TOMS RIVER, NJ – The Toms River Regional Schools’ Bennet Indoor Sports Complex has a new name, but will it stick? Selling the naming rights for buildings in the Toms River School District is nothing new. When the district built a new indoor gymnasium, it was originally called the Ritacco Center.
After the Ritacco Center’s namesake, former Superintendent Michael Ritacco, was sent to prison for bribery, the district put the name out to bid. It has since been the Poland Springs Arena, Pine Belt Arena and now it’s called the RWJBarnabas Health Arena.
Everyone still calls it the Ritacco Center and with the way it changes names so often, it will probably always be called the Ritacco Center.
Now “The Bubble” has an official corporate name, but everyone will still call it the bubble. Officially, it’s now called “Rothman Orthopaedics Sports Complex”, aka “the bubble”.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Toms River School District on the naming rights of the Bubble,” says Dr. Vaccaro, who also serves as the Richard H. Rothman Professor and Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics, and Professor of Neurosurgery at Thomas Jefferson University and Hospitals. “We’ve served the Toms River community for years and are honored to develop a true partnership dedicated to supporting and educating youth athletes.”
Michael Citta, the new superintendent who served as Ritacco’s right-hand man said the partnership with Rothman Orthopaedics is important for the district.
“This venue is eminently recognizable, and serves as an important physical asset for student athletes throughout New Jersey, as well as a financial asset for this district,” said Superintendent Mike Citta. “This new partnership with Rothman Orthopaedics maximizes that value, while also bringing attention to the great work being accomplished by the practice, which is especially helpful for the athletes and families utilizing the complex throughout the year.”