PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The 2024 Paris Olympics are finally here, and the Team USA roster is ready to go. As always, the United States boasts elite talent, including Simone Biles, Noah Lyles and LeBron James, among many others. But did you know there are quite a few Olympians living right in our backyard?
Here are the athletes from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware who have secured their spots to represent the U.S. in Paris.
Team USA Track and Field
New Jersey native and defending 400-meter hurdles Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has cemented herself as one of the greatest hurdlers to ever touch the track. McLaughlin-Levrone first made her Olympic debut at the 2016 Rio Olympics at only 16 years old while running for Union Catholic High School in Union County. Since then, she has emerged as a track and field juggernaut. The 24-year-old has broken the world record for the 400 hurdles five times, most recently at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in June with a time of 50.65 seconds.
FILE – Sydney McLaughlin, of the United States, wins the women’s 400-meter hurdles final ahead of Femke Bol, of the Netherlands, at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. The two greatest women’s hurdlers of their era have been plotting, planning and training — and, whether by design or by happenstance — mostly avoiding each other for the past two years. If things go right for them, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of America and Femke Bol of the Netherlands are headed for what would be only their third career showdown at the Paris Olympics.
David J. Phillip / AP
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Three-time Olympian and Bethlehem native Joe Kovacs is eyeing a gold medal this summer in shot put after winning silver in Rio and Tokyo. The Penn State alumnus is currently ranked No. 2 in the world with a throw of 23.13 meters.
Other standouts to watch include 800-meter runner Allie Wilson from Wallingford, Pennsylvania; pole vaulter Bridget Williams from Greensburg, Pennsylvania; javelin thrower Curtis Thompson from Florence, New Jersey; Keturah Orjifrom Mount Olive, New Jersey and discus thrower Sam Mattisfrom East Brunswick, New Jersey.
Bridget Williams competes in the women’s pole vault final during the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team Trials, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Eugene, Ore.
Charlie Neibergall / AP
Track and field events for the Olympics don’t start until Aug. 1.
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Team USA Basketball
Outside of NBA All-Star Joel Embiid, one of the few athletes representing Philadelphia who made the U.S. Olympic team is 29-year-old Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper. The four-time WNBA All-Star hails from North Philadelphia and played for Girard College, where her jersey is retired. Copper helped the U.S. women’s national team win gold at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup. She also won a WNBA title with the Chicago Sky in 2021, winning Finals MVP. This marks her third time making the Team USA roster.
United States’ Kahleah Copper tries to score during a women’s exhibition basketball game between the United States and Germany at the O2 Arena in London, Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
Alastair Grant / AP
Cooper will be joined by five-time WNBA All-Star Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Suns. Thomas is a Harrisburg native who attended Central Dauphin High School. She helped lead the Lady Rams to a 2008 State Championship victory. In 2020, Thomas led the WNBA in steals, and in 2023, she led the league in rebounds. This is Thomas’ first time qualifying for the Olympics.
Newark, New Jersey, native Bam Adebayo also punched his ticket to Paris. The 27-year-old NBA veteran has been with the Miami Heat since 2017. The three-time NBA All-Star was named to the 2024 All-Defensive Team. This is Adebeyo’s second time competing in the Olympics after winning gold in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics.
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United States center Bam Adebayo (13) shoots between Canada power forward Trey Lyles (8) and point guard Andrew Nembhard (19) during the first half of an exhibition basketball game Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in Las Vegas.
Steve Marcus / AP
Olympic competition for basketball starts July 27, but the women’s games won’t start until July 28.
Team USA Soccer
Former Philadelphia Union midfielder Paxten Aaronson has a leg up on his older brother, “Medford Messi” Brenden Aaronson. Paxten will do something his brother has yet to do: compete in the Olympics (Brenden has a World Cup to his name, though). Paxten left the Union in 2022, signing with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. Eintracht extended Paxten’s contract through 2028 but loaned the Medford, New Jersey native to Utrecht in the Eredivisie.
FILE – Philadelphia Union midfielder Paxten Aaronson (30) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second half of an MLS soccer match against FC Cincinnati Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Cincinnati. Aaronson is among 13 players who could make their U.S. national team debuts under interim coach Anthony Hudson in exhibitions against Serbia on Jan. 25 and Colombia three days later.
