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More than 150,000 hockey fans braved the cold, windy weekend conditions, flocking to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford for a celebration of all things hockey and New Jersey.

By all measures and accounts, the 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union National Hockey League (NHL) Stadium Series was a resounding success. This year’s iteration featured showdowns between longtime rivals, adding more juice to beloved, annual outdoor hockey event for area fans. In its first Garden State showing, the New Jersey Devils took on the Philadelphia Flyers while the New York Rangers faced off against the New York Islanders.

As NJBIZ reported last week, a number of special activations and activities were set up for fans at American Dream as well as in the parking lot. That’s in addition to the typical fan tailgate parties, which there was certainly no shortage of.

Unlike some other high-profile events that roll into town where New Jersey shares marquis and hosting duties with New York (see New York New Jersey Stadium come 2026 for the FIFA World Cup Final), this weekend’s festivities had a unique and unmistakable Jersey flair.

A win for NJ

From the signage to the logos to the NHL Stadium Series Park around the ice to the Jonas Brothers, The Gaslight Anthem and numerous Garden State dignitaries and area sports legends — it was Jersey everywhere you looked.

On Saturday evening, the Devils really set the tone. The team arrived to the game in “Sopranos”-inspired matching track suits, undershirts and gold chains. The Devils’ social media account, meanwhile, put out all kinds of gems referencing the iconic North Jersey-based HBO series.

Woke up this morning, got ourselves a game.#NJDevils | #StadiumSeries pic.twitter.com/cnIjkWfJqo

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) February 17, 2024

The national television broadcast of the game on ABC even featured references to Taylor ham (as this writer calls it, aka pork roll). The telecast included N.J.-flavored music, such as Franki Valli and the Four Seasons, and introduction/production packages with all kinds of Garden State sights, sounds and references. Those were narrated by Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito (aka Tommy Cutlets) and “Sopranos” cast member Steven Schirripa (aka Bobby Bacala).

“People make fun of New Jersey. They got nothing on us,” said DeVito, a Cedar Grove native and Don Bosco Prep alum, during the intro. “Diners, disco fries, boardwalks, Lawrence Taylor, Taylor ham, the freaking light bulb, and her (referring to the Statue of Liberty). She’s ours.”

“Tonight, fans will take bridges, tunnels, and turnpikes to be here,” DeVito continued. “It’s the Stadium Series in New Jersey – fuhgeddaboudit.”

‘That’s how we roll’

And the fans certainly arrived in droves. Saturday night’s game between the Devils and the Flyers drew 70,328 in attendance. New Jersey topped Philly 6-3. Meanwhile, 79,690 fans were on hand to watch the Rangers complete a thrilling 6-5 overtime comeback win over the Islanders Sunday night.

A note about the disparity in attendance numbers — on Saturday, a block of seats was lost because of the stage used for the pair of Jonas Brothers concerts.

JERSEY REPRESENT!#NJDevils | #StadiumSeries | @jonasbrothers pic.twitter.com/rHo35dyzOU

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) February 18, 2024

“Thank you, fans! Thank you to all 150,018 fans that attended the 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series and watched the Islanders, Devils, Flyers, and Rangers combine for 20 goals through the two-game weekend,” the NHL wrote on social media.

In NJBIZ’s preview last week, we told you if you heard The Gaslight Anthem play “Howl” – the Devils goal song which the Jersey rockers played live – a bunch it would most likely be a good night for the Devils.

That is exactly how it played out.

Need to hear more of this in the third. #NJDevils | #StadiumSeries | @gaslightanthem pic.twitter.com/VOaH4nxHYJ

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) February 18, 2024

“This event is so much about a celebration of New Jersey. You guys wore ‘Sopranos’-inspired outfits walking in,” said ESPN hockey reporter Emily Kaplan, a New Jersey native, to Devils Captain Nico Hischier during the post-game interview. “You’ve been here seven years – what have you learned about this state?”

Hischier, who paced the Devils with two goals and an assist in the winning effort, summed up the Jersey-centric feelings perfectly.

“Great state – I love it here. It’s my second home. ‘Sopranos’ – that’s how we roll,” said Hischier. “Thanks for showing up. It was f***ing amazing.”

It certainly was.

Coming up the Feb. 26 issue of NJBIZ: a deeper dive into the event, its impact and how it continues the momentum of the World Cup announcement.