Dale! Pitbull Secures Naming Rights for FIU Football Stadium
Official Partnership Makes History With First Ever Artist-Branded Stadium
Florida International University (FIU) Athletics has announced a major partnership with international music star and entrepreneur Armando Christian Pérez, better known as Pitbull. In this groundbreaking deal, Pitbull has secured the naming rights to FIU’s football stadium which will now be called Pitbull Stadium.
The $6 million sponsorship is a marketing win for FIU, making Pitbull Stadium the first sports venue in the world to be named after a musician. As part of the deal, the Cuban American rapper, also known as Mr. 305, will host 10 free events at the stadium each year.
Pitbull will pay FIU $1.2 million annually over the next five years with an option to extend the partnership for another five years. While Pitbull believes other universities may want to follow FIU’s example, he insists his motivation isn’t just about advertising. For him, it’s about giving back to the Miami community, supporting students, and inspiring young people to chase their dreams.
Pitbull has long been a champion of education.
In 2012, he founded the first SLAM! (Sports Leadership, Arts, and Management) tuition-free public charter school in Miami. These K-12 schools use themes like sports, science, and media to engage students. Today SLAM! serves nearly 10,000 students across 14 schools in Florida, Nevada, Georgia, Texas, and Arizona. In 2022, SLAM! was recognized as a System of Distinction for excellence in education by Cognia — a global accreditation organization.
Pitbull’s influence extends beyond education.
His newly established SELF 1st Foundation aims to bridge opportunity gaps in underserved communities. SELF 1st, which stands for 'Strengthening Education to Level the Field,' works to improve educational access for minority and underserved populations from K-12 to college and trade schools. The organization’s goal is to inspire academic excellence, empower young people, and create a more equitable society where everyone has the chance to succeed through education.