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Jeff Dean / AP
Other standouts to watch include Casey Murphy”}” target=”_blank”>Casey Murphyof Bridgewater, New Jersey andJohn TolkinofChatham, New Jersey.
The Olympic competition for soccer kicks off on July 24.
Team USA Rugby
Malacchi Esdale from Newark, Delaware has officially become an Olympian. After being listed as an alternate for the Tokyo Olympic Games, Esdale is now looking to help lift Team USA to the podium.
United States’ Malacchi Esdale, center, is tackled by New Zealand’s Akuila Rokolisoa during a World Rugby Sevens Series match Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Carson, Calif.
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Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP
Philadelphia’s Ariana Ramsey, a standout from Upper Merion, has also qualified for the Olympics. Ramsey, who played collegiate rugby at Dartmouth, was named the team’s MVP in 2023. This marks her second time qualifying for the Olympics.
Rugby events begin July 24.
Team USA Field Hockey
Ashley Hoffman is headed to the Games with Team USA Field Hockey. This is the Mohnton, Pennsylvania native’s first Olympics, but she’s not the first in the family to make it to the world stage in field hockey. Her mother, Brenda Hoffman (nee Stauffer), won a bronze medal in field hockey at the 1984 Olympics. Ashley Hoffman was coached by her mom at Twin Valley High School before attending the University of North Carolina. She played for Team USA in the Pan American Games in 2019 and 2023, winning bronze and silver medals respectively.
Argentina’s Lara Casas challenges United States Ashley Hoffman during the FIH Hockey Pro League mini tournament game between Argentina and USA at the Wilrijkse Plein in Antwerp, Belgium, Saturday, May 25, 2024.
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Geert Vanden Wijngaert / AP
Sisters Emma, 23, and Brooke Deberdine, 25, are ready to bring home the gold for Team USA’s field hockey team. The Deberdines are from Millersville, Pennsylvania and both attended Penn Manor High School and the University of Maryland.
The sisters are fierce midfielders and started playing in 2010. This is their first Olympic games, but they’re no strangers to high stakes, having both played in the 2024 International Hockey Federation and winning a silver medal. Before this, the sisters took home fourth place in the 2022 Pan American Cup.
Other outstanding players from our area include Phia Gladieux from Oley, Pennsylvania, Karlie Kishafrom Hamburg, Pennsylvania, Kelee Lepage from Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, Ashley Sessa from Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, Meredith Sholder from Alburtis, Pennsylvania, Maddie Zimmer from Hershey, Pennsylvania and Amanda Golini of Randolph, New Jersey.
Team USA’s first women’s field hockey game is July 27.
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Team USA Swimming
Chris Guiliano, a Berks County native and Daniel Boone High School alum, excelled at the University of Notre Dame. He was named the 2024 ACC Swimmer of the Year, a six-time ACC All-American and a four-time 2024 ACC Champion. Guiliano won the men’s 100 freestyle at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. This is the first time he has qualified for the Olympics.
Chris Guiliano swims during a Men’s 100 freestyle semifinals heat Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at the US Swimming Olympic Trials in Indianapolis.
Michael Conroy / AP
Guiliano will be accompanied by West Chester native Ivan Puskovitch, who attended Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square. This is the first time Puskovitch has qualified for the Olympics.
On the women’s side, Megumi Field from Wilmington, Delaware punched her ticket to Paris as a synchronized swimmer. The 18-year-old also competed in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
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Ruby Remati and Megumi Field, of United States, compete in the duet free final of artistic swimming at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Thursday, July 20, 2023.
Nick Didlick / AP
Other standouts to watch include Josh Matheny, 21, of Pittsburgh who will compete in the 200 breaststroke, Nic Fink from Morristown, New Jersey and Jack Alexy from Morristown, New Jersey.
Competition for swimming events begins July 27.
Team USA Rowing
Nick Mead and Justin Best are two local athletes representing the United States in rowing at the upcoming summer games. Both rowers were part of the men’s eight boat that secured a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, and they are now preparing to compete again.
