Listen to this articleThe basics:
- RWJBH named official health care provider, gains naming rights at Red Bulls facilities
- Covers Red Bulls First Team, Red Bulls II, Academy, youth programs
- Offers full suite of medical and wellness services for players and communities
- Integrates branding across digital platforms, fan events, educational initiatives
Red Bull New York announced a major partnership agreement Tuesday with RWJBarnabas Health.
Under the partnership, the state’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system becomes the naming rights partner of the club’s new state-of-the-art performance center in Morris Township, which NJBIZ has previously reported on.
RWJBH will serve as the Official Hometown Healthcare System and EMS Provider of Sports Illustrated Stadium, Red Bull New York, Red Bull New York II, Red Bulls Youth Programs and Academy, as well as the Official Health and Wellness Provider of Red Bulls Youth Programs.
The RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center is slated to open in March 2026. The complex sits on an 80-acre parcel of land. It will include eight full-size outdoor soccer pitches. The fields will feature a mix of heated, irrigated natural grass and turf surfaces with a 500-seat match field for the New York Red Bulls Academy games.
While terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed, a league source confirmed to NJBIZ that it is a long-term arrangement, for more than five years, and will exceed eight figures over the lifetime of the deal.
Future-facing facility
The Harrison-headquartered Major League Soccer club says the performance center in Morris will establish the most innovative soccer training facility in North America. Outdoor areas will feature advanced training technology, such as multi-angel camera tracking systems for analytics and player development.
It will also include:
- A custom-designed building with fully equipped gyms for both the professional and Academy teams;
- Dining hall with nutrition spaces and a professional chef;
- Academic spaces for youth education;
- Comprehensive medical suite and innovation lab with physiotherapy spaces for preparation, rehabilitation and recovery.
The performance center will house the club’s First Team, Red Bulls II. It will also serve as home for the New York Red Bulls Academy and Youth Training programs.
The Red Bulls Youth Programs reach 50,000 participants throughout New Jersey and New York. The initiatives serve as the foundation of the Red Bulls homegrown approach to player development.
Key details of the partnership include:
- RWJBH will feature prominently on all RBNY’s training gear throughout the season, including tops, training jackets and specialty warmups
- RWJBH will serve as presenting partner of the Red Bulls Preseason. The brand will have a presence at all home matches at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Visibility also includes activations on the club’s pre-match fanfest BULLevard
- Gerardo Chiricolo will serve as chief medical officer, working closely with the club’s training staff and athlete care team
- RWJBH will provide comprehensive medical testing services, such as team physicals, imaging, lab work, rehabilitation plans, and injury preventative strategies and treatment
- Immersive patient experiences highlighted by “Red Bull for a Day.” The program provides the opportunity to celebrate the strength and bravery of a patient by having them serve as an honorary player for the day
- Opportunities for local soccer clubs to participate in halftime mini-games at Sports Illustrated Stadium presented by RWJBarnabas Health
- Brand integration within the club’s digital content and across various community platforms
- Developing a collaborative health and wellness education series. The offering will give parents of New Jersey-based youth soccer programs exclusive access to participate in both on-site and virtual educational sessions hosted by experts from RWJBarnabas Health and Red Bull New York Youth Programs
- The RWJBarnabas Health family – and its 45,000 employees statewide – will welcome Red Bulls players and staff, including with annual visits to hospitals across the system to engage with patients and staff
Setting a benchmark
Also on the horizon
Get a sneak peek here of Sports Illustrated Stadium’s forthcoming Hype House – a first-of-its-kind, open air social club.
In a press release announcing the partnership, Red Bull New York President and Manager Marc de Grandpré said he is honored to welcome RWJBarnabas Health as a trusted and committed partner.
“From our earliest conversations, it was clear we share the same values and a strong belief in the meaningful role a club can play in its community,” said de Grandpré. “Together, we look forward to building a partnership that elevates the experience on the pitch and strengthens the health, growth, and connection of the communities we proudly serve.”
RWJBH President and CEO Mark Manigan said the health system is proud to become the Naming Rights Partner of the RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center, as well as to serve as the Official Hometown Healthcare System of Red Bull New York.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and building a healthier New Jersey,” said Manigan. “The new Performance Center will establish the benchmark for elite training and player development in North America, and together, we are investing a healthier, stronger future for communities across New Jersey and beyond.”
