- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Gaming
The Pascua Yaqui Tribe's Casino Del Sol will pay more than $60 million over 20 years for naming rights to the University of Arizona's football stadium, the largest such deal in Big 12 Conference history.
Under the deal, the venue will be renamed Casino Del Sol Stadium. The agreement makes Casino Del Sol a Pillar Partner with the university's athletics department, granting category exclusivity in casino, gaming and resorts beginning next fiscal year.
The partnership reflects a growing trend of tribal gaming enterprises securing high-profile sports venue agreements. Pechanga Resort Casino holds naming rights to Pechanga Arena San Diego through December 2026 and serves as a founding partner of the Los Angeles Clippers' Intuit Dome. Casinos spent $1.4 billion per season on NBA sponsorships between 2021 and 2023, according to basketball website Dunkest.com.
"This partnership gives us the opportunity to share our story on one of the biggest stages in college athletics," Amanda Lomayesva, interim CEO of Casino Del Sol, said in a statement.
The agreement includes exterior and interior branding, field logos, digital platforms and integration into national television broadcasts. Casino Del Sol and the university plan to develop programs supporting tribal students and strengthening academic and cultural connections between the tribe and university community.
"Our collaboration with the University of Arizona reflects our shared commitment to education, cultural preservation, and community strength," said Julian Hernandez, chairman of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. "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."
Arizona Sports Enterprises, the athletics department's multimedia rights partner, led negotiations for the agreement. The university plans a multiyear facilities enhancement plan to modernize fan amenities and student-athlete spaces.
The Pascua Yaqui Tribe operates several enterprises including Casino Del Sol, a AAA Four Diamond casino resort, and AVA Amphitheater, a 5,000-seat concert venue.