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Mead, a Princeton University graduate, attended Episcopal Academy. Rowing runs in his family, with his father having rowed at Princeton and his mother and brother rowing for Penn. This marks Mead’s second appearance at the Olympics.
Justin Best hails from Kennett Square and attended Unionville High School before rowing for Drexel University. This will also be his second Olympic appearance.
Both men aim to build on their previous experience and bring home a medal this time.
Twenty-seven-year-oldMichael Grady of Pittsburgh will make his second Olympic Games appearance this year after placing fifth in the men’s four event at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Molly Reckfordfrom Short Hills, New Jersey will also be representing Team USA in Paris.
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The rowing events at the Olympics will begin on July 27.
Team USA Wrestling
Penn State alum Zain Retherford‘s Olympic Games debut is 23 years in the making.
Retherford, 29, will compete in the men’s freestyle 65kg weight class, which is equivalent to a little over 143 pounds.
The Columbia County native stands at 5-foot-8 and most recently, won gold in the men’s freestyle 70kg at the 2023 World Championships. Previously, he participated in the 70kg in 2022 and 2023 before this, wrestling in the 65kg weight class.
But the Penn State grad cut down to 65kg so he could compete in Paris since 70kg is not a weight class for the men’s freestyle Olympic event.
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Spencer Lee of Murrysville, Pennsylvania is a University of Iowa graduate and a three-time NCAA and three-time PIAA State Champion who also won gold in the men’s 50kg weight class during the 2014 World Championships. The Western Pennsylvania native will compete in the 57kg weight class this summer in Paris.
Spencer Lee, left, reacts after defeating Thomas Gilman during a 57-kilogram match at the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team Trials in State College, Pa.,, Saturday, April 20, 2024. Lee won the bout 8-2.
Jackson Ranger / AP
Wrestlers hit the mat Aug. 5-11.
Team USA Water Polo
Hailing from Haverford but originating from Belgrade, Serbia, Jovana Sekulic made her first Olympic team at 21 years old. A standout water polo athlete at Princeton, Sekulic led her team in 2023 with an impressive 76 goals.
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Her talent runs in the family, as her brother also competes for Princeton’s water polo team.
The competition for water polo kicks off July 26.
Team USA Table Tennis
Amy Wang is sure to make her hometown of Sewell, New Jersey proud when she wears the red, white and blue in table tennis. Wang started playing at age 4 and made her first national team at just 12 years old. Wang came close to making Team USA for the 2020 Games but fell short in what she described as “a hard moment to forget about” in a post on the Team USA website.
Amy Wang of United States competes in the women’s team table tennis final against Puerto Rico at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023.
Fernando Vergara / AP
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After that heartbreak, Wang took a yearlong break from the sport before bouncing back to win U.S. titles in 2022 and 2023. Wang is also a full-time student studying pre-med at UCLA. If the 21-year-old earns a medal in Paris, it would be the first Olympic medal for the U.S. in table tennis.
Table tennis competition begins July 27.
Team USA Archery
Casey Kaufhold, 20, from Lancaster, Pennsylvania is heading to her second Olympics for archery. A Conestoga Valley High School graduate, Kaufhold represented the U.S. in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she finished 17th, showcasing her potential for future success.
Competition for this event starts July 25, one day before the opening ceremony.
Team USA Equestrian
Boyd Martin, a native of Cochranville, Pennsylvania is a 44-year-old seasoned equestrian. A three-time Olympian, Martin is still chasing his first Olympic medal.
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His best performance came in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he placed sixth.
United States’ Boyd Martin, riding Tsetserleg TSF, competes during the equestrian eventing jumping at Equestrian Park in Tokyo at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
Carolyn Kaster / AP
Equestrian events begin July 27.
Team USA Canoe/Kayak
Thirty-four-year-old Casey Eichfeld, hailing from Drums, Pennsylvania is set to compete in his fourth Olympic Games in Paris. Drums is located roughly 20 miles north of Jim Thorpe. Eichfeld is no stranger to the Summer Games, having previously competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where he achieved his best finish of seventh place.
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More Team USA athletes
Several more athletes from North Jersey are competing in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Check them out!
Climbing
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Frederick Sinclair
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Frederick Sinclair has been with CBS Philadelphia since 2019 and has been a Digital Content Producer for the CBS News Philadelphia stream since 2021.
