Richard J. Codey Arena

Richard J. Codey Arena

The Richard J. Codey Arena with the Turtle Back Zoo entrance arch.
Location	West Orange, New Jersey
Public transit	New Jersey Transit bus: 73
Owner	Essex County Department of Parks and Recreation
Capacity	2,500 (Rink 1), 500 (Rink 2)
Surface	Ice, Floor (Rink 1 can be configured for non ice purposes also)
Opened	1958
Tenants
NJ Devils Youth Hockey Jersey Rockhoppers (2008-2009) New Jersey Daredevils (2002-present) New Jersey Gems (1980-81) Essex Skating Club New Jersey Devils (practice facility from 1986-2007) Seton Hall University men's hockey Seton Hall Preparatory School men's hockey

Coordinates: 40°46′8″N 74°16′55″W / 40.76889°N 74.28194°W / 40.76889; -74.28194

The Richard J. Codey Arena at South Mountain (formerly the South Mountain Arena) is an ice hockey and ice skating arena in West Orange, New Jersey as part of the South Mountain Recreation Complex. The arena is named for former Governor of New Jersey Richard Codey. The Codey Arena is owned and operated by the Essex County Department of Park, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs.

South Mountain Arena originally opened in 1958 with the second, smaller rink added in 1983. During 2004 and 2005 the arena underwent major renovations that included a new state-of-the-art lobby for the arena including meeting rooms, a skylight, automatic doors, pro shop (now a glice training area), arcade, and concession stand. Another part of the renovation was a new set of dasher boards, Plexiglas, compression system, jumbotron screen, and seats for Rink 1, as well as a new dehumidifier for Rink 2; it was renamed the Codey Arena upon reopening. In 2017, management announced that Rink 1 would undergo renovation once again putting in new seats, new boards, and a new jumbotron/scoreboard.

The arena has two NHL-sized skating rinks. The main arena has a seating capacity of 2,500 and the second rink seats approximately 500. From 1986 until the opening of the Prudential Center (which includes a full-size practice rink), the New Jersey Devils used the arena as the team's practice facility. In November 2008 it became home to the Jersey Rockhoppers of the Eastern Professional Hockey League. The arena is also home to the New Jersey Daredevils, a special needs hockey team that has practices and home games at the arena since 2002. The Daredevils play in the (SHI) Special Hockey International League. Since 2009, The Daredevils host an annual Halloween hockey tournament in October for all Special Hockey International Teams (including the Daredevils) called Frankenfest. The New Jersey Devils Youth Hockey club is also based at the arena with more than twenty teams from the beginners entry level to the highly competitive AAA USA Hockey Sanctioned level. The Seton Hall University and the Seton Hall Preparatory School men's hockey teams also compete at the arena.