At the nearby Meadowlands arena, the team's home, about 50 more waited, many of them people who work for the franchise.

One reason is that the Meadowlands arena is a relatively small one for such a big event, with just 18,500 seats.

As the game today at the Meadowlands Arena proved, the conference's coaches are no better seers than anyone else.

"Whitman didn't have time to address the issue of what should happen to the Meadowlands arena," said Mayor James.

It was in 1989 at the Meadowlands Arena.

All say they hope the 250,000-square-foot complex can do for Newark and the arts what the Meadowlands arenas did for sports.

This season, Meadowlands Arena was sold out five times for games that did not involve the Rangers.

He brings his Magic show into Meadowlands Arena tonight, where the franchise record for home sellouts in a season is likely to grow to 15.

Oct. 3-5, Meadowlands Arena, 201 507-8900 or 212 307-7171.

In his seventh season there, his team finally won the national college championship two months ago in the same Meadowlands arena where the Nets play.