Vanderbilt University has signed a 10-year football stadium naming rights and campus collaboration agreement with FirstBank.
Announced last week by Candice Lee, Vice Chancellor for athletics and university affairs and Athletic Director, the deal will see the Vanderbilt Stadium renamed as FirstBank Stadium starting with the 2022 Commodore football season.
Furthermore, the agreement sees FirstBank become the official bank of Vanderbilt Athletics and the Vanderbilt Alumni Association.
“I’m excited for the opportunities this historic collaboration with FirstBank creates for Vanderbilt Athletics and our student-athletes,” commented Lee. “As the landscape of collegiate athletics continues to shift, we remain committed to our core mission.
“We will provide student-athletes with the tools to reach their full potential on and off the field and work to unite and inspire the city we call home. I look forward to seeing Nashville come together to support the Commodores at FirstBank Stadium for years to come.”
The university has also outlined that it will ‘uphold and honour’ the designation of Dudley Field – the venue’s original name when it opened in 1922 as the first stadium in the South to be erected exclusively for college football.
Construction related to Vandy United will begin to transform the north and south end zones as Vanderbilt marks the 100th anniversary of Vanderbilt Stadium and Dudley Field this year.
FirstBank President and CEO, Chris Holmes, said: “For more than a century, FirstBank has built its reputation by believing in the power and potential of our community. Partnering with Vanderbilt reinforces our shared commitment to the idea that world-class excellence can have local roots.
“We believe FirstBank Stadium is more than a name. It represents an opportunity to strengthen this community and mentor leaders who will shape an even brighter future.”
The relationship also includes a multimedia arrangement with Vanderbilt Athletics for all varsity programs.
The bank will also participate in Vanderbilt student and alumni engagement opportunities, such as sponsoring student internships and select alumni programming.
