Pitbull Purchases Naming Rights to FIU Football Stadium — Now Known as Pitbull Stadium
Written by djfrosty on August 6, 2024
Pitbull is always looking for way to make history, and Mr. 305 has done it again. The Miami resident has reached an agreement to purchase the naming rights to Florida International University’s football stadium, ESPN reports.
According to the network, Pitbull and FIU entered a five-year deal in which the “Time of Our Lives” artist will pay $6 million to the university for FIU Stadium to be renamed to Pitbull Stadium.
“International recording artist Pitbull is purchasing the naming rights to FIU’s football stadium,” ESPN’s reporter Pete Thamel noted on X. “He’s expected to pay the school $1.2 million per year for the next five years to change the name of FIU Stadium to Pitbull Stadium, per FIU board documents.”
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Pitbull shared the news in a video on Instagram that shows him dancing on a giant screen above the football field, with a sign above that reads “Pitbull Stadium” as his song “Triumph” plays.
It’s a landmark agreement as Pitbull is the first musician to have a stadium bear their name in the history of college athletics. Once approved, Pitbull Stadium will take effect this upcoming football season with FIU set to host Central Michigan in their home opener on Sept. 7.
“What we’re doing here is groundbreaking. We’re making history. This is history in the making,” Pitbull told ESPN. “You’re going to see that every other university is going to want to do the same thing. But the difference is, we don’t do this for propaganda, we do it from the heart. We do it because it’s meaningful. We do it because I’m from the crib. I’m 305. I’m from the bottom. This is my backyard.”
ESPN also reports that there’s an option in the deal for the Grammy winner to renew the naming rights for another five years if he chooses to do so. Other parts of the agreement include Pitbull crafting an anthem for the school, posting about FIU 12 times per year on social media and make an annual appearance at a university fundraising event. ESPN also reported that the 43-year-old mogul will have access to the 20,000-person capacity stadium for 10 days a year, and his vodka company will be the “preferred” distributor for liquor served in the venue. He also will be given a pair of luxury box suites to every home game.
Pitbull will look to bring his mojo for success to the school as it’s been tough sledding for FIU on the gridiron. The team hasn’t had a winning season since 2018 and is coming off a pair of rough 4-8 campaigns under head coach Mike MacIntyre.
Watch Mr. Worldwide celebrate getting the stadium named after him in his post below.