Maverik Stadium. UCCU Center. America First Events Center.
These three university athletic venues are strewn about Utah, miles and miles apart. So what do they all have in common?
They all have corporate naming rights deals worth millions of dollars.
These types of contracts often last at least a decade and come with all kinds of stipulations. Here is a breakdown of the naming rights deals at the public universities in Utah, obtained via public records requests by The Salt Lake Tribune.
UCCU Stadium
• Where: Utah Valley University
• Effective date: Oct. 1, 2022
• Contract length: Oct. 1, 2022-Sept. 30, 2050
• Value: $28.5 million
The deal between UVU and Utah Community Credit Union is unique in that the credit union donated the money to the university. The university will use part of that money — at least $7.5 million to be exact — to build a brand new soccer stadium that will be called UCCU Stadium.
In addition, UCCU will get its name on the school’s events arena and baseball field. Those venues will be renamed the UCCU Center and UCCU Ballpark, respectively.
A UCCU logo will be placed on the basketball court as well. But there is a clause in the agreement that says the basketball arena can enter into a naming rights agreement with a third party if it so chooses.
Maverik Stadium
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium at Utah State University Wednesday August 17, 2016.
• Where: Utah State University
• Effective date: April 11, 2015
• Contract length: April 11, 2015-Dec. 31, 2037
• Value: $6.3 million
Maverik Stadium is where USU plays its home football games. It underwent a renovation in August 2016.
America First Events Center
• Where: Southern Utah University
• Effective date: Sept. 1, 2017
• Contract length: Sept. 1, 2017-Aug. 31, 2027
• Value: $1.5 million
The Thunderbirds play their men’s and women’s basketball games at the America First Events Center. Volleyball matches and gymnastic meets also occur there. It used to be called Centrum arena before the school entered into the naming rights deal with the popular credit union.
As part of the agreement, all SUU ID cards received an American First Credit Union logo on them. It also stipulated that an AFCU ATM machine would be located near the entrance of the venue.
Men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, gymnastics and football all received 50 season tickets as a result of the deal.
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