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Conditions worsened by a drought last year, which continues in 2026, had a dramatic impact on wildfires in New Jersey, according to the state’s inaugural wildfire report.
However, of 1,322 wildfires that burned 27,229 acres statewide in 2025, nearly all were caused by humans, according to the report. That includes the massive Jones Road Wildfire in Ocean County that took 20 days to contain as the result of a bonfire set by youth.
» READ MORE: N.J.’s biggest fire in more than a decade started in area known for illegal bonfires
The figures represent a 22% increase in the number of wildfires and an eye-popping 116% increase in acreage burned compared with the 20-year average.
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To date in 2026, New Jersey has logged 589 wildfires that burned 648.5 acres.
Overall, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service’s first wildfire report details a historic, challenging, and highly destructive 2025 for the state’s wildlands.
That came after a demanding fall fire season in 2024. Severe blazes in 2025 not only stretched firefighting resources but also forced thousands of residents from their homes.
“Our wildland firefighters responded to an increased number of wildfires and spent weeks at a time battling fires, often under challenging weather conditions,” Bill Donnelly Sr., chief of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, wrote in the report, which was released Thursday.
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A major wildfire in New Jersey is classified as any blaze reaching or exceeding 100 acres. While the state typically averages 4.75 major fires annually, crews battled nine major wildfires in 2025.
The drought had a big impact as it created tinderboxes in areas such as the Pinelands. Not only did the dryness help spread fires, but it also forced the forest fire service to drastically reduce the amount of acres it intentionally burns in advance.
Firefighters use those prescribed fires, or controlled burns, in strategic areas to reduce dry brush and other vegetation, thus denying future fires fuel.
The drought continues into this June despite some recent heavy downpours. Data from the National Weather Service’s Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center show that Camden County is running a 13-inch rain deficit over the last 12 months.
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» READ MORE: South Jersey heads into another summer already parched under the worst rainfall deficit in 20 years
Residents of the state are living amid a prolonged drought warning — the third of four levels of dryness monitored by officials. Parts of South Jersey have been under a drought warning since fall 2024.
But the biggest issue has been people.
Human activity was responsible for an overwhelming 99.6% of New Jersey’s wildfires in 2025, stemming from both accidental and intentional acts, according to the report.
“Whether through accident, carelessness, or even at times intentional acts, human behavior continues to be the primary driver of wildfire activity in our state,” Donnelly said.
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Equipment use was the leading cause of fires by volume, sparking 486 individual wildfires that collectively burned 527.5 acres. Lawnmowers, weed trimmers, chain saws, welding tools, grinders, and agricultural harvesting machinery can all create sparks that ignite brush.
However, illegal and improperly managed campfires were responsible for the most devastating destruction, scorching a massive 15,263.75 acres statewide.
The largest incident of the year, the Jones Road Wildfire in Ocean and Lacey Townships, burned 14,949 acres and prompted the evacuation of 7,000 people.
Triggered by an illegal bonfire, the massive blaze threatened more than 1,300 structures and forced the closure of major thoroughfares, including the Garden State Parkway and Route 9. It destroyed a commercial building and triggered power outages affecting 30,000 residents.
Other large incidents included the Mines Spung Wildfire in Burlington County, which consumed 6,610 acres and closed portions of the Batona Trail, and the California Branch Wildfire in Camden County, which burned 2,336 acres.
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Firefighters faced increasingly difficult environmental conditions throughout 2025. The report noted a growing trend of prolonged emergency operations, stating that 44% of the major wildfires in 2025 required more than five days to contain due to persistently dry weather.
In response to the escalating wildfire threat, the state’s fiscal year 2026 budget allocated an additional $1 million to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, funding that is expected to be maintained in future budgets. That allowed the addition of six full-time positions.
The remaining $700,000 was used to buy equipment, including a bulldozer and fire engines, and to expand air base operations. The service is also upgrading its communication network by transitioning to a 700 MHz radio system to improve coordination with local and state agencies.
Additionally, the state opened the new Veterans Fire Tower in Jackson Township.
