Fans of Bruce Springsteen will soon have a permanent destination to visit in his home state of New Jersey with a newly-announced archives center to be located on the campus of Monmouth University.
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The plan is to house the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music within an all new 30,000-square-foot building on Monmouth University's campus in Long Branch, NJ, including exhibitions of 35,000 items of memorabilia related to the 'The Boss', and a 230-seat theater.
Springsteen added a bit of humility during an announcement at the private college on Wednesday (10/18) according to the Asbury Park Press, joking, "I think a building with your name on it is a tricky thing... Because I’m still alive. I could get arrested for shooting tequilas in a public park. That’s something that could happen," referring to his since-dropped 2020 DWI charges.
"I want to say how happy I am that my archives are going to have a home here in New Jersey," he continued. "Believe it or not there are people who come from around the world for their vacations or pilgrimages to spend their hard-earned dollars in Asbury Park, or Freehold in search of from whence I hailed, and now they will have someplace to go other than my house."
Currently, a campaign is in motion to raise $45 million to get started on construction, with the project expected to be completed by 2026. So, fans still have plenty of time to ring his doorbell.
"At 19, I played on these very steps out here and to stand here today is quite humbling knowing I'm going to be a presence here on this campus," Springsteen added. "It's deeply satisfying. I look forward to working with everyone to make this building and this endeavor a great success."
"This beautiful and functional facility will enhance cultural and educational opportunities in New Jersey and our region, expand academic scholarship and position Monmouth University as a national leader in arts education," said Patrick F. Leahy, president of the university and chair of the Archives board.
Finally, Springsteen laughed, "All I can say is I will try to do my best to do nothing for the rest of my life to embarrass a building."