Florida International University, better known as FIU, made an announcement on Tuesday that has the world of college football talking.
The Panthers’ athletic department has reached a deal on what it’s calling a “groundbreaking partnership” with international superstar Armando Christian Pérez, better known as Pitbull.
FIU football stadium will now be named “Pitbull Stadium” after the artist and the university reached an agreement over 10 years that will earn the school $1.2 million per year for the stadium’s naming rights, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Pitbull, a Miami native, is also known as Mr. 305 — the area code for Miami, FL. With FIU being located in Miami, this partnership makes sense for for both entities, given their ties to the area.
“Pitbull’s career trajectory mirrors FIU’s ascent as one of the nation’s top public research universities,” said FIU President Kenneth A. Jessell. “Like FIU, he started out very 305 and became worldwide.”
Pitbull, who will undoubtedly be performing many concerts in his newly acquired arena over the next decade, will be the first entertainer in history to perform in an athletics facility bearing his name.
“This partnership with FIU is a true honor and a testament to what we can achieve when we work hard,” said Perez (Pitbull). “Renaming the stadium isn’t just about a name change. It’s about inspiring the community, creating opportunities and showing the world that with determination and a clear vision, anything is possible. We’re making history together, and we’re just getting started. Why dream when you can live it?”
With Pitbull having such a profound impact on the Miami area, this partnership makes a ton of sense and will truly benefit both sides of the deal. It’s a rare win-win in college athletics, and certainly something that will be bringing more eyes — and ears — to FIU football in the future.
