MIAMI — He may be known as "Mr. Worldwide," but Grammy-winning artist Pitbull has never forgotten his days in 305, aka Miami. The entertainer is now lending his name and money to Florida International University (FIU) in a "groundbreaking" partnership.
Welcome to Pitbull Stadium: FIU's Division I football team will take the gridiron at home for the foreseeable future under the new moniker, according to a news release from the public university.
According to FIU, their agreement with Pitbull, whose name is Armando Christian Pérez, marks the world's first-ever athletic venue where an artist has the naming rights.
The partnership will reportedly last for the next 10 years. The Miami Herald reports in addition to naming rights, Pitbull will also donate $1.2 million each year for the next five.
"This partnership with FIU is a true honor and a testament to what we can achieve when we work hard," Pitbull said in a statement. "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?"
The Herald reports Pitbull will also be able to host 10 events at the stadium rent-free each year, which includes concerts. FIU says the first concert Pitbull will headline at the stadium will mark the first time an entertainer will perform in a sports stadium that bears their name.
"Pitbull's career trajectory mirrors FIU's ascent as one of the nation's top public research universities," FIU President Kenneth A. Jessell said in a statement. "Like FIU, he started out very 305 and became worldwide."
FIU also noted Pitbull's longstanding commitment to education initiatives. In 2012, he reportedly founded the first SLAM! (Sports Leadership, Arts and Management) institution, a tuition-free public charter school in Miami. The K-12 schools have expanded to several other states, where a total of 10,000 students across 14 schools are educated.
Pitbull has also reportedly formed the SELF (Strengthen Education to Level the Field) 1st Foundation, which "enhances educational access and resources for minority and underserved populations across all levels of education, including college and trade school."
