The University of Arizona just rewrote the college sports naming-rights playbook. On Monday, the school announced a 20-year, $60 million-plus agreement with Casino del Sol, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe’s flagship resort, to rebrand Arizona Stadium as Casino del Sol Stadium — the largest naming-rights deal in Big 12 history by total value.
For a venue that opened in 1929 and had never changed its name, this is more than a fresh coat of paint. Arizona Athletics calls it the biggest partnership in program history, elevating Casino del Sol into the Wildcats’ top sponsorship tier as a “Pillar Partner” with category exclusivity in casino, gaming and resorts. The deal includes full interior and exterior branding, on-field logos, digital integration and prominent exposure in national TV broadcasts.
From the athletic department’s side, this is a straight-up war chest move. As college sports shifts into an era of revenue sharing with student-athletes and escalating facility expectations, athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois has been open about the need for new money. The naming-rights check will help fund a multi-year facilities plan under the “Bear Down Blueprint,” targeting premium seating, concourse upgrades, accessibility, technology and back-of-house improvements to keep Arizona competitive in the Big 12.
In a press release, Suresh Garimella, President of the University of Arizona, stated, “For many here in Southern Arizona and around the country, Arizona Athletics offers a first glimpse of the University of Arizona. By naming one of our campus landmarks for Casino Del Sol, we are telling that audience how proud we are to partner with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.”
The deal also sends a message across the state — and the conference. It beats Arizona State’s 2023 naming-rights pact with Mountain America Credit Union (reported at $50 million over 15 years), and resets expectations for what a major college football brand can command in this space.
For the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and Casino del Sol, the partnership is about more than signage. Tribal leaders frame the agreement as a long-term investment in education, cultural visibility and community development in Southern Arizona, using one of the state’s biggest stages to tell their story to a national audience.
In a college athletics landscape where TV money, NIL and facility races define who can actually chase championships, Casino del Sol Stadium is more than a new name. It’s a signal that Arizona intends to play in the top revenue tier — and that tribal gaming dollars are now firmly part of the big-time college sports economy.
