NEWARK (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — The city of Newark numbers among the list of creditors complaining about what they allege to be unpaid bills on the Prudential Center, which opened last year as the new home for the New Jersey Devils.
According to City Officials, they are still waiting for the Devils to pay $41,625 for the installation of sewers at the venue among other bills, the Times of Trenton reported.
"If they continue not to pay, I'm sure we'll consider … shutting off the water, just like any normal business entity in the city," Councilman Augusto Amador told the Times "Enough is enough."
Other creditors are singing a similar tune. A number of businesses that were relocated via eminent domain to make room for the Prudential Center say that they are struggling and have yet to be reimbursed for their moving expenses, which, cumulatively, equate to roughly $750,000. A number of these businesses have filed suit against the team, seeking legal redress, however, the team contends that these reimbursements are the city's responsibility.
The matter came to a head last month when the team announced that they did not intend to fully pay the $2 million to $6 million the authority expected to collect in rent, stating that the city actually owes The Devils $850,000 for this year, and a credit of 250,000 in penalties incurred by instruction delays for next year.
The team also contends that some of the claims against the team are exaggerated and based on overestimations while other creditors are located outside of the 50 mile redevelopment zone and are thus ineligible.
"They want us to just close our eyes and make the payments — not going to happen," Jeff Vanderbeek, the team's owner told the Times. "We're trying to help out, to save the city of Newark and the housing authority vast sums of money."
The city has rejected the team's assertion and the matter appears to be headed for arbitration. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
