Basie, Toms River Schools Join To Bring More Events To Arena

TOMS RIVER, NJ — When the RWJBarnabas Health Arena opened on the campus at Toms River North opened nearly 15 years ago, the plan was for the arena to become a hub of local events and activities, from sports to entertainment.

While the arena has become a popular venue for sports — the annual WOBM Christmas Classic basketball tournament and NJSIAA wrestling are two events held there continuously since the arena first opened — getting the arena booked year-round has proved to be a much bigger challenge.

To overcome some of the hurdles, the district will be working with the the Count Basie Center for the Arts to manage the facility, in a partnership announced Tuesday at the Toms River Regional Board of Education meeting.

The Count Basie Center for the Arts was named a presenting partner for the arena. Under a contract agreement approved Tuesday night and effective immediately, the Count Basie Center will work directly with the district to solidify show bookings and secure venue sponsorships, and will work with Toms River Regional Schools event staff at the arena to confirm, schedule, promote, and manage programming.

Events will be marketed under the organization’s “The Basie Presents” banner, the district said in a news release.

The 3,200-seat arena, along with the John Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex (also known as The Bubble) operate under budgets that are separate from the main district budget but do provide some funding to the school district. Business Administrator William Doering said funding provided by income from the arena was used to purchase school buses.

Last spring, Superintendent David Healy said one of the goals was to increase booking at the arena to have events there 40 weeks of the year.

"This is a genuine win-win partnership that is going to increase the efficiency and budget flexibility of our school district while helping to expand the vision of one of this area’s most acclaimed arts centers," Healy said Tuesday. "RWJBarnabas Health Arena has so much more to offer our community, and with the Basie’s help and expertise, it is poised to maximize its potential as a popular destination within Toms River and Ocean County."

"An arrangement like this has been years in the making, and seeing it come to fruition makes me ecstatic for our students and for Toms River," Healy said.

The partnership with Count Basie was facilitated by Jeremy Grunin, president of the Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation, which has been at the forefront of revitalizing the arts presence in Toms River in the last several years.

"Top quality arts, culture and entertainment are vital to any thriving community," Grunin said, calling the partnership "a game-changer" for the arena and for Toms River. The hope is that as more events come to the arena, more people will visit area restaurants and the downtown area. The effort is receiving support from the Greater Toms River Chamber of Commerce as well.

"The Basie is very much looking forward to activating the RWJBarnabas Health Arena space with quality and diverse programming, and engaging families, seniors, and the entirety of the greater Toms River market,” said Adam Philipson, CEO and president of Count Basie Center for the Arts. "We are grateful to Jeremy Grunin and the Grunin Foundation for solidifying this relationship."

The 20,000 square-foot facility officially became the RWJBarnabas Health Arena last year thanks to a five-year naming rights agreement with RWJBarnabas Health that includes student mentorships and educational initiatives. An increase in shows and events will serve to enhance that preexisting agreement in the short and long term.

The partnership agreement will strengthen the district's budget, "improves the capacity of our facilities, solidifies our bond with the community, and will enable our district to further refine its focus on student achievement," Board President Russell Corby said. "At the same time, the greater Toms River area will be treated to an increase in diverse programming, and more exposure to the arts."

Click here for a calendar of upcoming shows and events, to purchase tickets, or for information on renting the arena.

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Toms River Schools Business Administrator William Doering, school board Vice President Joe Nardini; Adam Philipson, CEO and president of the Count Basie Center for the Arts, Superintendent David Healy and Board President Russell Corby announce the partnership. Photo by James Patten, Toms River Regional Schools, provided by the school district