QUICK FACTS
RITACCO CENTER PHILOSOPHY AND PURPOSE The Ritacco Center s primary is to serve the student population as a state-of-the-art facility that can accommodate a myriad of student activities - from varsity basketball games to high school graduations. The arena also brings local, regional and world-renowned entertainment to the community, helping to generate funds for the school district. Since the dedication of the Center on June 5, 2003, the Center has hosted several events by well-known artists and performers that were open to the public. In addition, the arena has also hosted shows by educational performers geared specifically towards students. Center dedication: June 5, 2003 Location: Ritacco Center High School North Campus 1245 Old Freehold Road
RITACCO CENTER MARKET OVERVIEW Over the past 6 months, the Toms River School District has used the services of Stafford Sports to provide strategic planning, booking, event production, facility marketing and operational consulting services. As a result, the facility now functions as a multi-purpose 3,500 seat arena that has become an entertainment centerpiece of the Toms River region. FALL EVENTS July 19: September 19: September 20: October 18: November 2: November 29: November 30: December 4: December 8: December 13: December 19: December 20-30: ESPN 2 Live Boxing ESPN 2 Live Boxing Endless Summer Oldies Concert Big Screen Theater featuring Grease and Jaws Air Supply/Little River Band A Garfield Christmas Show Bill Cosby Winter Music Festival featuring the choruses and orchestras from all three high schools (540 students combined) B98.5 Winter Wonder Jam featuring O.A.R. and Fabolous Beach Boys Christmas Tour Inaugural Basketball Game WOBM s High School Basketball Holiday Tournament During Fall 2003, The Ritacco Center also saw multiple grade level events including The Dirtmeister science series, Jonathan Sprout s American Heroes Series and motivational speaker Lee Rouson. MARKET SUPPORT The Toms River School District serves nearly 20,000 students and is the largest suburban school district in the state. The District employs approximately 2,500 individuals. The District includes over 100,000 residents in Dover, Beachwood, South Toms River, and Pine Beach. The Ritacco Center serves Monmouth and Ocean Counties and is strategically located within a mile of Exit 82 off the Garden State Parkway. The total population in those two counties is almost 900,000. Broken down, Ocean County s population is more than 400,000 and Monmouth County s population is more than 450,000. Citizens in these counties have disposable income because in Ocean County 54% of households have an income of more than $50,000 and 63% of households in Monmouth County have an income above $50,000. In Ocean County, nearly 50% of the adult population is between the ages of 25-54 and in Monmouth County, nearly 60% of the adult population is in the same age group. There are 139,000 children in Ocean County and 185,000 children in Monmouth County.
MEDIA SUPPORT The Toms River School District owns and operates local TV Channel 21. The market is served by two major newspapers, the Asbury Park Press and the Ocean County Observer. There are two radio groups that serve the market Millennium Radio and Greater Media. There are a variety of radio formats that serve both counties including Rock (WRAT), Classic Rock (WCHR and WJLK), Adult Contemporary (WOBM), Oldies (WLRZ) and Contemporary Hit Radio (WBBO). The Country Music market is served by WPUR which broadcasts out of Atlantic City. SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPPORT The Toms River School District serves nearly 20,000 students and is the largest suburban school district in the state. The District employs approximately 2,500 individuals. The District includes over 100,000 residents in Dover, Beachwood, South Toms River, and Pine Beach. The Ritacco Center serves Monmouth and Ocean Counties and is strategically located within a mile of Exit 82 off the Garden State Parkway. The total population in those two counties is almost 900,000. Broken down, Ocean County s population is more than 400,000 and Monmouth County s population is more than 450,000. Citizens in these counties have disposable income because in Ocean County 54% of households have an income of more than $50,000 and 63% of households in Monmouth County have an income above $50,000. In Ocean County, nearly 50% of the adult population is between the ages of 25-54 and in Monmouth County, nearly 60% of the adult population is in the same age group. There are 139,000 children in Ocean County and 185,000 children in Monmouth County.
BUILDING INFORMATION Seating Capacity: 3,500 Seating Set-up Breakdowns: End stage setup (plan A ) 2,568 (2100 chairs, 468 bleachers) End stage setup (plan B ) 3,457 (1000 chairs, 1457 bleachers) Basketball 3,687 Center stage (wrestling or boxing) 4,242 Stage: The maximum the stage can be set for is 60 x40. Size of Floor: The floor is 100' x 70' in a concert setting. The 100' measurement represents the distance from the end of the stage to the bleachers on the south end of the arena (when fully extended). The 70' measurement represents the distance from the front of the bleachers on the west side to the front of the bleachers on the east side (with both sets of bleachers fully extended). Backstage Area: The backstage area is approximately 40' deep x 98' wide. The 40' depth is from the storage rooms forward to the stage set for a concert. The measurement along the back wall is 98' wide. This covers the areas in front of the doors that lead to the outside sidewalk. Outside Storage Area: The outside storage area is approximately 2400 sq. ft. (30' x 80'). Power, Lights, and Sound: There are two generators; one generator is 100 kw and the other generator is 125 kw. The PA system is handled in-house while the sound and lights are contracted out because there is no in-house audio or light system. Ticketing: The Ritacco Center has an in-house ticketing system. The ticketing system allows for the following types of purchases: over the Internet; at the box office at 1144 Hooper Avenue Information Center; by phone at the Information Center during business hours and by phone service after hours. In addition, the services of Ticketmaster may be employed if needed. The Ritacco Center provides daily reporting of ticket sales and reconciliation information after the event. Catering and Concessions: The Ritacco Center provides a full catering staff and menu for all events. There is a concession area and food court where local businesses set-up and serve items off their menus. Merchandise: The Ritacco Center staff maintains all merchandise areas.
CONTACT INFORMATION Mailing Addresses: Ritacco Center 1245 Old Freehold Road (phone) 732 (fax) 732 (e-mail) ritaccocenter@trschools.com Toms River Board of Education 1144 Hooper Ave (phone) 732.505.5500 (fax) 732.557.4231 All correspondence and requests should be directed to the main Board of Education address. All day-ofshow correspondence and deliveries should be sent directly to the Ritacco Center. ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF Superintendent of Schools: Michael J. Ritacco 1144 Hooper Ave 732.505.5500 mritacco@trschools.com District Coordinator Ritacco Center Frank D Alonzo 1144 Hooper Ave (Suite 210) 732.818.8548 732.557.4231 (fax) fdalonzo@trschools.com District Communications Director and Box Office Coordinator Tammi Comer-Millar 1144 Hooper Ave (Information Center) 732.505.5689 732. (fax) tcomer@trschools.com Production Coordinator Doug Sutphin 1144 Hooper Ave (suite 210) 732.818.8548 732.557.4231 (fax) dsutphin@trschools.com
BUILDING PHOTOGRAPHS
PAST EVENTS Air Supply: November 2003 ESPN2 Boxing: Sept. 2003 Bill Cosby: November 2003 Garfield Christmas: Nov. 2003 Jay Leno, Inaugural Event: July 2003 Little River Band: Nov. 2003 Beach Boys: December 2003