FIU Disputes Claims Pitbull Has Not Received Stadium Payments

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article presented claims regarding FIU’s receipt of payments as statements of fact. The story has been updated to reflect that the information originated from a third-party report and that payments have been made to Florida International University.

A recent report from Marca raised questions about the status of payments tied to Florida International University’s naming rights deal with rapper Armando “Pitbull” Perez. The agreement, announced in 2022 and valued at $6 million, made headlines as one of the first instances of a music artist securing naming rights to a college football stadium.

Marca’s report gained traction on social media after College Transfer Portal — a popular X page dedicated to college sports — amplified the report and questioned whether or not the terms have really been met.

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According to FIU itself, there have been no issues with payments.

FIU Denies Pitbull Hasn’t Paid The School For Stadium Naming Rights

In a statement made to Operation Sports, FIU has pushed back on claims that Pitbull hasn’t paid the school for its football stadium’s naming rights. The following is a statement from Darin Yrigoyfn, Assistant AD of Strategic and Brand Communications for FIU.

That claim is factually incorrect. FIU has already received the first two scheduled payments, both paid ahead of their due dates, and the third installment remains on schedule. 

Armando has been a wonderful partner throughout this process. We are excited to be working with him, and his energy, creativity, and commitment have made this a strong and collaborative partnership. Together, we’ve already begun exploring innovative ideas and look forward to what this partnership will continue to grow into in the years ahead.

FIU’s response directly contradicts the report’s characterization of the payment timeline, leaving two conflicting accounts of how the agreement has been executed. As the party directly involved in the agreement, the university’s statement provides the most direct insight into the status of those payments.