Kolby KickingWoman
ICT
At a time when copious amounts of money is being injected into college athletics, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe has entered into the fray.
In an agreement announced Monday, Nov. 18 with the University of Arizona, the tribe secured naming rights to the school’s football stadium for $60 million for 20 years.
Arizona Stadium will now be known as Casino Del Sol Stadium and the deal is the largest in Big 12 history.
The tribe’s reservation is in southwest Tucson, less than 20 miles from the University of Arizona’s campus.
Pascua Yaqui Tribe Chairman Julian Hernandez said in a statement that the tribe “values partnerships grounded in respect and opportunity” and this will benefit the tribe for years to come.
“Our collaboration with the University of Arizona reflects our shared commitment to education, cultural preservation and community strength,” Hernandez said in the statement. “This agreement honors the tribe’s deep roots in this region and creates pathways for prosperity that will benefit our people and Southern Arizona for generations.”
University President Suresh Garimella echoed those sentiments, saying in part that as a land-grant university, part of its mission is to engage with the community and build sustainable relationships with tribal nations.
“For many here in Southern Arizona and around the country, Arizona Athletics offers a first glimpse of the University of Arizona,” Garimella said in the statement. “By naming one of our campus landmarks for Casino Del Sol, we are telling that audience how proud we are to partner with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.”
The naming partnership will include new exterior and interior branding, field logos, digital platforms and expanded integration into national television broadcasts.
Arizona Athletics is pursuing multiyear facilities upgrades as part of the deal, including fan amenities, student-athlete spaces and event operations across multiple venues.
Levi Esquerra, Chemehuevi Indian Tribe of California, is a university special advisor, Native American Advancement & Tribal Engagement. He said the agreement is more than just a naming agreement.
“It is a commitment to strengthening the bond between the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and the University of Arizona,” Esquerra said in a statement. “We are proud to work side by side to expand opportunity, advance education and build pathways that will support native nations and the broader region well into the future.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.