Gamecocks and Founders Federal Credit Union Extend Naming Rights Agreement for Baseball Stadium
COLUMBIA — Founders Federal Credit Union and the University of South Carolina today announce a multi-year naming rights extension agreement that will continue to name Gamecock baseball鈥檚 nationally ranked stadium Founders Park, school officials announced Friday.
The extension was approved earlier today by the USC Board of Trustees.
The agreement continues the 鈥淔ounders Park鈥� name on USC鈥檚 baseball stadium through October 2035.聽 Founders Federal Credit Union will also receive additional partnership benefits in collaboration with multimedia rightsholder Learfield鈥檚 Gamecock 91茄子 Properties, including prominent branding inside the stadium and a comprehensive mix of marketing and sponsorship assets with the Gamecocks athletic program.
鈥淔ounders Federal Credit Union is a tremendous partner of Gamecock Athletics,鈥� said USC athletics director Ray Tanner.聽 鈥淔ounders鈥� commitment to excellence mirrors our mission.聽 This partnership has been beneficial for both of us, and I know the relationship will continue to be a win-win for Founders and our athletics program in the future.鈥�
South Carolina鈥檚 baseball stadium became Founders Park prior to the 2016 season.聽 The sponsorship receives the exposure of having all home games broadcast live on a video linear and digital platform and on the Gamecock 91茄子 Network that allows fans around the world to keep up with Gamecock baseball at Founders Park.聽 Carolina baseball also ranks annually in the Top 10 in average game attendance.
鈥淯pon my becoming the baseball coach at the University of South Carolina this past summer, I quickly realized the amazing relationship between Gamecock Baseball and Founders Federal Credit Union,鈥� said Gamecock baseball coach Paul Mainieri.聽 鈥淲e are so proud of being associated with this outstanding enterprise and the people that make up Founders Federal Credit Union. We (Gamecock Baseball and Founders) both share the same goal鈥o be the best in our respective businesses. We will always play the game with passion and pride to represent the beautiful ballpark known as Founders Park.鈥�
Founders Park is only one of 11 current on-campus primary-college baseball use stadiums in Division I baseball with a corporate naming rights agreement with Kentucky Proud Park (Kentucky), UFCU Disch-Falk Field (Texas), Blue Bell Park (Texas A&M) from the Southeastern Conference, as well as FedEx Field (Memphis), Washington Trust Field (Gonzaga), Hanover Insurance Park (Holy Cross), Newman Outdoor Field (North Dakota State), English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Center (Virginia Tech), Santa Ana Star Field (New Mexico) and UCCU Ballpark (Utah Valley) being the others.
鈥淎t Founders, we are committed to investing in our communities,鈥� said Founders President and CEO Bruce Brumfield.聽 鈥淥ur partnership with Gamecock Athletics as the naming partner of Founders Park is mutually beneficial for us to align ourselves with the excellence of Carolina Baseball as we further extend our brand among Gamecock Nation.鈥�
Founders will also be recognized as 鈥淭he Official Credit Union of Gamecock Athletics.鈥澛� The credit union also has a presence on campus, including an office in the Russell House University Union.
