I've worked in Newark for 17+ years... the area around the arena has always been "cleaned up"... the arena makes it that much better. The folks living in the Ironbound section of newark should be proud of themselves for keeping these neighborhoods clean, safe, and continue to open businesses and declicious restaurants found nowhere else in the city. However... true, if you don't know where you are going, don't stray too far away from the general area...