FIU Renames Football Stadium After Miami's Own Pitbull in Landmark Deal

Florida International University (FIU) has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Armando Christian Pérez, better known as Pitbull, resulting in the renaming of its football stadium to "Pitbull Stadium". This marks the first instance of a university naming an athletics facility after a musician.

The agreement, revealed on August 6, 2024, involves Pitbull paying $1.2 million annually for five years, totaling $6 million for the naming rights. The deal encompasses various commitments from the artist, including:

• Creating an anthem for FIU
• Making 12 social media posts about the university annually
• Attending a yearly FIU athletics fundraising event

In return, Pitbull receives several benefits:
- Title of "Official Entrepreneur of FIU Athletics"
- 10 days of stadium use per year
- Distribution rights for his Voli 305 Vodka within the venue
- Two reserved stadium suites
- Opportunity for a "Pitbull-affiliated performer" to play halftime or postgame shows

This partnership aligns with FIU's efforts to generate new revenue streams, a common trend among college athletic departments seeking to compete with higher-spending institutions.

Pitbull, a Miami native often referring to himself as "Mr. 305" after the city's area code, has strong ties to the local community. Born on January 15, 1981, he has risen to international fame with hit songs like "Give Me Everything", which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks in 2011.

FIU President Kenneth A. Jessell drew parallels between Pitbull's career and the university's growth, stating, "Pitbull's career trajectory mirrors FIU's ascent as one of the nation's top public research universities. Like FIU, he started out very 305 and became worldwide."

The artist's involvement in education extends beyond this deal. In 2013, he founded SLAM! (Sports Leadership and Management), a charter school in Miami, demonstrating his commitment to his hometown's youth.

The 20,000-seat Pitbull Stadium, originally opened in 1995, is set to host its first game under the new name on September 7, 2024, against Central Michigan.

"Renaming the stadium isn't just about a name change. We're making history together, and we're just getting started. Why dream when you can live it?"

This collaboration between FIU and Pitbull not only brings financial benefits to the university but also aligns with the artist's ongoing philanthropic efforts, including hurricane relief work. As a Grammy Award winner with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame since 2016, Pitbull's influence extends far beyond music, making this partnership a significant moment for both the university and the artist.