CIO Strategic Investment Plan

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A New Destination for Education, Innovation, Sports, Culture, and Community

The Community, Innovation, and Opportunity (CIO) Strategic Investment Plan is transforming the Middlesex College campus into a dynamic, year-round destination for education, innovation, sports, entertainment, culture, and community life.

Announced in 2022 as part of Middlesex County’s Destination 2040 Strategic Plan, the CIO Strategic Investment Plan represents a transformational investment in the future of Middlesex County. In partnership with the State of New Jersey and Middlesex College, the County is bringing together education, workforce development, athletics, recreation, arts, entertainment, and community programming to create a connected destination unlike any other in the region.

Since its announcement, the CIO Strategic Investment Plan has moved from vision to reality. Middlesex County has completed major design milestones, broken ground on signature facilities — including the new Middlesex County Innovation Magnet School, a multi-use stadium, NEXUS Fields at Thomas A. Edison Park, and Student Center — established partnerships with leading organizations, and launched NEXUS, a new sports and entertainment district that will serve residents and visitors from across New Jersey and beyond.

The CIO Strategic Investment Plan Includes:

NEXUS — a new sports and entertainment district bringing together athletics, entertainment, dining, recreation, and community experiences, including:
- A multi-use stadium for concerts, cultural events, collegiate and professional athletics, and community programming.
  - NEXUS Commons an adjacent plaza to the multi-use stadium that will serve as a gathering space for the residents, visitors, and students.
- NEXUS Fields at Thomas A. Edison Park a 14-field athletic complex for soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, plus a cricket field and running track available for practice and competition events.
- A full‑service, high‑end restaurant and bar inside the new Student Center.
A new Student Center — providing new campus and community amenities.
The Middlesex County Innovation Magnet School — expanding educational opportunities for students interested in innovation, technology, and emerging fields.
A Workforce Development & Conference Center — supporting education, training, workforce development, conferences, and business engagement.
A new Community Park — creating additional space for recreation, learning, and community activities, including an educational children's amenity.

From Vision to Reality:

Since the CIO Strategic Investment Plan was announced in 2022, Middlesex County has achieved major milestones that are turning this transformational vision into a reality.

2026

NEXUS Leadership Takes Shape: In June 2026, Middlesex County, in partnership with The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), announced Middlesex County native Katie Eskin as General Manager of NEXUS. Eskin will lead the team responsible for operations, programming, partnerships, and guest experiences as NEXUS establishes itself as a premier year-round destination for youth and professional sports, collegiate athletics, entertainment, culinary experiences, and community events. To read the press release, click here.
Industry-Leading Venue Management Partnership: In May 2026, Middlesex County announced a partnership with The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), the nation’s leading venue management agency, to manage three flagship venues on the Middlesex College campus: the new multi-use stadium, NEXUS Fields at Thomas A. Edison Park, and the full-service restaurant inside the new Student Center. The partnership brings experienced professional venue management, programming, operations, and guest-experience expertise to the CIO Plan. To read the press release, click here.

2025

Construction Reaches a Major Milestone: In August 2025, Middlesex County celebrated a major milestone in the CIO Strategic Investment Plan with a behind-the-scenes construction tour and ceremonial steel beam signing at Middlesex College. To read the press release, click here.
Innovation Magnet School Breaks Ground: In March 2025, Middlesex County broke ground on the Middlesex County Innovation Magnet School at Middlesex College, advancing the County’s commitment to preparing students for the jobs and industries of the future. To read the press release, click here.
Stadium and Student Center Break Ground: In January 2025, Middlesex County marked another major milestone with the groundbreaking of the state-of-the-art multi-use stadium at NEXUS (formerly known as Multipurpose Community Venue), and Student Center. To read the press release, click here.

2024

Thomas A. Edison Park Project Advances: In September 2024, the National Park Service adopted the Environmental Assessment prepared by Middlesex County for proposed improvements to Thomas A. Edison Park, advancing the project through the federal regulatory review process.
- To learn more about the decision, click here.
- Read the statement from Commissioner Director Rios
- Read Commissioner Charles E. Tomaro’s Op-Ed in ROI-NJ
- View the Summary of Improvements to Thomas A. Edison Park
- To review the environmental assessment visit the National Park Service website.
Phase 1 Designs Completed: In May 2024, Middlesex County announced the completion of Phase 1 design for three signature CIO Plan projects: the new multi-use stadium at NEXUS (formerly known as the Multipurpose Community Venue), Student Center, and new Middlesex County Magnet School. The completed designs marked a major transition for the CIO Plan — bringing the vision from the drawing board to construction. To read the press release, click here.

