By Kevin McCauley
The Marcus Group is spearheading the PR response to the New York Giants/Jets lawsuit to block construction of the “American Dream” megamall across from their $1.6B home field, MetLife Stadium.
The teams claim they have the right to approve any expansion at the Meadowlands complex in East Rutherford, N.J., which is about 10 miles from New York City.
The Giants/Jets believe the nation’s biggest mall would create a “transportation nightmare” during game days.
Giants co-owner John Mara said in a statement that “we cannot allow any actions to negatively impact our fans' commute, tailgating and game day experience."
TMG, which is based in Little Falls, N.J., is distributing a statement trashing the Giants/Jets lawsuit as an “insult to every New Jerseyean” who hopes to look for a job at American Dream Meadowlands.
The teams “have revealed they want to exert monopolistic control over the entire complex. They want to tell us when and how we can operate our business. I am sure they would not want us to tell them when they can play their football games,” according to the statement.
Alan Marcus told O’Dwyer’s that his firm was retained by American Dream and its developer Triple Five, which is based in Alberta, Canada, last July. He says the development has generated support from East Rutherford Mayor James Cassella and Bergen County executive Kathleen Donovan.
Donovan penned an op-ed piece in The Record (June 26) that carried “Giants-Jets American Dream lawsuit steeped in greed” as its headline.
Donovan wrote the New York teams “cannot be allowed to stand in the way of our economy and region. New Jersey taxpayers are fans, too. American Dream Meadowlands must be built.”
She blistered them for trying to prevent 9,000 construction jobs 15,000 full-time employees at the complex because it could inconvenience their fans.
Marcus, a friend and campaign volunteer of Donovan, expects more support from organized labor and business leaders.
Triple Five is owner of the Minnesota’s Mall of America, which currently reigns as the nation’s largest mall.
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