College Sports
A Win for Los Angeles: United Airlines Comes to the Coliseum
Published
8 years agoon
By
Willie David
LOS ANGELES (FNN SPORTS) — United Airlines and the University of Southern California have announced a naming rights agreement to help sustain and renovate the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, one of the sports world’s most beloved historical landmarks and home of the USC Trojans. Under the 16-year agreement, the venue will officially become the United Airlines Memorial Coliseum beginning in August 2019.
The agreement will support a $270 million project to restore and preserve the Coliseum and upgrade its facilities for fans, athletes and the community, generating thousands of jobs. The renovation will honor the stadium’s rich architectural history and preserve its status as a registered historic landmark, while adding modern amenities that will improve the visitor experience.
“The university has a time-honored commitment to the Coliseum, serving as its longest enduring tenant. USC is honored to be the caretaker of this Los Angeles treasure,” said USC President C. L. Max Nikias. “Together with United, we can ensure the Coliseum’s future as a world-class venue and true community asset.”
USC operates the Coliseum under a 98-year-lease agreement with the city, county and state. That lease included provisions to secure naming rights that would help underwrite the restoration.
“United has been a part of the Los Angeles community for more than 80 years. Sponsoring the Memorial Coliseum, an athletic and architectural icon, as well as USC, an intellectual and cultural beacon, reaffirms our broader commitment to serving the people, communities and business of this region,” said Janet Lamkin, President, California for United Airlines. “These investments to renovate and improve the stadium, as well as to sponsor the USC Trojans as they pursue excellence on and off the field, reinforce our overall investment in this vital market, while enhancing United’s brand presence outside of the airport in one of the nation’s largest cities.”
The Coliseum will be rechristened in 2019 just after the $270 million renovation is completed. While honoring the Coliseum’s architectural integrity, renovations and repairs will enhance the venerable stadium in time for its centennial.
“Over almost a century, the Coliseum has endured as one of the world’s greatest sports and entertainment venues, a civic monument, and architectural icon in the heart of Los Angeles,” Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, a member of the Coliseum Commission, said. “Through this restoration project, USC continues to demonstrate its responsible stewardship of the stadium. With support from United Airlines, USC is ushering in a modern era for this historic landmark and preserving its legacy for generations to come.”
As part of the renovation, the iconic peristyle will be restored, honoring its original design. Improvements made possible in part by the United naming rights agreement include additional aisles, handrails, wider seats, more legroom, cup holders, updated Wi-Fi, concession expansion and improvements, along with updated electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems. Audio and video systems also are being upgraded.
“The restoration of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a vital step forward to a more dynamic 9th District,” said Los Angeles City Councilman and Coliseum Commission President Curren Price. “Exposition Park is undergoing a renaissance of sorts that is bringing with it much prosperity in the form of jobs, economic growth and community benefits unlike anything we’ve seen before. I want to thank USC for the major investment in our community, which will have a lasting, positive impact in the lives of current and future generations.”
The only venue in the world to have hosted two Olympiads, two Super Bowls and a World Series, the iconic Coliseum will be home to both opening and closing ceremonies, as well as athletic events (track and field) for the 2028 Olympics. It has served as the USC Trojans’ home field since it opened in 1923.
“United Airlines and the Coliseum both have rich histories, with foundings nearly a century ago,” Nikias said. “Both have brought people from around the world together, and now we come together to create a great fan experience.”
“Our shared purpose as an airline is to connect people and help unite the world. From now on, the United Airlines Memorial Coliseum will be a symbol of that mission,” Lamkin said. “We are committed to continuing to extend and elevate our long-standing tradition of service to Los Angeles and fulfilling our role to make sure that the communities and businesses in the innovation capital thrive.”
All upgrades will improve the visitor experience at the Coliseum, which is currently home to the Los Angeles Rams (through 2019), and a well-known venue for major concerts, international soccer matches and community events. Trojans and Rams home football games will continue during construction.
A new Scholarship Club Tower will feature suites, loge boxes, club seats and a lounge. These amenities will provide donors with the opportunity to further underwrite the Coliseum restoration, as well as support the Trojan Athletic Fund, which will raise the balance of the funds needed to complete the restoration and upgrade. United Airlines also will become the official airline of USC Athletics as part of the agreement.
“The generosity of our donors — both large and small — will preserve this venue for generations to come and make it a truly world-class facility,” said USC Athletic Director Lynn Swann. “When construction is complete, our home field will be the best it’s ever been, for our players, our students and our Trojan fans, and that’s thanks to the contributions from founders and alumni and partners like United Airlines.”