The $2 million, 133-foot structure replaces the decommissioned Lakewood tower and will serve as a vital vantage point to protect nearly 200,000 homes and more than 516,000 residents across Ocean and Monmouth Counties.
Brazil selected the Red Bulls’ new Morris Township complex as its World Cup base
Facility unites Red Bulls first team, academy and Red Bulls II operations
RWJBarnabas Health partnership adds advanced sports medicine resources
Center strengthens NJ’s role in the global soccer landscape
The RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center is more than a training facility. It is where Red Bull New York‘s first team, Red Bulls II and academy system now operate under one roof, creating a centralized hub for player development, performance, recovery and innovation. The complex will also serve as the home-away-from-home for one of the top national teams competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Officially opened in April, the 80-acre Morris Township campus represents the culmination of a yearslong effort to build an environment capable of supporting every stage of a player’s journey — from academy prospect to first-team player.
The team held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility and provided tours of the newly completed complex, where club officials, healthcare leaders and other key stakeholders described a project designed not only to support today’s players but also to shape the future of the organization.
“The RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center will serve as a centerpiece for the continued growth of the game in our region and across the country,” said Marc de Grandpré, president and general manager of Red Bull New York.
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de Grandpré
For de Grandpré, an NJBIZ Power 100 honoree, the project represents more than a new home for the organization. “This facility brings our entire pathway together, from academy to first team, and creates an environment where players can train, develop, and compete at the highest level every day,” said de Grandpré. “It reinforces our commitment to building from within and developing the next generation of players.”
That sentiment echoed throughout the debut event. While the facility’s scale is immediately apparent, executives repeatedly emphasized that the true value lies not in the buildings or fields themselves, but in what they are designed to produce: healthier athletes, stronger player development and a clearer pathway from the club’s already robust academy system to the professional ranks.
Years in the making
The opening of the performance center marked the completion of a vision Red Bull New York leaders spent years pursuing.
Construction began in 2024 on the Morris Township property, but club officials noted during the ribbon cutting that the effort to identify, secure and develop a permanent home for the organization’s soccer operations stretched back far longer – around a decade.
The project brought together a team that included Gensler Architects, March Construction, The LandTek Group and interior design agency Drive21.
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The RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center sits on 80 acres in Morris Township. – PROVIDED BY RED BULL NEW YORK
The result is an 88,400-square-foot main building spread across two levels and anchored by eight full-size soccer pitches. Six are Kentucky Bluegrass fields grown in New Jersey, one is a Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass field and another is a turf surface. Five of the fields are heated to allow year-round use, while four are illuminated for evening training sessions.
The facility now serves as the permanent home for the club’s first team, Red Bulls II, academy and youth programs.
Main objective
For de Grandpré, bringing the entire organization together was always the objective. “At its core, this facility is about more than infrastructure. It’s about what happens inside – and on these pitches,” he said. “It’s where our first team will prepare to compete at the highest level, where our second team and academy players will develop with a real pathway ahead, and where we will create an environment for people to grow and reach their full potential.”
At its core, this facility is about more than infrastructure. It’s about what happens inside – and on these pitches. – Marc de Grandpré, president and general manager, Red Bull New York
A walk through the campus reveals a complex designed around virtually every aspect of athlete performance (see more in the slideshow above). The building houses multiple gyms serving both professional and academy players, team meeting rooms, educational spaces, dining facilities, medical areas and recovery resources. Dedicated academy spaces include classrooms, study areas and coaching clinic rooms, allowing youth players to balance their athletic development with educational responsibilities.
Nutrition also plays a prominent role. A full-service kitchen was designed to provide high-performance meals for players, while a demonstration kitchen allows chefs and nutrition specialists to provide meal preparation education to both academy and professional athletes.
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High-tech campus
Outside, the fields are equipped with multi-angle camera tracking systems that allow coaches and analysts to monitor performance and support player development.
In full swing
Bookmark this page – and check back often – for NJBIZ’s complete World Cup coverage.
In fact, technology is embedded throughout the campus. The entire property is covered by high-speed Wi-Fi, allowing staff to collect and analyze performance data through platforms such as Kinexon, which tracks player movement and workload, and GameOn, a video analysis platform used by coaches and performance staff.
