Prudential Center Guests: Arrival and Logistics

Friday, May 17, 2024
Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
9:00 a.m. (Doors Open - 7:30 a.m.)

Prudential doors open at 7:30 am for guests. 

IMPORTANT TRAVEL ADVISORY: We anticipate heavier-than-normal traffic in and around the Prudential Center. Plan to allow ample time for traffic, parking, and security screening at the venue. Bringing prohibited items and/or not having printed guest tickets will cause significant delays in entering Prudential Center.

Arrival and Guest Tickets

Doors open 90 minutes prior to the ceremony, and it is suggested for guests to arrive when the venue opens, so you have time to go through security and find your seats. Guests tickets are required for all ceremonies and the tickets are all general admission, which are electronically claimed by graduates and sent to their guests.  The deadline is May 12 for claiming up to ten guest tickets for the Prudential Center ceremony.  All candidates are required to stay for the duration of each ceremony.

IMPORTANT NOTE: NJIT prohibits the direct or indirect sale or auction of all university commencement tickets. Ticket(s) may not be used for advertising, promotion (including contests, giveaways or sweepstakes) or other trade or commercial purposes.  Students engaging in such activities, as well as any other activity that disrupts the administration of the ceremony and/or violates any NJIT student conduct policy, will be subject to disciplinary sanctions. Doors will open for guests at 7:30 a.m. and all seating is general admission. All seats for guests of candidates are general admission and available on a first-come basis; guests are not allowed to reserve or block off seating.  If you attempt to do so, Prudential staff will enforce the policy.

Location

The ceremony will be held at the Prudential Center, located at 165 Mulberry Street, Newark, NJ 07102.

Travel Directions

Directions for taking public transportation to the Prudential Center can be found here. If you choose public transportation, the Prudential Center is two blocks away from Newark Penn Station.

Driving directions to the Prudential Center can be found here.

Parking

Parking is available for a charge at the commercial lots near Prudential Center, as indicated on this map. Costs vary, as the lots are privately owned.  Any information about discounted rates will be posted on this site, if and when it becomes available.We strongly suggest your family arrive early and park at the Prudential Center. There are a number of independently owned parking lots across the street.

You also have the option of parking on campus and taking the city subway to Newark Penn Station or walking to the Prudential Center. 

  • Light Rail: You will need to purchase an "underground fare" ticket; you must validate your subway ticket before entering the subway car. Failure to validate your ticket can result in a summons from the City of Newark.
  • Walking: If you park on campus, you can walk to the Prudential Center. Directions can be found here. Please note: We do not recommend this option for the elderly or those with disabilities.

Bags are not permitted inside of Prudential Center

The only exceptions are soft sided clutches/purses/wallets under 4” x 7” with a shoulder strap or wrist strap attached, and medical or childcare bags under 12” x 16” x 6”. Patrons with exceptions should enter at the M&Ms Tower or the Lafayette Street entrance and expect to have their bags X-rayed. Bags that do not meet these expectations must be returned to the guest’s vehicle or stored in a Prudential Center supplied locker at the guest's expense. Lockers are located outside the M&Ms Tower and Lafayette Street entrances.

What NOT to Bring

For safety reasons, guests are refused entry if they are in possession of prohibited items. Illegal items will be confiscated and turned over to the police. If a guest is found inside the arena with prohibited items, the items will be confiscated, and the guest may be ejected from the facility.

  • The following items are not permitted:
    • Alcohol, illegal drugs, or paraphernalia
    • All electronic devices with the exception of cell phones and non-professional cameras
    • Aerosol cans, self-defense sprays, hazardous substances, and chemicals
    • Animals/pets (except service animals)
    • Audio/video equipment
    • Bags larger than 4” x 7” unless a medical or childcare bag
    • Bottles, glass, or breakable beverage containers
    • Cans, thermoses, bottles, glass or other beverage containers
    • Clothing containing vulgar language
    • Coolers, ice chests, Hard-sided bags of any size
    • Drones, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or other aircraft
    • Explosives, fireworks, and ammunition
    • Illegal drugs
    • Laser pens and pointers
    • Noise-making or amplification devices (i.e., whistles, air horns, drums, horns, vuvuzelas)
    • Outside food and beverage
    • Poles to display banners, flags, etc.
    • Professional photography equipment (other than a camera)
    • Projectiles (e.g., frisbees, balloons, and beach balls)
    • Selfie sticks and GoPros
    • Signs over 8 1/2" x 11" or with wires, lights, and/or batteries
    • Skateboards, hoverboards, and/or roller blades
    • Strollers
    • Tools, razor blades, box cutters, and scissors
    • Unapproved pamphlets, handouts, advertisements, etc.
    • Weapons (i.e., knives, pepper spray, tear gas, handcuffs, guns, etc.)
    • Wrapped gifts or packages
    • Any other item deemed to be inappropriate or dangerous by NJIT Public Safety or Prudential Center Management.
    • Items may be confiscated or the individual holding these items may be denied entry to the venue at the sole discretion of NJIT Public Safety.

Items may be confiscated or the individual holding these items may be denied entry to the venue at the discretion of NJIT Public Safety and Prudential Center Management.

Special Accommodations

Live Streaming

For guests unable to attend in-person ceremonies, live streaming will be available during scheduled ceremony times, please visit njit.edu.

Guest Services

The Prudential Center Guest Services Staff are available to answer your questions, collect lost and found items and provide assistance to guests at various locations.

Wheelchair Assistance 

If you need a wheelchair to assist you in entering the building or if you will require a wheelchair for the duration of the ceremony, you must bring your own.  Please note:  Ramps are provided at the entrance of the M&Ms Tower located at the corner of Lafayette and Mulberry Street.

The Prudential Center has a limited number of wheelchairs made available to our guests once they have entered the building.  Outside of the Prudential Center, wheelchairs will not be available.

Once inside, you can request assistance from the Prudential Center Guest Services. You do not need to reserve a wheelchair as they are made available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please refer to the following steps.

  • Guests in need of assistance should be dropped off curbside near the tower entrance.
  • Guests whose student is graduating from HCAD, CSLA, MTSM or YWCC will enter via the Citizens Tower.
  • Guests whose student is graduating from NCE will enter via the M&Ms Tower.
  • Upon entering, please inform the Prudential Security Staff that you will need a wheelchair.
  • Once you have received a wheelchair, an usher will escort you and your family to the wheelchair seating area.
  • There are elevators to assist you in getting to the proper location.
  • Once the usher has brought you to your seat, he or she will then return to the entrance with the wheelchair to assist other guests.
  • At the conclusion of the ceremony, an usher will return with a wheelchair to escort you to an exit.  The staff will need to accommodate all those they originally escorted to their seats, so we ask that you please be patient as they try to get everyone out as quickly as possible.

Sign Language Interpreter

If a candidate or guest requires a sign language interpreter, they must make the request via email commencement@njit.edu or inside Marching Order for graduates by April 12, 2024. Commencement ceremonies will provide closed captioning. 

Additional Assistance

NJIT commencement at the Prudential Center are fully equipped to create an accessible experience for guests and graduates. The Prudential Center is an accessible facility that can accommodate guests with physical challenges. Please visit https://www.prucenter.com/ada-guide for details. Commencement staff will be available to provide assistance.

If you are in need of additional assistance and it has not been addressed in this section, please email us at commencement@njit.edu