are not going to kick people out to watch the game, especially because our first priority is to expose the game [to new fans]Murphy said.

There are also plans to integrate aspects of the mall into the gaming experience and vice versa. Murphy said premium tickets could include discounts to other attractions at the American Dream, which include an indoor theme park, water park and aquarium. The riveters could promote stores inside the mall; Murphy suggested that players could participate in on-ice fashion shows, for example. The American Dream is expected to have Riveters merchandise available in the rink pro shop and at a kiosk inside the mall.

“The American Dream is committed to growing the game and supporting female athletes, and I am very excited to call the complex home for many years to come,” said Riveters captain Madison Packer. “It will truly redefine the gaming experience for sporting events and expand our reach to fans across the tri-state area.”

The Riveters’ home games at the American Dream will be announced later this month when PHF releases the 2022-23 regular season schedule.