The recovery resources are equally extensive. The first-team locker room connects directly to hydrotherapy areas that include hot and cold plunge pools, a temperate treatment and physical therapy pool and a sauna. Players throughout the organization have access to resources designed to support preparation, rehabilitation and recovery.
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Taken together, the facility reflects the growing role sports science plays in modern professional athletics. “I can see how impressive this building is, how big the statement is,” said Jürgen Klopp, Red Bull’s head of global soccer. “This is not about the role soccer played in the past in this country, it’s about the role soccer will play in the future.” Klopp is a renowned former player and coach who led Liverpool to English Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles.
Under one roof
Throughout the ribbon-cutting ceremony, speakers returned repeatedly to one theme: development. The facility was intentionally designed to bring players at every stage of the Red Bulls pipeline into the same environment.
Academy prospects now train, learn and develop just steps away from professional players. Coaches, analysts, trainers and medical staff operate within the same ecosystem, creating what club officials view as a clearer pathway to the first team.
Red Bull New York cut the ribbon on the RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center in Morris Township on April 22. – PROVIDED BY RED BULL NEW YORK
Red Bull New York Head of Sport Julian de Guzman said that connection is critical. “Every player’s journey looks different. It’s our job to create the best environments and scenarios for each of them to grow, to develop into their strengths, to understand that there is a real road from where they are to that first team,” said de Guzman. “This facility is that road.”
Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber described the complex as a resource for the next generation of players. “The future of this game and the people here – this is for you,” said Garber while addressing academy players attending the event. “We expect you to win trophies, to represent our country and your countries.”
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Garber then offered perhaps the strongest endorsement of the project delivered during the ceremony. “This building is not just one of the best ones in North America,” said Garber. “This rivals the best development cities of any football soccer club in the world.”
Partnership on display
The facility also stands as the most visible symbol of Red Bull New York’s growing relationship with RWJBarnabas Health. Announced in January, the long-term partnership made RWJBarnabas Health the naming-rights partner of the performance center while also establishing the health system as the official hometown health care system and EMS provider of Sports Illustrated Stadium, Red Bull New York, Red Bulls II, academy programs and youth initiatives.
At the ribbon cutting, RWJBarnabas Health President and CEO Mark Manigan said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to performance, innovation and community impact. “This is a partnership built on shared values and common cultures, a belief in innovation and a simple desire to be the very best,” Manigan said.
“This is a partnership built on shared values and common cultures, a belief in innovation and a simple desire to be the very best,” RWJBarnabas Health President and CEO Mark Manigan said at the ribbon cutting for the RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center. – PROVIDED BY RED BULL NEW YORK
RWJBarnabas Health is not only the naming-rights partner of the performance center but also of the RWJBarnabas Health Athlete Wellness Lab, a 5,000-square-foot gym and recovery space that serves as a focal point for athlete care throughout the facility. Designed for daily recovery, rehabilitation and preventative care, the wellness lab is used by players, athletic trainers, team physicians and performance staff as part of routine preparation and maintenance. The space supports a range of treatment protocols, including manual therapy, soft tissue work, recovery modalities and return-to-play programming.
The performance center also includes a comprehensive medical suite, innovation lab, physiotherapy spaces and wellness resources designed to support injury prevention, rehabilitation and long-term athlete health.
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The RWJBarnabas Health Athlete Wellness Lab is a 5,000-square-foot gym and recovery space that serves as a focal point for athlete care throughout the facility. – PROVIDED BY RED BULL NEW YORK
Additional features include aquatic therapy spaces, fatigue-detection tools, advanced diagnostic resources and orthobiologic capabilities intended to support advanced treatment and clinical care.
Healthy, fueled and well-rested
Manigan argued that top performances begin long before kickoff. “For the Red Bulls, success means winning. And that’s how we at RWJBarnabas Health measure success, too. But here, success isn’t just what occurs on the pitch – it’s all the things that happen before they walk on and after they walk off,” said Manigan.
He added: “Making sure the players are checked and healthy. Making sure they’re properly fueled. Making sure they rest and recover. And, when an injury does happen, making sure they get back out there stronger than before. When you put it all together, the RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center is purpose-built for success.”
