SEATTLE — Husky Stadium has a new name.
The University of Washington announced Thursday that the naming rights to the historic site had been sold to Columbia Bank in a record 10-year deal for $70 million.
WATCH | UW announced a 10-year global partnership with Columbia Bank on Thursday
VOTE: Do you support UW changing the name of Husky Stadium?
The deal, which was approved Thursday morning by the school’s board of trustees, is the largest in college sports history for stadium naming rights, according to the Sports Business Journal.
“As we know, the financial climate in and around college athletics creates a fiduciary responsibility for us and our campus to look at every line of revenue we have and determine how we can maximize it,” said UW athletics director Patrick Chun.
The name change officially takes effect on January 1. Signage and other branding changes to match Columbia Bank Stadium will be implemented gradually as part of an implementation plan, the UW said.
This decision is expected to bring long-term added value to the university. UW President Robert J. Jones said at a news conference following the announcement, “This relationship will clearly support our students…we have found a partner who will build and advance the strategic goals of this university.”
Columbia Bank President Chris Merrywell said the bank was regularly contacted for sponsorships and UW was a “natural choice.”
Merrywell also announced plans to open a student-run Columbia Bank branch in the future to help students develop their professional skills. As part of the plan, the UW and Columbia Bank will also partner on several initiatives to support and expand students’ financial well-being and workforce readiness.
Located on the shores of Lake Washington, Husky Stadium opened as University of Washington Stadium in 1920 and has been home to University of Washington football games for over 100 years. It was renamed Husky Stadium in 1970.
The stadium underwent a massive $280 million renovation project that lasted nearly two years before reopening in 2013.
Asked Thursday about fan reaction to the historic name change, Chun told KOMO News it doesn’t mean a step away from tradition and said university leaders remain committed to preserving it.
“What happens on these Saturdays is very unique in this city. You have generations of families coming to watch football games,” Chun said. “We recognize this and we fully assume our role as guardians of this tradition. »
In 2015, Alaska Airlines obtained the naming rights just for the football field in a 10-year deal. It was known as “Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium” until the sponsorship officially expired in June 2026.
By comparison, that 10-year deal brought in about $42 million for the UW, while the Columbia Bank Stadium deal is expected to bring in $70 million over the next 10 years.
In a social media post, the school said “the partnership will strengthen support for UW student-athletes while creating new opportunities for students, alumni and communities across the university and state.”
UW this spring renewed its partnership with Alaska Airlines for its basketball venue, Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion, in a 10-year, $28.4 million deal.
Together, the naming rights agreements between Alaska Airlines and Columbia Bank are expected to bring UW nearly $100 million over the next 10 years.
Gn sports
