As announced in a press conference on Monday, Vanderbilt’s football stadium will be renamed to FirstBank Stadium, with the naming effective immediately. The 10-year naming rights agreement is part of a larger campus collaboration agreement between Vanderbilt and FirstBank, which includes a comprehensive multimedia agreement for all of Vanderbilt’s varsity sports and student and alumni engagement opportunities.
“Like Vanderbilt, FirstBank isn’t just located in Nashville; it has been shaped by this city and state. Those roots in this community matter, and our roots matter,” athletic director Candice Lee said. “This partnership builds on the university’s long and cherished tradition of community collaboration.”
As part of showing FirstBank’s commitment to the Nashville community, FirstBank President and CEO Chris Holmes presented Lee with $500,000 dollars at the press conference to be used for scholarships for Vanderbilt student-athletes from Tennessee-based high schools. In addition to the scholarship money, the partnership will allow Vanderbilt to continue to pursue initiatives related to Vandy United, the university’s $300 million campaign focused on renovating their athletics facilities.
“As the Vandy United campaign reimagines what is possible for Vanderbilt athletics, partnering with Firstbank also ensures that we can meet the changing landscape of college athletics,” Lee said. “Together, united by our shared roots in this community, we will look forward.”
Despite the name change, Vanderbilt will continue to uphold the designation of Dudley Field, the stadium’s original name when the venue opened in 1922.
“This partnership is a representation of building out our community into Nashville. We feel strengthened by the brand,” head football coach Clark Lea said. “I couldn’t be more excited. For us to take the field at FirstBank field this fall is an indication of where this program is headed.”