Since opening almost 95 years ago, the Coliseum has welcomed over 118 million visitors at more than 4,500 events. Originally commissioned as a memorial to honor Los Angeles World War I veterans, it was later rededicated in 1968, the 50th anniversary of the Armistice, to include all who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War I. The Coliseum was declared a state and national historic landmark in 1984.
With the world’s most comprehensive route network, United Airlines and United Express carried more than 148 million passengers across five continents in 2017. United operates two hubs in California, Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport. The airline has served the Los Angeles market for more than 80 years and has recently invested nearly $600 million to elevate the customer experience in its terminals at LAX. United proudly supports organizations and programs in these local communities where its customers and colleagues live and work to help make a difference and inspire future leaders.
Business
Addition Financial, UCF Extend Naming Rights Agreement for Arena
Published
4 years agoon
August 18, 2022By
FNN SPORTS
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – UCF has extended its naming rights partnership with Addition Financial Credit Union for an additional dozen years—in the process continuing to identify Addition Financial Arena on the UCF campus as the Knights’ home for men’s and women’s basketball games and a variety of other events.
The new agreement is a 12-year, $20 million partnership that follows up the original naming rights pact signed by UCF and Additional Financial in 2013. The new deal takes effect Jan. 1, 2023.
The UCF Board of Trustees approved the name at its meeting this morning, and the full deal is expected to be approved Aug. 25 by the UCF Athletics Association.
“We’ve had a partnership with Addition Financial for nearly a decade, and we’re excited that Kevin Miller and the Addition Financial Board have agreed to extend our relationship for an additional 12 years,” says UCF vice president and athletics director Terry Mohajir. “This is a great new venture with outstanding community partners.
“Resources will be paramount as we transition into the Big 12 Conference a year from now, and Addition Financial will play a key role for us as we invest more resources to enhance our education and athletics missions!”
In 2013, Addition Financial was named the Official Financial Institution of the UCF Knights and is the exclusive credit union for UCF Athletics. Since that time, Addition Financial has partnered with UCF Athletics to provide scholarships, financial education workshops and other sponsorship support. Addition Financial is also the home of the official UCF Knights debit cards, with designs featuring the new Knight head and the Citronaut.
“Addition Financial is proud to continue our longstanding partnership with UCF Athletics and to align with Orlando’s hometown teams. Knight Nation has truly inspired us along their journey to the Big 12, and we look forward to embarking on that journey alongside them as we extend our partnership,” said Kevin Miller, Addition Financial president and CEO.
The 10,000-seat Addition Financial Arena has been home to the UCF men’s and women’s basketball programs since the start of their 2007-08 seasons. Located in the heart of Knights Plaza on the north side of campus, the state-of-the-art facility opened in the fall of 2007 and also hosts premiere concerts along with UCF commencement ceremonies.
College Football
ESPN Events and the Orlando Sports Foundation Announce Title Sponsor of 2022 Cure Bowl
Published
4 years agoon
June 29, 2022By
FNN SPORTS
ORLANDO, Fla. – Duluth Trading Company will be the title sponsor of the 2022 Cure Bowl, ESPN Events and the Orlando Sports Foundation announced today. The 2022 Duluth Trading Cure Bowl will be played at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, December 16 at Exploria Stadium – home of Major League Soccer’s Orlando City SC – and will be televised nationally on ESPN.
The Duluth Trading Cure Bowl matchup will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 4 with participating teams from the American Athletic Conference, Sun Belt Conference, Conference USA or Mid-American Conference.
“We are honored to have such a strong national brand like Duluth Trading Company join as title sponsor of the 2022 Cure Bowl, as the bowl continues its mission of bringing teams together to find a cure for cancer,” said Cure Bowl Executive Director and Orlando Sports Foundation CEO Alan Gooch.
“Duluth Trading Co. is proud to support the fight against cancer as the title sponsor of the Cure Bowl,” said Neala Shepherd, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience. “At Duluth Trading, we acknowledge the impact that cancer has had on the lives of our customers, employees and communities. Regardless of who you are cheering for, the one thing that unites all college football fans is the hope for a world without cancer.”
The Duluth Trading Cure Bowl is one of 17 college football bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events.
