Welcome To Pitbull Stadium: Global Star Gets Naming Rights To FIU Football Venue

By Barry Janoff

Aug. 6, 2024: Mr. 305 continues to link his name, music, brand and vision to Miami and South Florida.

Musician, producer and entrepreneur Armando Christian Pérez — Pitbull — has signed what was described as a “groundbreaking partnership” with Florida International University for naming rights to the school’s football stadium.

Pitbull will pay the school $6 million —  $1.2 million per year for five years, — with an option to renew the agreement for five additional years, according to ESPN and CBS Sports.

The alliance features multi-platform marketing and promotional activation between Miami-native Pitbull — aka Miami area code Mr. 305 — and FIU, which is the only public Div. I institution in Miami.

FIU Stadium will be rebranded as Pitbull Stadium, “making it the world's first-ever athletics venue with an artist possessing the naming rights,” according to FIU. He will also get exclusive naming rights for several of the stadium's facilities, including the field, club, end zone concourse and student section; and be named the “official entrepreneur of FIU Athletics.”

"This is a historic day for FIU Athletics to uniquely partner with a world-renowned artist and amazing person who truly values relationships and his community," Scott Carr, FIU athletics director, said via the university.

"Armando's financial support is program-changing, but him providing a microphone to amplify FIU will be even more beneficial to growing our brand. I couldn't be more excited about our partnership as this will take us to another level. We can now officially say: 'Paws Up, Dale!'"

The first game in Pitbull Stadium, which opened in 1995 and holds 20,000, would be Sept. 7 with the FIU Panthers hosting Central Michigan. The team is part of Conference USA.

The rap music-college football tie-in also drew national attention this past May when Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre acquired naming rights to the “Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop,” scheduled for Dec. 28 in Tucson.

"This partnership with FIU is a true honor and a testament to what we can achieve when we work hard," Pitbull said via FIU.

“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?"

Under terms of the deal, Pitbull also gets use of the stadium ten days per year thru the alliance, his Voli 305 Vodka will be the preferred brand sold at the stadium; he gets two reserved suites for all home football games; and, if he wishes, gets the right to designate a performer at halftime or post-game of a home game according to ESPN and CBS Sports.

In addition, Pitbull will create an anthem for FIU, post about the school on social media and appear at one athletics fundraising event per year thru the agreement.

Van Wagner College, FIU Athletics' 3rd-party multimedia rights partner since 2016, assisted with the collaboration. As part of the partnership, South Dade Kia becomes presenting sponsor of the field: South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium.
 
"We have been proud supporters of FIU Athletics because we recognize the significant role that education and sports play in connecting with young people and students," Lucy Benedetti, evp/co-owner of South Dade Kia Miami & Homestead.

“When we found out about FIU Athletics and Pitbull's outstanding initiative, we immediately wanted to contribute and participate. We are delighted to announce our collaboration, demonstrating our collective commitment to innovation in Miami. Together we will enhance education and athletics, creating a brighter future for our students."

"Armando's financial support is program-changing, but him providing a microphone to amplify FIU will be even more beneficial to growing our brand."
 
Pitbull's support for education dates more than a decade.

In 2012, he founded the first SLAM! (Sports Leadership, Arts, and Management) tuition-free public charter school in Miami. The K-12 schools "leverage universal themes such as sports, science, technology, media and more to engage students."

SLAM! serves nearly 10,000 students across 14 schools in Florida, Nevada, Georgia, Texas and Arizona.

His recently formed SELF 1st Foundation  — Strengthening Education to Level the Field — “enhances educational access and resources for minority and underserved populations across all levels of education, including college and trade school.”

"Pitbull's career trajectory mirrors FIU's ascent as one of the nation's top public research universities," FIU president Kenneth Jessell said via the university. "Like FIU, he started out very 305 and became worldwide."

Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre Get Arizona Bowl Naming Rights

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