University of Phoenix Stadium to receive a name change

Since early in the 2006 season, which was the Arizona Cardinals’ first in their new stadium, their home has been called University of Phoenix Stadium.

Soon, the venue will have a new name.

As reported by Darren Urban on AZCardinals.com, the University of Phoenix, a for-profit college based out of Tempe, is looking to end its 20-year naming rights agreement with about nine years remaining.

As Urban reports, the Cardinals have already begun the process of finding a new naming rights partner for the stadium, which has hosted two Super Bowls as well as numerous postseason NCAA football games and, just a couple weeks ago, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four.

“We look forward to continuing our relationship with University of Phoenix while at the same time are excited about identifying a new naming rights partner for the next era of the stadium’s success,” Cardinals executive vice president/chief operating officer Ron Minegar said in a statement.

University of Phoenix was recently in the news for laying off at least 170 full-time faculty members, with the move being done due to a decline in enrollment. In 2015 enrollment was at 176,900 students, but that number dropped to 135,900 in 2016.

Though University of Phoenix will no longer hold the stadium’s naming rights, the school will continue to be partners with the Cardinals.

In a statement, Joan Blackwood, SVP and chief marketing officer for University of Phoenix, said a renewed focus on student retention, graduation rates, and employment-related outcomes – and less of an emphasis on growth – led to the decision to revise the partnership agreement with the Cards.

“We have determined it’s best to evolve our partnership and shift away from stadium naming rights going forward,” Blackwood said.

The stadium itself will keep its current name until a new sponsor is found.

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