Jersey Mike’s Arena unveiled as Rutgers announces partnership

Rutgers Athletics announced a multi-year agreement with Jersey Mike’s Subs as the official naming rights partner of Rutgers Athletics. Formerly known as the Rutgers Athletic Center, the building will now be known as Jersey Mike’s Arena. Since opening on November 30, 1977 it has served as the home for men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling, gymnastics and volleyball, as well as occasional concerts and other events.

While the University didn’t announce terms of the naming rights deal, Keith Sargeant of NJ Advance Media reported that “a contract that will net Rutgers $28 million over 20 years stipulates that the Rutgers Athletic Center will be called Jersey Mike’s Arena starting immediately.”

Jersey Mike’s was founded in Point Pleasant in the 1956 and has 115 stores currently throughout New Jersey and 2,045 nationwide.

“Jersey Mike’s is the perfect partner for Rutgers Athletics,” said Pat Hobbs, Rutgers Director of Athletics. “Our New Jersey brand extends beyond our borders; it is a state of mind that speaks to our core values of grit and the pursuit of excellence. Jersey Mike’s is an organization also engaged in the relentless pursuit of excellence, so what better partner for the State University of New Jersey?”

“Rutgers University is a home state neighbor that shares our values of excellence and community involvement,” said Peter Cancro, founder and CEO, Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Inc. “Jersey Mike’s is proud to partner with Rutgers Athletics and celebrate the school’s many dedicated student-athletes and their fans.”

“We are pleased to partner with a Jersey-born company committed to making a difference through its generous giving to charities,” said Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway. “Jersey’s Mike’s philanthropic history aligns with our core values that center on outreach to our communities and a relentless pursuit of excellence in all we do.”

Jersey Mike’s locations across the country have raised over $65 million for local charities since 2011, which includes their designated Annual Month of Giving, which has raised in excess of $47 million.

The floor of Jersey Mike’s Arena will have its logo on the wrestling mat and court for the start of the winter season next week.

Rutgers Athletics

Full exposure stated in the press release includes “As part of the agreement, Jersey Mike’s will enjoy significant brand exposure through signage in and around the arena, including exterior stadium signage, scoreboard signage, campus directional signage and logo placement on the court. Additionally, Jersey Mike’s will receive promotion through a variety of print, digital, radio and television assets.”

The 18 game home slate for Rutgers men’s basketball has eight sellouts this season already with the possibility of a complete season sellout appearing to be imminent.

The first event of the 2021-2022 winter sports season at Jersey Mike’s Arena will take place this Sunday, November 7 as Rutgers wrestling hosting a quad meet with NJCU, Cleveland State, and Binghamton.