New Jersey Devils Celebrate Chinese New Year with Special Game Broadcast
The New Jersey Devils will hold their first Chinese New Year-themed game today at 7 p.m. against the Los Angeles Kings
by New Jersey Devils @NJDevils / newjerseydevils.com
In honor of the team's first Chinese New Year game, the matchup will be specially broadcast live to millions of hockey fans throughout China by Tencent and include an exclusive 1-on-1 interview with Devils Center and 2017 No. 1 overall NHL Draft Pick Nico Hischier.
In celebration of the "Year of the Pig," traditional Chinese New Year decorations will adorn Prudential Center, while fans will enjoy specially prepared Chinese cuisine and entertainment, including dragon dancers, throughout the night.
Notable facts, promotions, decorations, concourse activities and more for the New Jersey Devils inaugural Chinese New Year game include:
- Two previous "Year of the Pig" Chinese New Year celebrations marked special periods in Devils history. The team moved to Prudential Center in 2007, and in 1995, the Devils won their first Stanley Cup title in team history.
- Devils players Will Butcher (Jan. 6, 1995), Steven Santini (Mar. 7, 1995), Mirco Mueller (Mar. 21, 1995) and Miles Wood (Sept. 13, 1995) were all born in the "Year of the Pig."
- Coinciding with traditional "Year of the Pig" lucky numbers, "2," "5," and "8"; 258 red, traditional Chinese lanterns will adorn Prudential Center's main concourses, premium areas, locker rooms and more. Likewise, a limited number of priced tickets at $85 (Lower Level) and $25 (Mezzanine Level) will be available via THIS LINK.
- Specially created, traditional Chinese dishes, including Spring Rolls ($8) and Shrimp and Chicken Dumplings ($8) will be available at the Chicken Coup and Bowled Over stands on the Main Concourse, respectively.
- During pregame and intermission periods, a troupe of traditional Chinese Dragon Dancers from the Wan Chi Ming Dragon and Lion Dance Tea will perform traditional Chinese Dragon Dances for attending fans.
- Devils mascot NJ will don a custom-made Chinese New Year-themed jersey, bearing the words "NJ Devil" in Mandarin.
- Devils Promo Team Members will distribute hundreds of red envelopes reading "gong xi fa cai" (translation: "Happy New Year") will be distributed to Devils fans throughout the evening and include gifts cards to the Devils Den team store.
- Fans entering via the Investors Bank Tower, Ford Tower and Lafayette Street Entrance will be greeted with three massive 4-by-10-foot red and gold banners, reading "Happy New Year" in Mandarin.
- The Little Devils Zone presented by RWJBarnabas Health will offer "Year of the Pig" coloring pages and calligraphy sets.
- Avatars on New Jersey Devils social media platforms, including Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, will feature the team's specially designed "Year of the Pig" emoji.
- Digital signage above Prudential Center's bowl-facing Zamboni tunnel will read "Happy New Year" in Mandarin.
The New Jersey Devils' Chinese New Year game is part of a league-wide campaign to celebrate Chinese New Year, the most important annual holiday in China, with millions of Chinese hockey fans in North America and in China. Tencent and CCTV, in partnership with the NHL, broadcast NHL games in China throughout the season. As a result of being awarded the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China has embraced winter sports, including hockey, in a way it never has before, seeking to involve 300 million Chinese people in winter sports activities by 2022. For the past two seasons, the NHL has held the NHL China Games to advance the League's commitment to grow the game globally while furthering the League's international strategy.
Individual tickets for the New Jersey Devils' Chinese New Year game against the Los Angeles Kings tonight at 7 p.m. are on sale now at newjerseydevils.com/tickets or at the Prudential Center Box Office. For groups of 8 or more, please call (973) 757-6250.