The New Jersey Devils unveiled details for the club’s 2026-27 NHL Season Home Opener, presented by Citizens, for Thursday, October 1 at 7:00 p.m. ET against the Philadelphia Flyers on national broadcast (ESPN+/Hulu). The gameday celebration will feature Red Carpet arrivals presented by BMW, followed by a pre-game Fan Fest presented by Citizens and special activations to welcome fans back to Prudential Center. All fans in attendance will receive an LED light stick courtesy of Citizens.
"As the Official Bank of the New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center, we're excited to kick off another season of Devils hockey and connect with fans and communities through the experiences and passions that matter most to them," said Yajaira Hafley, Tri-State Metro Retail Market Executive, Citizens. "This partnership reflects our continued commitment to the New Jersey community, and our Citizens Game Ready Bankers look forward to welcoming fans throughout the season and help them achieve their financial goals."
Gates will open at 3:00 p.m. on Championship Plaza for fans to secure their spot. Festivities will begin with Red Carpet Arrivals presented by BMW, where the 2026-27 New Jersey Devils players will walk the red carpet prior to their first home game, at approximately 4:00 p.m. Fan Fest presented by Citizens, which will take place on Championship Plaza following the conclusion of Red Carpet Arrivals, will feature in-arena host Jenna Lemoncelli, performances by Lulu and The Scouts and TJ the DJ, along with a variety of food trucks, games, activities, and appearances from mascot NJ Devil, Woo Crew and Devils Alumni.
Fan Fest presented by Citizens will also welcome the Citizens Mobile Branch Unit, “NJ’s Ride,” a mobile esports fan experience, and the Devils Experience Mobile Tour will also be present for fans to play video games and put their hockey skills to the test before entering the arena.
Multiple corporate partners will be activating at Fan Fest presented by Citizens including, but not limited to:
- Premio Foods and Shore Good Eats (Devils 2025 Enrich Program winner) will have food trucks.
- RWJBarnabas Health will be encouraging fans to sign up for the ‘Running with the Devils 5k and Walk’ and have a spin wheel with giveaways.
- Athletic Brewing and Goya will be providing samples for fans to enjoy at Fan Fest, as will Soubourbon Life on the main concourse near Section 1.
- Garage Beer will have a trailer for fans to mingle and play cornhole.
- BMW will activate with a car display and give away Devils-branded premium giveaways
In-Game Activations Include:
- Pre-Game Player Introductions: Devils fans will welcome the 2026-27 New Jersey Devils team back to The Rock during the player introduction ceremony.
- National Anthem: The first National Anthem of the 2026-27 Devils season will be performed by Arlette, accompanied by organist Pete Cannarozzi.
- New Game Presentation Elements:
- TJ the DJ is moving to Section 2, bringing the energy closer to the fans with a brand-new DJ booth located right in the crowd.
- Introducing Sounds of the Game, a new feature that gives fans the chance to help shape the soundtrack of every game. Fans can submit the songs they want to hear, helping create a playlist tailored to the crowd each night.
- Fans can also expect more live entertainment throughout the season, including an increased number of performances on the Devils Sound Stage in Section 16. This will kick-off during the Home Opener with live performances by The Benjamins during pre-game and both intermissions.
- The Woo Crew is back and better than ever, debuting a fresh new look that includes an updated logo and redesigned uniforms.
- NJ's Sin Bin in Section 115 will become a premier destination for families, featuring new kid-friendly activations including face painting, sign-making stations, gaming consoles, and interactive photo opportunities. The Sin Bin has also received a face-lift with new graphics, branding, and props ahead of the 2026-27 season.
- NJ Devil will receive his very own intro video as part of this year's opening sequence, paying homage to the Pine Barrens and getting fans excited ahead of the team taking the ice.
- A refreshed scoreboard broadcast package featuring new graphics and enhanced visual elements will bring a fresh look and feel to the game experience from puck drop to the final horn. The Devils will also introduce mixed reality graphics into the show for different features, including the Citizens Coin Shuffle and Prudential Rock Your Moment.
- Prudential takes over T-Shirt Toss this season with new custom designed t-shirts, giving fans a bonus opportunity to win a t-shirt through their enter to win sweepstakes.
- Citizens Activation Space: Visit the Citizens Game Ready Bankers at the Citizens concourse activation space outside Section 18 for photos, games, and prizes.
- 50/50: Hockey in New Jersey will be the night’s 50/50 beneficiary presented by BetRivers.
Tickets for the Devils Home Opener, presented by Citizens, are available for purchase by visiting newjerseydevils.com/tickets, at Prudential Center’s Box Office, or calling 973-757-6000. To receive on-sale alerts and the opportunity to purchase tickets to Devils home games in the future before the general public visit NewJerseyDevils.com/Tickets or learn more about how to become a Devils Black and Red Member HERE. For Group opportunities and experiences for 10+ people, visit newjerseydevils.com/groups, call 973-757-6000 or email [email protected]. For Premium seating opportunities, visit prucenter.com/premium.
