Yanitelli Center
"The Bubble" | |
| Full name | Victor R. Yanitelli, S.J. Recreational Life Center |
|---|---|
| Location | 2641 Kennedy Boulevard Jersey City, NJ 07306 |
| Coordinates | 40°43′40″N 74°04′23″W / 40.727648°N 74.073173°W |
| Public transit | PATH: Journal Square JSQ-33 JSQ-33 (via HOB) NJT Bus: 8, 9, 10, 14, 80, 87, 119 |
| Owner | Saint Peter's University |
| Operator | Saint Peter's University |
| Capacity | 3,200 |
| Surface | Hardwood |
| Construction | |
| Opened | November 29, 1975 |
| Renovated | 2020–2021 |
| Construction cost | $6 million ($35.1 million in 2024 dollars) |
| Tenants | |
| Saint Peter's Peacocks (NCAA) (1975–present) Jersey Jammers (USBL) (1986–1988) | |
The Victor R. Yanitelli, S.J. Recreational Life Center, known today as the Run Baby Run Arena, is a multipurpose athletic facility on the campus of Saint Peter's University, a private, coeducational Jesuit university in Jersey City, New Jersey. Notable for its air-supported "bubble," the Yanitelli Center opened on November 29, 1975 at a cost of $6 million and is named after the 17th president of the college.
The facility is the home of the Saint Peter's Peacocks men's and women's basketball, volleyball, tennis and swimming and diving teams. For men's basketball games, collapsible bleachers are expanded to cover two of the main gymnasium's three full courts and provide a seating capacity of 3,200. For the women's games, only one of the bleachers is opened. The men's basketball team played the inaugural game at the Yanitelli Center against the Dartmouth Big Green losing 67–68. Prior to its opening, the men's basketball team hosted its home games at the nearby Jersey City Armory and still occasionally use the venue for high-profile games.
The building also houses The Eugene and Teresa Imperatore Swimming and Diving Center that features a 25 yd (23 m), 8 lane Olympic-size swimming pool with 1- and 3-meter diving boards and the Aquatics office. Additionally, a fitness center, weight room, racquetball court, and squash court are also located in the facility. The offices for the Department of Athletics are located on the third floor while the Department of Recreation and Intramural Sports are in the basement.
Students often refer to the building simply as "The Bubble" due to the air-supported roof, which is one of the most recognizable landmarks on the campus and in Jersey City. The Bubble covers five roof-top tennis courts and a jogging track. The tennis nets can be removed to provide facilities for indoor athletic practices as well as a venue for intramural sporting events.