Michael Citta, Superintendent of Toms River Schools
May 2, 2022Weather Kids Visits Ocean County
May 3, 2022
The Rothman Orthopaedics Sports Complex
The Rothman Orthopaedics Sports Complex is the new name for the indoor sports complex at Toms River Intermediate East, which was previously known as "The Bubble."
Rothman Orthopaedic Institute's President, Alexander R. Vaccaro, MD, PhD, MBA, stated publicly that the company, which is well-known for its work in musculoskeletal health and medicine and is based in the area, wanted to interact with its communities through high school sports.
This attracted the interest of Shore District Advertising, which oversees the district's marketing activities and recognizes that it has a very prominent structure that attracts high school athletes from all over the state.
Fast forward to today, and we have something that is as uncommon in sports as it is in life: a win-win situation. The Rothman Orthopaedics Sports Complex is the new official name for the facility known as "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.”
The naming agreement is currently in effect–signage displaying the new name is placed between two entrances facing the newly rebuilt parking lot–and will last for several years.
“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.”
The Rothman Orthopaedics Sports Complex is located between Intermediate East and Hooper Avenue Elementary School on Hooper Avenue, a bustling thoroughfare. New lighting and mechanical infrastructure upgrades, the addition of brick-and-mortar restrooms, and a newly paved parking lot, to name a few, have all been made to the structure as part of the district's Rebuilding Our Schools project in recent years. The facility is open all year and is one of the NJSIAA's flagship track and field facilities, attracting athletes from all across the state, especially during the peak season, which runs from January through April.
“This whole idea was born of the desire to connect to this community through sports,” said Shore District Advertising President Angelo Scialfa. “It’s a testament to everyone involved that we find ourselves here, poised to do just that, embarking on a long-lasting partnership that promises to benefit many people.”
