Pitbull Stadium coming to FIU campus after rapper buys naming rights

The rapper Pitbull has purchased the naming rights to Florida International University's football stadium, the Miami-area college said Tuesday.

The musician agreed to pay the institution $1.2 million per year to rename its athletic facility Pitbull Stadium. The contract lasts five years, but it could be extended another five years, school officials said.

"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,” Pitbull, whose real name is Armando Perez, said in a statement. “We're making history together, and we're just getting started. Why dream when you can live it?"

Perez is a South Florida icon, often referring to himself as Mr. 305 in honor of Miami’s area code.

“Pitbull's career trajectory mirrors FIU's ascent as one of the nation's top public research universities," said Kenneth Jessell, the university’s president. "Like FIU, he started out very 305 and became worldwide."

The rapper is the first musician to purchase a stadium’s naming rights, university officials said. He’ll be “the first entertainer in history to perform in an athletics facility bearing his name” when he hosts a concert at the stadium later this year.

Pitbull’s partnership extends beyond the name of the stadium. The rapper will create an anthem for the school and will be allowed to use the stadium for concerts 10 days each year, according to multiple reports.

The agreement will also require Pitbull to attend at least one fundraiser per year and create monthly social media posts about the university.

“Armando's financial support is program-changing, but him providing a microphone to amplify FIU will be even more beneficial to growing our brand,” said Scott Carr, the university’s athletic director. "I couldn't be more excited about our partnership as this will take us to another level. We can now officially say: 'Paws Up!'"