Neyland Stadium, one of the largest stadiums in the U.S. by capacity, is the subject of a new sponsorship deal to preserve the nationally recognized stadium’s name.
Tennessee Athletics announced a “transformative” new partnership Wednesday with Knoxville based travel-center giant Pilot to “preserve” Neyland Stadium.
Under the terms of the agreement, the name of the stadium and its Shield Watkins Field will remain unchanged, and Pilot will receive prominent branding rights.
Neyland derives its name from army general Robert R. Neyland, who served in both World Wars and whose combined win total as a Tennessee football coach was 173-31-12.
Donald Page/Getty Images
New signage is set to be erected on the east side of the stadium with a “Home of the Vols” logo.
“Neyland Stadium is one of the most iconic sporting venues in the world and UT is a significant part of making Knoxville a special place that Pilot is proud to call home,” said Pilot CEO Adam Wright.
“Through this partnership, we will preserve the legacy of Neyland while also investing in its future to create exceptional experiences for generations to come. We look forward to seeing you out here as we cheer on the Vols in Neyland.”
Tennessee said a key aspect of the partnership would be investment in the Neyland Stadium renovation project, which would “modernize and enhance the fan experience” with upgrades including concourse widening, gate and entryway expansions, as well as extra concession areas.
“Vol fans know better than anyone the magic of Neyland on game day and the feeling of singing Rocky Top in the same stadium where the greatest Vol legends made their name,” said UT Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman. “Our partnership with Pilot is all about preserving and enriching that experience to make sure fans and their families will continue to make these same kinds of memories for decades to come.”
The financial details of the sponsorship will not be made public, but the duration of the agreement was slated for up to 20 years. Many of the completed renovations are expected to be ready for the start of the football season – which kicks off at the end of the month.
Newsweek has previously mapped the biggest stadiums in the U.S., a list on which Neyland Stadium features.
After numerous expansions and renovations, Neyland has grown from an initial capacity of 3,200 to 101,915.
Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com
