Pitbull buys FIU's football stadium naming rights. Tells students they'll help write its new 'anthem'
ByRapper and singer Armando Christian Pérez, better known as Pitbull, has purchased the naming rights to the Florida International University football stadium. The award-winning artist will pay FIU $6 million total for the five-year deal, which many speculate can lead to a 10-year deal.
The rebranded Pitbull Stadium is making headlines and history as the first ever athletic venue named after a musician.
"Yes, we're going to create history in Pitbull Stadium," Pérez said in a news conference in Miami. "This isn't just an announcement. This is a movement. This is truly history in the making."
As part of the deal, Pitbull will get 10 days to use the stadium rent-free, his vodka brand will be the main option at the stadium, he'll get 20 VIP parking passes and two suites.
In addition to renaming the stadium, Pitbull will also be involved in the university's plans around image and likeness. And he's also started working on a new anthem for the ahtletics department.
"What we need to do is let the kids tell us what they want," Pérez said in a SportsCenter interview.
Pitbull plans on involving the students in the making of the new anthem in hopes of motivating them and getting them ready to "play ball."