Prudential Center Information for Guests

Guest Arrival Time, Entrance Towers and Security Screening

Arrival Times

Commencement will take place on Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Graduates have been assigned a ceremony based on their college or school.

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 will cause significant delays in entering Prudential Center.

Prudential Center Entrances

Guests may enter Prudential Center through the following three entrances:

• M &M’s Tower – corner of Mulberry Street and Lafayette Street
• Citizen’s Tower – corner Mulberry Street and Lafayette Street
• Lafayette Street Doors – Lafayette Street

Please view or print the Prudential Center Entrance Diagram

Security Screening Procedures

Bringing prohibited items will cause significant delays in entering Prudential Center.

All attendees will be subject to a courteous screening via a walk-through metal detector to ensure the highest level of safety and security. Attendees will be required to place their bags, cell phones, keys and all metal objects on the security table prior to walking through the metal detector.

Bags 10”x10” or smaller in size are permitted. Anything larger, including backpacks, are not permitted, with the exception of childcare or medical bags. Permissible larger bags will be X-rayed.

All bags are subject to search by Prudential Center security team members at each point of entry. 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 M&M’s Tower and Lafayette Street entrances.

Strollers that fit underneath seating are permitted in the arena, all larger strollers will need to be checked at the entrance.

IMPORTANT: Prohibited items must be returned to the guest’s vehicle or stored in Prudential Center supplied lockers at the guest’s expense.

The following items are prohibited at Prudential Center:

• Alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs
• Balloons, signs, banners, flags, beach balls, horns, noisemakers
• Laser pointers, flashlights, fireworks, or balls of any kind
• Selfie sticks
• Outside Food/ Beverages

For a full comprehensive list of prohibited items, please visit Prudential Center Arena Policy.

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Tickets, Seating and Accessible Accommodations

Tickets and Seating

Tickets are required to attend Commencement. All guests must have an authorized ticket to enter the Prudential Center. Tickets are specific to each ceremony.

Graduates must register for Commencement and request guest tickets. Tickets are free and will be distributed to graduates at the Graduation Fairs (Bloomfield campus on April 17 or Montclair campus on April 21 & 22.)

Make sure all guests have their tickets PRIOR to Commencement. Graduates and guests enter Prudential Center at different entrances.

Seating is general admission and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Guests with Accessibility Accommodations

Guest Services staff are located at all entrances. Guest Services staff will assist guests needing accommodations, including wheelchair escorts, providing elevator locations, and ADA seating.

Entrance ramps are located at M&M’s Tower and Lafayette Street Entrance.

Upon entering, ask Prudential Center staff for a Rock Squad Team Member. Rock Squad staff will assist with all accommodations.

Please visit Prudential Center Access Accommodations for more information on accommodations available.

If you have additional questions, you may email guestservices@prucenter.com.

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Directions and Transportation

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.

Prudential Center
25 Lafayette Street
Newark, NJ 07102

We strongly suggest that guests use public transportation, rideshare services, or carpool with family and friends. Highways surrounding the arena include 280, 78, NJ Turnpike, 1 & 9, 21, 22, Garden State Parkway, 80, and NJ 3. For detailed driving directions, please visit the Prudential Center Directions website.

Public Transportation

Prudential Center is located in downtown Newark, just two blocks from Newark Penn Station, and is also connected to the Newark Broad Street Station by frequent, convenient bus and light-rail service.
Please visit the Prudential Center Public Transportation website for more information to plan your trip.

Parking

Parking will be available at lots and garages surrounding Prudential Center. Costs are determined by each parking facility. Please visit the Prudential Center Parking website for a detailed map and directions to these locations.
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Class Gift and Commencement Messages

Each year, our graduating class participates in a proud Class Gift tradition where members of the class invest in the University by supporting areas of Montclair State University that are most important to them. We invite the Class of 2025 to come together to show your support. 

All gifts to Montclair count! Make your gift to any area of campus you feel most passionate about – such as the Emergency Book Fund, The Red Hawk Pantry, your school or college, The Fund for Montclair State or athletic program.

Your gift will pay it forward for future Red Hawks and kick-start your philanthropic connection to Montclair.

• Commemorate your class year! Make a gift of at least $20.25 and you’ll receive your customized philanthropy cord to wear over your commencement robe. 
• For a gift of $40, celebrate this milestone with your family, friends and colleagues by having your message displayed on the screen at the Commencement you will be participating in, and receive a customized philanthropy cord.

The final deadline to submit a Commencement message for the May 7-8, 2025 Commencements is April 22, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. We can not accept any messages after this date!

How do I get my customized philanthropy cord?

Customized philanthropy cords will be available for pick-up:

• Monday, February 17 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. in the Student Center Lobby
• Monday, March 17 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. in the Student Center Lobby
• Monday, March 31 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. in the Student Center Lobby
• Monday, April 7 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. in the Student Center Lobby
• Bloomfield Campus Graduation Fair: Thursday, April 17 from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. in Deacon’s Den, Talbott Hall (Bloomfield graduates only)
• Montclair Campus Graduation Fairs: Monday, April 21 and Tuesday, April 22 from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. in the Student Center Ballrooms

Graduates can also arrange to pick up their philanthropy cords in the Overlook Corporate Center, 150 Clove Road, Little Falls, NJ during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Philanthropy cords can also be mailed to those who cannot pick it up. The last day we will mail the cords is Friday, April 25. If you make a gift after Friday, April 25 you must arrange to pick-up your cord at Overlook between April 28 – May 6 during regular business hours. Please contact James Stewart, Associate Director of Annual Giving at stewartj@rahpouyanschool.com or 973-655-5328 to finalize options to get your cords for the May 7-8, 2025 Commencements.

Every student has benefitted from donor generosity to areas of academic support, emergency funding for students and overall priorities to boost students’ success every day. Thank you for paying it forward!

For more information, please contact James Stewart, Associate Director of Annual Giving, at 973-655-5328 or stewartj@rahpouyanschool.com.

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Important Reminders for Guests

• Make sure all guests have their tickets PRIOR to Commencement. Graduates and guests enter Prudential Center at different entrances.
• Plan to allow time for traffic, parking and security screening at the venue. Bringing prohibited items will cause significant delays in entering Prudential Center.
• Wear comfortable shoes as you will likely be moving in crowded areas.
• After the ceremony, the Prudential Center requests all guests and graduates vacate the building. A timely exit from the venue and parking areas is appreciated. Before the ceremony, plan where you and your graduate will meet after the event. The ceremony will last approximately 3 hours.
• Graduate Gifts including flowers, graduate t-shirts, and other gift items will be available for purchase on concourse levels.
• If graduates and guests wish to take pictures outside Prudential Center, we suggest that you arrive early to take pictures before the ceremony.

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Concessions

Food and beverages will be available at concession stands located in Prudential Center. We strongly encourage your graduates to eat before arriving at the Prudential Center, as the concession stands are not accessible from the student line-up area. Guests and graduates cannot bring outside food, beverages, coolers, bottles, or cans into the arena. The concession stands are cashless, and guests must pay for concessions with a debit card, credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. For guests needing to convert cash to a card, Reverse ATM kiosks with $0 transactional fees* are available near sections 1, 14, 125, and inside the Box Office Lobby.

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Live Stream Links

The ceremony will be live streamed in English and Spanish. Be sure to share the links with family and friends.

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