Open Bowl Hours & Specials
September 26, 2020Dining in Toms River, NJ
September 27, 2020
The RWJBarnabas Health Arena is a 3,208-seat multi-purpose arena in Toms River, New Jersey. It opened in 2003. It hosts various local concerts and sporting events for the area.
LOCATION:
1245 Old Freehold Road
Toms River, NJ 08753
Phone: (732) 818-8536
The arena is used for high school basketball, being home to the Toms River North Mariners's basketball teams as well as teams from other high schools in Toms River. The arena can seat 3,208 for basketball and 3,500 for concerts.
For trade shows, RJW Barnabas Healthcare Arena has 19,939 square feet (1,852.4 m2) of space. It is also used for graduation ceremonies.
Starting in January 2018, the name was officially changed to the "RWJBarnabas Health Arena" after the district signed a five-year deal with RWJBarnabas Health under which the district will be paid a total of $637,500 for the naming rights.
Biggest Musical Performances
Its biggest musical performances (some as part of Toms River Fest) include Miranda Sings, Maroon 5, Kelly Clarkson, Vanessa Carlton, The Beach Boys, Frankie Valli, Daughtry, The Four Seasons, Kenny Rogers and The Moody Blues.
The building was originally named The Ritacco Center, after Michael Ritacco, the then superintendent of Toms River Regional Schools, with Poland Spring coming on board as a major sponsor shortly afterwards. In the wake of the bribery scandal that culminated in Ritacco's arrest by the FBI on October 21, 2010 and his retirement the same day, the school district quickly acted to erase the now-shamed name from the building.
The building was then known as the Poland Spring Arena. As of October 26, 2010, using tarps, workers covered over the Ritacco Center name, and discontinued the use of the name elsewhere, including the URL www.ritaccocenter.com. The exterior signage was permanently removed on October 17, 2011.
In July 2011, the school district announced a new name sponsor for the venue. The Pine Belt Auto Group signed a $500,000 contract for the naming rights for five years.
During the building of the Pine Belt Arena, additional wings, a cafeteria, and a library were added onto the school. These additions helped limit overpopulation of the school. They also allowed freshmen to have their own wing so they could easily adjust to the high school.