Manigan described the opening as an exciting milestone. “What began as a shared vision is now a world-class facility that will support elite athlete performance, advance innovation in sports health and serve as a source of pride for community,” said Manigan.
From left: Marc de Grandpré, president and general manager, Red Bull New York, and Mark Manigan, president and CEO, RWJBarnabas Health at the April ribbon cutting for the performance center. – MATTHEW FAZELPOOR/NJBIZ
Dr. Gerardo Chiricolo, the Red Bulls’ chief medical officer who works closely with the club’s training staff and athlete care team, said the facility represents a significant advancement in athlete care. “The RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center represents a major step forward in how we care for professional athletes and the next generation,” said Chiricolo. “This facility isn’t just about treating injuries; it’s about preventive care, optimizing recovery and supporting each athlete’s long-term well-being.”
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On the ‘World’ stage
The facility’s quality has already attracted attention well beyond Major League Soccer – globally.
Brazil, five-time World Cup winners, reportedly selected the Morris Township venue earlier this year, and the decision was officially announced in May when the Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed it would use the complex as its Team Base Camp training site during the 2026 tournament, which kicked off over the weekend. The team arrived in New Jersey June 2 and have been practicing at the facility, which will operate under the name Columbia Park Training Center.
Pictures and videos of Brazil and its many star players, such as Neymar, practicing at the center and being spotted around New Jersey, have been making the rounds on social media.
“We are proud to welcome the Brazilian National Team to Columbia Park as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup,” said de Grandpré when the selection was announced. “Our Performance Center was built to serve the highest levels of the global game. Brazil’s decision to base here reflects the quality, innovation, and competitive standards embedded in this facility.”
Brazil Head Coach Carlo Ancelotti said the team was drawn to the facility’s modern design and amenities. “We are very pleased with this decision,” said Ancelotti. “The Training Center is new, modern and offers all the conditions for our work, before and during the World Cup. I want to thank Red Bulls for welcoming us and showing us all the space, which was also sought after by other teams.”
Hosting 4 national teams
The selection also represents a win for New Jersey as it takes on a leading role in the world’s largest sporting event, hosting eight matches – including the Final on July 19 – and serving as base camps for four national teams, including Brazil.
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“New Jersey is excited to welcome the world to our state for eight World Cup matches, including the World Cup Final,” said Gov. Mikie Sherrill. “We are thrilled that Brazil, Haiti, Morocco, and Senegal have decided to call the Garden State home.”
Team Morocco’s base camp site for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is located at The Pingry School in Basking Ridge. At the May 5 announcement are (from left) Alex Lasry, CEO, FIFA World Cup 26 NYNJ Host Committee, Gov. Mikie Sherrill, Moroccan Ambassador Youssef Amrani and Tim Lear, head of The Pingry School. – PROVIDED BY NJ GOVERNOR’S OFFICE/TIM LARSEN
During the facility’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, NYNJ Host Committee Board Chair and former First Lady Tammy Murphy pointed to both Sports Illustrated Stadium and the new performance center as assets that helped elevate the region’s standing within the global soccer community.
“I will tell you that without the participation of Red Bull, I’m not sure we would have landed a lot of the games we did here in New Jersey,” said Murphy. “I can tell you that Red Bull, the quality of the stadium, Sports Illustrated Stadium, and now this incredible venue. Those are two really important factors that are attractive to Gianni Infantino and many at FIFA, and it’s one of the big reasons I really do believe that we are awarded with the Final.”
The future of soccer
For Red Bull New York, Brazil’s selection serves as an early endorsement of a facility built to compete with the best in the world. The facility also represents a foundational shift — bringing every level of the organization into a single environment designed to streamline development and elevate performance. For RWJBarnabas Health, it extends a growing footprint in professional sports here in New Jersey that connects clinical expertise with high-performance athletics.
And for Morris Township, it anchors one of the most advanced training complexes in North America — a facility already attracting global attention, and one that will continue to shape how the club develops players for years ahead.
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“This partnership reflects our deep commitment to building a healthier New Jersey—on and off the field—and we are proud to invest in a state-of-the-art facility that will inspire excellence for generations to come,” said Manigan.
Said de Grandpré, “This is where the future of our club takes shape.”
