The city of Newark has changed over the years, but unfortunately the misconceptions regarding it have not. For many, Newark still represents a city of crime, poverty and violence. Newark’s very own minor league baseball team, the Newark Bears, is an organization trying to change these beliefs.
The Bears, Newark’s only minor league baseball team, have contributed to the revitalization of downtown Newark. The state-of-the-art ballpark, Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium, is a newfound symbol for the changes taking place throughout Newark. But no matter the change, there is still a stigma regarding the city.
While attendance at Bears games has stayed relatively the same for the past couple of years, the Bears organization still struggles to fill the seats on a daily basis. With a vibrant family atmosphere and low ticket prices, why should filling the ballpark be a problem?
I decided to go to a Bears game and ask the people their thoughts on the city of Newark and the Bears. The reaction I received was mixed. Some individuals felt no sense of danger coming to Newark to enjoy a ballgame. On the other hand, many felt the opposite and expressed a variety of the misconceptions plaguing Newark.
Nutley resident Matt Hanlon comes to watch the Newark Bears play a couple of times each year. He brings his 6-year-old son, Thomas, along to teach him about the game. While Hanlon is not afraid to venture into downtown Newark for an occasional ballgame, he does believe many are wary of going to Bears games simply because the stadium is located in Newark. Hanlon also believes a lot more people attend the day and weekend games because they are afraid to come to Newark at night.
James Harper, an usher at the ballpark, has a similar viewpoint. “I think a lot of people may not believe it is safe,” states Harper. But Harper insists that the Bears organization is doing everything it can to change such a view. “We are really for families,” says Harper. “We have all types of days for families to come and have fun. There is really no reason for people not to come.”
As I talked with more people at the ballpark, I began to notice a trend. The closer and more familiar you are with Newark, the less you buy into the misconceptions about the area. But the more you distance yourself from the area, the more suspicious you are. Joseph Konecnik, a Denville resident, backed up my hunch. “People up by me, up north, definitely know about this area,” says Konecnik. “They definitely hear about the bad stuff that goes on.” In fact, the only reason Konecnik was attending a Bears game was to accompany his grandchild who was on a trip with the Dover Little League team.
But for all the crime and poverty associated with Newark, there are those who fail to fall victim to their fears. Stephanie Szardk is a mother of three, who often attends minor league baseball games. Her two sons, both 9 years old, love to come to see the Newark Bears play. “Every seat is a good seat, so the kids feel up close,” says Szardk. She is one of the many parents who don’t feel Newark poses an immediate threat to their safety.
The local police also share that view, I found, as I spoke to Detective Gilbert of the Newark Police Department about the issue. Gilbert was adamant in his claim that baseball fans should not be scared to come to Newark. “I don’t think it’s a problem,” states Gilbert. “The area is safe, well lit and has public transportation.” He also believes that the misconceptions regarding Newark can be destroyed over time by encouraging people to visit the ballpark and interact in the city and by educating the public. And that is what the Newark Bears organization is trying to accomplish.
Jim Cerny, the Bears’ director of public relations and broadcasting, is in charge of doing everything he can to bring more fans to the ballpark. Cerny believes Newark receives an unfair rap and, as he states, “that’s part of what we want to educate the fans about.” However, it’s hard to educate the public about the revitalization of downtown Newark if they never venture into the city. That is why Cerny and the Bears organization are doing everything in their power to make every fan’s trip to the ballpark a satisfying one.
“Every person will be met with courteous ushers and employees,” says Cerny. “The stadium is immaculate and a perfect family atmosphere.” Cerny is a cheerful person who always has a smile on his face. His warmth radiates throughout your conversation with him. It is that type of warm feeling that Cerny is trying to deliver to every Bears fan. “We try to do the little things,” states Cerny, who believes it is those small aspects that will attract many to the ballpark and in turn help them realize the beauty of downtown Newark.
Old misconceptions die hard. No matter how diligently the Bears work to promote the Newark area, there are always going to be those certain individuals who believe the city poses a threat to their safety. But, as Cerny states, “you can’t escape the history of Newark, but at the same time this isn’t the 1960s or ’70s anymore. Times have changed.”
Bill Heinzelman is a journalism and media studies major at Rutgers-Newark.
