The 305's university officially partners with Mr. 305 to bring
the Panthers worldwide Pitbull makes history with first ever
artist-branded stadium
MIAMI, Aug. 6, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, Florida
International University (FIU) Athletics announced a
groundbreaking partnership with international superstar and
entrepreneur Armando Christian Pérez, better known as Pitbull.
The 10-year agreement will see FIU Stadium rebranded as Pitbull
Stadium, making it the world's first-ever athletics venue with an
artist possessing the naming rights.
Pitbull kicked off his music career in the South Florida rap scene. Since his debut in
2004, he has skyrocketed to global stardom, becoming one of the
most successful recording artists worldwide. His hits like "I Know
You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" and the RIAA Diamond Certified "Give Me
Everything" have dominated charts and united fans across the
globe.
The unrivaled collaboration includes multi-faceted marketing and
promotional opportunities between Pitbull, a Miami native, and FIU – the only public
Division-I institution in Miami.
"This partnership with FIU is a true honor and a testament to
what we can achieve when we work hard," said Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull). "Renaming the
stadium isn't just about a name change. It's about inspiring the
community, creating opportunities and showing the world that with
determination and a clear vision, anything is possible. We're
making history together, and we're just getting started. Why dream
when you can live it?"
When he steps on the stage at Pitbull Stadium, the
GRAMMY®-winning artist will be the first entertainer in history to
perform in an athletics facility bearing his name.
"Pitbull's career trajectory mirrors FIU's ascent as one of the
nation's top public research universities," said FIU President
Kenneth A. Jessell. "Like FIU, he
started out very 305 and became worldwide."
The partnership also marks Pitbull's participation in FIU
football's Vice Night, featuring Miami-style colors and merchandise, with the
Panthers donning their nationally acclaimed Vice uniform. This
year's game – which will feature a new Vice uniform – will take
place on Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. against Sam
Houston State and will be broadcast across the country on
ESPNU.
"This is a historic day for FIU Athletics to uniquely partner
with a world-renowned artist and amazing person who truly values
relationships and his community," FIU Director of Athletics
Scott Carr commented. "Armando's
financial support is program-changing, but him providing a
microphone to amplify FIU will be even more beneficial to growing
our brand. I couldn't be more excited about our partnership as this
will take us to another level. We can now officially say: 'Paws Up,
Dale!'"
Van Wagner College, FIU
Athletics' 3rd-party multimedia rights partner since 2016, assisted
with the collaboration. Their efforts also helped attract
additional partners to further enhance the partnership, including
South Dade Kia which will be the presenting sponsor of the field:
South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium.
"We have been proud supporters of FIU Athletics because we
recognize the significant role that education and sports play in
connecting with young people and students," stated Lucy Benedetti, Executive Vice
President/Co-Owner of South Dade Kia Miami & Homestead. "When
we found out about FIU Athletics and Pitbull's outstanding
initiative, we immediately wanted to contribute and participate. We
are delighted to announce our collaboration, demonstrating our
collective commitment to innovation in Miami. Together we will enhance education and
athletics, creating a brighter future for our students."
Pitbull has been a longstanding advocate for education. He
founded the first SLAM! (Sports Leadership, Arts, and Management)
tuition-free public charter school in Miami in 2012. The K-12 schools leverage
universal themes such as sports, science, technology, media and
more to engage students. SLAM! serves nearly 10,000 students across
14 schools in Florida,
Nevada, Georgia, Texas and Arizona. In 2022, SLAM! was 1 of 38 school
systems in the world recognized as a System of Distinction for
excellence in education by Cognia, a global school improvement and
accreditation organization.
Like SLAM!, Pitbull's influence extends beyond the classroom.
His newly formed SELF 1st Foundation will serve as an extension of
those efforts to bridge opportunity gaps and foster real, tangible
impact in underserved communities. SELF 1st, which stands for
'Strengthening Education to Level the Field,' enhances educational
access and resources for minority and underserved populations
across all levels of education, including college and trade school.
The organization seeks to cultivate academic excellence, inspire
young minds and create a more equitable society where every
individual, regardless of background, has the opportunity to
succeed through the transformative power of education.
For more information about the partnership, visit
FIUSports.com/PitbullxFIU.
Images and video of today's announcement are available for media
use through this Brand Manager folder.
Media Contact:
Jason
MacBain
315-750-0236
jmacbain@fiu.edu
news.fiu.edu
@FIUNews
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SOURCE Florida International
University