College Football
UCF’s Football Venue, the Bounce House, Gets a New Name
Published
4 years agoon
May 31, 2022By
FNN SPORTS
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Source: UCF // The UCF Athletic Association and FBC Mortgage, LLC, have combined on a naming rights agreement for the Knights’ home football stadium that takes effect beginning with the upcoming 2022 season and will brand the UCF football venue as FBC Mortgage Stadium.
The 10-year, $19.5 million deal means UCF football teams will play their home games in FBC Mortgage Stadium through the 2031 football season. The new arrangement begins July 1–following its approval today by the UCF Board of Trustees.
“It’s an exciting day for UCF Athletics and for FBC Mortgage to be able to collaborate on the naming of our football stadium,” says Terry Mohajir, UCF vice president and director of athletics.
“Sellouts have become the norm at UCF. Our game day experience has been widely recognized–and I believe it is second to no one. Knight Nation has established the atmosphere at FBC Mortgage Stadium as one of the best in the country.
“We are building the future of college football here at UCF. This represents the next step for us as we reimagine our football campus—and we’re excited to have FBC Mortgage join us on our journey.”
“FBC was founded in 2005 in downtown Orlando, and we are very proud to partner with our hometown university, UCF,” says Rob Nunziata, FBC Mortgage co-CEO. “We would like to thank the UCF athletic department, especially athletics director Terry Mohajir and assistant athletics director Malik Thomas who worked very hard to make this sponsorship a reality…Go Knights!!”
“With many of our employees having attended UCF, this was a natural fit for FBC Mortgage–and it also helps us achieve our national growth expansion with a great partner in UCF,” says Joe Nunziata, FBC Mortgage co-CEO.
The first UCF football game to be played at FBC Mortgage Stadium will be the Knights’ 2022 season opener Thursday, Sept. 1, against South Carolina State (7 p.m. ET on ESPN+).
“On behalf of our football program, I would like to express our appreciation for the support of FBC Mortgage,” says UCF football coach Gus Malzahn whose first Knight team in 2021 finished 7-0 at home.
“This provides a legitimate boost to us when it comes to creating a great homefield advantage. We take tremendous pride in the environment at our home football games–and this only adds more luster to that.”
The crown jewel in UCF’s impressive athletics complex, the Knights’ football venue–first known as Bright House Networks Stadium–opened in 2007 and became Spectrum Stadium in 2017. The on-campus facility provides UCF one of the top venues anywhere in the Southeast. After spending the previous 28 seasons at the Florida Citrus Bowl (now known as Camping World Stadium) in downtown Orlando, the Knights made their debut in the new on-campus facility on Sept. 15, 2007, facing Texas. A capacity crowd was on hand for the game, which was televised live nationally on ESPN2. Two seasons later when UCF played host to Miami on Oct. 17, 2009, a facility-record 48,453 fans were on hand for the contest.
It has played host to conference championship games (Conference USA or American Athletic Conference) after the 2007, 2010, 2017 and 2018 regular seasons. Located on the north side of campus, the stadium features luxury boxes, a large club lounge and a natural grass playing surface.
UCF’s gameday football facility has added an impressive series of enhancements over the last seven years:
–2015: The stadium enjoyed its first major renovation with the addition of the Carl Black and Gold Cabana. This east-side premium area quickly became one of the signature UCF game-day experiences. The Cabana is a 10,000-square-foot, Florida-themed social area and lounge located between the 30-yard lines.
–2016: The video board was upgraded to a 114-by-36-foot LED display. It features a Daktronics 15MM HD pixel layout for excellent image clarity. The display also has variable content zoning, allowing it to show one large image or be divided into multiple windows to show any variety of live video, instant replays, statistics, scoring, graphics, animations and sponsorship messages.
–2017: The Carl Black and Gold Cabana was expanded via 2,921 additional chair-back seats and an open-air sun deck. Eight field-level cabanas also were added at the south end zone with access to the enclosed air-conditioned J and J Rosengren Lounge. The concourse between sections 108-113 was converted into the Stadium Club. That 3,344-seat premium area on the west side of the stadium provides access to dedicated food and drink options, as well as other amenities. In addition, a ribbon display in the south end zone was unveiled, with that display measuring more than seven feet high by 199 feet wide.
–2018: Field-level cabanas were added at the north end as well as south loge cabanas.
–2019: North loge cabanas debuted, and an additional 1,000 premium chair-back seats were added on the east side of the stadium, increasing the capacity of the Carl Black and Gold Cabana for a second time.
