Teaneck Armory
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Teaneck Armory is an armory and arena located on a 13.66 acre site in Teaneck, New Jersey. The facility was completed in 1936 at a cost of $1 million.[1] From 1967-68, the arena was the home of the New Jersey Americans of the American Basketball Association, the team that later became today's New Jersey Nets. In 1968, the Americans were forced to forfeit a playoff game against the Kentucky Colonels because a circus group had rented the space that week and the alternate location selected for the game was unplayable.[2]
Over the years the expansive floor and high-ceilinged space has been used for numerous film shoots, including Sweet and Lowdown and interior scenes of You've Got Mail.[1][3] The armory has also hosted concerts, rallies (including a November 6, 1960 campaign rally by presidential candidate John F. Kennedy[4]), circuses, indoor soccer and various military uses.
The Teaneck Armory can be distinguished by the two large World War II-era tanks in front of the building, facing Teaneck Road. During 2005, the major units of the 50th Main Support Battalion assigned to drill at the Armory were deployed for service in Iraq and Kuwait, along with many other units of the New Jersey National Guard. Other elements of the New Jersey National Guard based at the Teaneck Armory have been deployed to Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay (also known as "Gitmo" in military circles) and Kosovo, among other places.
Additionally, a squadron of the New Jersey Wing of the Civil Air Patrol is located at the Armory.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Davis, Tom. A Place For Troops, Troupes, Hoops: Teaneck Armory Still Vital, copy of article from The Record (Bergen County), January 2, 2002. Accessed June 6, 2007.
- ^ Wojnarowski, Adrian. "Twenty-five years later, Boe makes up for mistake", ESPN.com, June 3, 2003. Accessed June 5, 2007. "They were supposed to host a one-game playoff at the Armory on March 23, 1968, but the circus chased the Americans to the Commack Arena on Long Island. Trouble was, nobody bothered to check out the court.... Mikan declared the court unplayable, New Jersey had to forfeit the game, Kentucky advanced to the playoffs and New Jersey never played another game in Teaneck Armory."
- ^ Ivry, Bob. "FILMMAKERS DESCENDING ON NEW JERSEY", The Record (Bergen County), June 17, 1998. Accessed June 6, 2007. "When Randy Sokol Sweeney was asked to find a New York-area spot in which to shoot the indoor scenes of "You've Got Mail," a romantic comedy starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, she tried the usual studios in Queens, but they were booked. Then she checked out Teaneck."
- ^ Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy, Teaneck Armory Teterboro, NJ (sic), American Presidency Project, November 6, 1960. Accessed June 5, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Teaneck Virtual Village - links to articles about the Armory
- Soccer Coliseum - indoor sports programs. Web site features interior shot of facility
| Preceded by first arena |
Home of the New York Americans 1967 – 1968 |
Succeeded by Long Island Arena |
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