While the city of Newark is optimistic with regard to whatthe new Prudential Center Arena will do for the city, pollrespondents returned mixed, but almost evenly divided results. Themajority of respondents split evenly (37% each) between enthusiasm(the center will be a huge boost for Newark) and caution (I'mkeeping my fingers crossed). The remaining 25% of respondentsbelieve the Prudential Center will have no effect on the citywhatsoever. This week's commentator, Barbara Kauffman, EVP of theNewark Regional Business Partnership, is excited about the newarena and hopeful about the city's future. Here are herthoughts:

"I've been reading through some comments that were observed bythe team that helped put the arena together, and I found that,overwhelmingly, people who were arriving for the first time had afantastic experience. This is such a good thing for the city, that17,000 people a night, many of whom have never been here before,are coming in.

"The transit and the arena planning people really hit it righton the mark in terms of the projected attendees, although itsounded like a very high number to some of us. A lot of people cameby mass transit, and encouraging the use of mass transit was anessential part of the arena plan. We heard comments like: 'We'rereally glad we took transit, that was the right way to do it,' and'it was easy, it was quick, it was pleasant.' A lot of details werehandled very well. So, from a public relations perspective, it's ahuge boost for the city.