Welcome to Pitbull Stadium, home of the FIU Panthers.
Florida International announced what could end up as a 10-year deal Tuesday with international recording artist, Grammy winner and businessman Armando Christian Pérez — the Miami native better known as Pitbull — to put his name on its on-campus stadium.
Pérez will pay $1.2 million annually over the next five years, the university said, for the naming rights. He will have the option in August 2029 to extend the agreement for another five years and continue the rebrand.
“Yes, we are going to make history at Pitbull Stadium,” Pérez said during a press conference in Miami. “This is not just an advertisement. This is a movement. This is truly a story in the making.”
The FIU said it is the first deal in which an artist owns the naming rights to a stadium. Pérez will also be involved in FIU’s efforts in the name, image and likeness space, athletic director Scott Carr said.
“This is a historic day for FIU athletics to uniquely partner with a world-renowned artist and incredible person who truly values relationships and his community,” Carr said. “Armando’s financial support is a game-changer for the program, but having him provide a microphone to amplify FIU will be even more beneficial to the growth of our brand.”
As part of the agreement, Pérez can use the stadium for 10 days a year rent-free, with some tickets for these events reserved for FIU students. A brand of vodka he owns will be the preferred brand at the stadium going forward, he will receive the use of two suites and 20 VIP parking passes for FIU home football games, and he is being asked to create an “FIU Anthem.” to be played at school athletic competitions.
“It’s a true blessing, a true honor,” Pérez said. “Let’s make history.”
Pitbull – who also goes by “Mr. 305”, a tribute to the Miami area code – began his musical career in the South Florida rap scene around 2004, becoming one of the most recognized artists in the world.
“Pitbull’s professional trajectory reflects FIU’s rise as one of the nation’s leading public research universities,” said FIU President Kenneth A. Jessell. “Just like FIU, it started at 305 and became global.”
Pérez is a longtime advocate for supporting education in South Florida. FIU said it founded the first SLAM! (Sports Leadership, Arts and Management) free public charter school in Miami in 2012.
“It’s about bringing everyone together,” he said. “It’s about bringing everyone together. … Hard work is what pays off. They tell me, ‘You’re so lucky.’ Well, the harder I work, the luckier I get.”
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This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
