Bon Jovi became the first band to play at the new Meadowlands site Thursday and announced they will be first act to hit its stage next year.

The band played at private show on a makeshift stage in what will become the new stadium's parking lot. The Jersey favorites also announced they will officially christen the new stadium's stage on their May 26 and May 27 stops there.

Most of the 5,000 fans at the show won tickets through a local radio contest. Workers doing construction on the new stadium got tickets for free - with proof of hardhat.