Updated

The National Basketball Association announced on Wednesday that it will hold the 2012 draft in Newark at the Prudential Center on June 28 of that year.

This marks the second straight year that Newark will host the event.

"We are pleased the Draft is returning to the City of Newark," said NBA commissioner David Stern. "Prudential Center is state-of-the-art, and we look forward to working with city officials and the arena's staff to produce another memorable event for our fans."

Prior to last year, the last time the draft was held in the state of New Jersey was back in 1996, when the league held the draft at what was then known as the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

"Since the opening of the Prudential Center in 2007, Newark has established itself as an all-American sports city and a premier center for basketball," said Newark mayor Cory A. Booker. "Newark has hosted the New Jersey Nets, Seton Hall Pirates, the WNBA Liberty, last year's March Madness and now, for the second year in a row, we will welcome the excitement and energy of the NBA Draft. The world is recognizing that 'Newark's got game!'"

Open to the public since 1979, the event was held in various New York City locations until 1991. The draft has also been held in Portland (1992), Detroit (1993), Indianapolis (1994), Toronto (1995), Charlotte (1997), Vancouver (1998) and Washington D.C. (1999).