2023

Rutgers Baseball Partnership Established: In July 2023, Middlesex County and Rutgers Athletics announced a partnership that will bring Rutgers Baseball to the future multi-use stadium at NEXUS (formerly known as the Multipurpose Community Venue). The partnership establishes the new stadium as a future home field for Rutgers Baseball and creates opportunities to explore new educational pathways between Middlesex College and Rutgers University. To read the press release, click here.

2022

The CIO Strategic Investment Plan Is Announced: Announced officially to the public on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, in a press conference held at the Middlesex College, County leadership along with key state and local government and school district officials spoke about the long-term economic impact Community, Innovation, and Opportunity (CIO) Strategic Investment Plan will have and how it will transform the region. To read the press release, click here.

See the Transformation:

Explore the latest videos, renderings, and project milestone photos showcasing how the CIO Strategic Investment Plan is transforming the Middlesex College campus.

Videos

Renderings

See what the transformed Middlesex College campus and NEXUS will look like:

NEXUS Renderings — Explore renderings of the multi-use stadium, NEXUS Fields at Thomas A. Edison Park, restaurant and bar, and other NEXUS components.
CIO Strategic Investment Plan Renderings — View renderings of the Student Center, Middlesex County Innovation Magnet School, and other components of the CIO Strategic Investment Plan.

Project Milestone Photos

Follow the progress of the CIO Strategic Investment Plan through photos capturing the moments that have brought this transformational investment from vision to reality:

CIO Strategic Investment Plan Leadership Tour
Middlesex County Innovation Magnet School Groundbreaking
Multi-Use Stadium and Student Center Groundbreaking
CIO Strategic Investment Plan Steel Beam Signing
Rutgers Athletics and Middlesex County Partnership — Announcing the future multi-use stadium at NEXUS as a home field for Rutgers Baseball
Community, Innovation, and Opportunity Strategic Investment Plan Announcement — The launch of the CIO Strategic Investment Plan in 2022

Where Sports, Entertainment, and Community Converge

NEXUS is a major component of the CIO Strategic Investment Plan and the next chapter in transforming Middlesex County into a regional destination.

This new sports and entertainment district is designed to be a year-round destination where people can play, compete, dine, celebrate, and connect. With professional venue management led by The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) and Middlesex County native Katie Eskin serving as General Manager, NEXUS brings together the leadership, expertise, and programming needed to establish a premier sports and entertainment destination in New Jersey.

From youth and professional sports to collegiate athletics, live entertainment, tournaments, culinary experiences, and community events, NEXUS is designed to deliver experiences that go far beyond the playing field.

One Destination. Countless Experiences.

NEXUS brings together several of the CIO Strategic Investment Plan’s signature investments, including:

A multi-use stadium designed to host collegiate and professional athletics, concerts, cultural events, and community programming.
- Designed to meet Big Ten, NCAA, Minor League Baseball, and FIFA standards, positioning the venue to host a wide range of high-level athletic competitions and events.
- NEXUS Commons — An adjacent plaza and gathering space featuring public art, seating, water features, and other amenities that activate the campus and create an inviting environment for events and everyday community use.
NEXUS Fields at Thomas A. Edison Park:
- 10 multi-sport artificial turf long fields
- Three multi-sport baseball/softball fields
- Championship field with track and grandstands
- 16 tennis courts
- 500-foot cricket pitch
- 1 fieldhouse and new comfort stations
A full-service restaurant and bar located inside the new Student Center, adding a dining and gathering destination for residents and visitors.

Together, these venues form a connected sports and entertainment district that brings sports, recreation, entertainment, dining, and community together in one destination — creating new experiences and opportunities for residents and visitors from across the region.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Adams Lane eastbound will be closed and detoured beginning Friday, August 21, 2026, as part of NJDOT’s bridge replacement project over Amtrak in North Brunswick. Westbound traffic will remain open throughout construction.

For additional information and detour details, please refer to NJDOT’s traffic advisory.