According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, International pop star and music artist Pitbull is buying the naming rights to the Florida International Panthers (FIU) stadium.
Pitbull will name the FIU Panthers’ stadium after himself
The FIU stadium, which was previously named after Italian businessman Riccardo Silva, will now be called “Pitbull Stadium.”
Pitbull will be coughing up an annual fee of $1.2 million for the next five years to have the stadium named after himself. FIU is moving away from Silva as the namesake of their stadium due to accusations that he is a “serial sexual predator.”
The new name of the stadium is to be finalized by FIU’s Board of Trustees Tuesday. It will be the first instance of a musical artist being the namesake of a college football stadium.
The stadium, which will open up with its new name against the Central Michigan Chippewas on Sept. 7, has a capacity of 20,000. Their record for attendance was in 2011 when FIU took on the Duke Blue Devils and 22,682 people fans attended.
Fans are shocked that the FIU Panthers are naming their stadium after an artist like Pitbull
Pitbull has had long-standing connections to the Miami/South Florida area. He was born in Miami and has an album with the title “M.I.A.M.I.”
Actress Sofia Vergara said in an article from Vanity Fair that Miami adores Pitbull.
“We are both from Miami,” said Vergara, “and in Miami, everyone adores Pitbull. He is such a cool, bright guy, with the best energy. One thousand percent Latino talent and power. He is happily enjoying the ride to success, being proud of his roots, and coming from nowhere to conquer the American Dream.”
Still, the college football world is shocked at the notion of a stadium being named after an artist like Pitbull. It is the first naming rights deal of its kind in the college football world. The idea of naming a stadium after an artist has fans questioning the university, suggesting alternate names and expressing their bewilderment.
Mr Worldwide Stadium has a nicer ring to it
— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) August 6, 2024
This was hand-crafted for Twitter.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) August 6, 2024
this is so random 💀
— casey (@bmore_cowboys) August 6, 2024
Should purchase the university too and rename it Florida Worldwide pic.twitter.com/N234ODwzsQ
— Garage Gameday Sports (@GamedayGarage) August 6, 2024
What a time we live in
— Penn State FB Thoughts (@PSU_FB_Thoughts) August 6, 2024
😂😂😂 Money talks 🤷🏽♂️
— Sebastian Fearon DPT, CSCS, OCS (@TheDegenDoc) August 6, 2024
This is as college football as it gets.
— Rob Wolkenbrod (@WolkenRob) August 6, 2024
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