'One of the Most Important Naming Rights Deals' Signed by Mountain America CU

The $17.3 billion Mountain America Credit Union, headquartered in Sandy, Utah, has signed a 15-year naming rights partnership with Arizona State University (ASU). The deal, announced Wednesday, will rename the university’s well-known Sun Devil Stadium to Mountain America Stadium.

Officials are calling this new partnership “one of the most dynamic naming rights deals in college athletics.”

Mountain America President/CEO Sterling Nielsen said, “Mountain America Credit Union is pleased to expand our partnership with Arizona State University and introduce the Mountain America Stadium. This new partnership allows Mountain America to support hundreds of student-athletes and the Arizona community for many years to come through enhanced financial education, scholarship, internship and cause marketing programs.”

Financial details of the partnership were not disclosed, according to information provided by Mountain America and ASU.

In a statement, ASU President Michael Crow said, “This is one of the most important naming rights deals in the history of college sports and that speaks to the power and the future of our brand. We are grateful for Mountain America’s investment in our student-athletes and our programs. This agreement creates a pathway to help us compete at the highest levels of athletics in today’s changing environment.”

According to numerous social media posts from Arizona State Football fans, many are sticking with the stadium’s former name. “It shall always be known as Sun Devil Stadium,” posted a person identified as Taylor Hunter on X, formerly Twitter. A local Phoenix sports radio host for Fox Sports, Jody Oehler, wrote, “It will always be Sun Devil Stadium. Mountain America is not paying me money so it will remain Sun Devil Stadium on the show.”

Despite the initial pushback from some ASU fans, the Mountain America-ASU partnership will bring in a lot of money to the university and the community, according to Wednesday’s announcement. The partnership includes the following:

• Football Field Goals: Mountain America will donate $250 to the Sun Devil Club for every field goal made to enhance ASU’s student-athlete experience.
• Shoe Donation Program: ASU and Mountain America will develop a shoe donation program, providing brand-new shoes to community members in need.
• Scholarships: Each year, Mountain America will provide $20,000 to ASU student-athletes, with $10,000 going to women’s sports and $10,000 to men’s sports.
• Financial Education Programs: Mountain America will offer special student-athlete financial education programs, including personal coaching sessions.
• Internship Program: Mountain America will also provide an internship program for student-athletes to help students develop the skills and experience needed for future endeavors.

“The ability to compete at a high level during a transformational time in college athletics requires finding incredible partners who want to invest in our 26 sports, our 650 student-athletes and our 300-plus staff and coaches,” Ray Anderson, Sun Devil vice president for university athletics, said. “An athletic department of nearly 1,000 team members requires incredible amounts of technology, nutrition, mental health resources, travel, and other vital parts to win championships. We enthusiastically thank and welcome Mountain America Credit Union and look forward to integrating them into so many wonderful memories that will be created at Mountain America Stadium for years to come.”

According to the statement, the partnership agreement was brokered between Oak View Group Global Partnerships, Pac-12 MMR and Sun Devil Athletics.