The centerpiece of Rutgers' athletics facilities plan "will soon be getting a new name," as RWJBarnabas Health, New Jersey's largest hospital and medical network, is "expected to secure the naming rights" for the school's new multisport-training facility, according to Keith Sargeant of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. Although the deal is under attorney review, sources familiar with the negotiations identified RWJBarnabas as the "key naming-rights partner at a price tag exceeding" $10M. The sources said that a formal announcement on the deal is "expected to be announced on Nov. 1, when the university holds a groundbreaking for the multisport practice facility." Sources said that a key component of the deal is a plan for RWJBarnabas Health to "take up residence in both the multisport facility and in the Hale Center," the Rutgers football team's HQ. What that means is Rutgers' 600-plus student-athletes will have "unprecedented access to a team of specialty physicians and nutrition and wellness experts." Industry insiders say that would "put Rutgers Athletics as a leader among college athletics programs nationally in providing healthcare service to its student-athletes." The sources credited Rutgers AD Pat Hobbs "for the landmark deal." While Rutgers put the price tag for the naming rights to the multisport complex at $10M earlier this year, two sources said that the "total payment to Rutgers will be well north of that figure." The sources said that formal negotiations between RWJBarnabas and top Rutgers officials "began in early September." Last March, the Devils and Prudential Center "named Barnabas Health as their official health care partner" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 10/19).
