PULLMAN, Wash.–Gesa Credit Union has entered into a 10-year, $11-million sponsorship deal for the naming rights to the home field of the Washington State Cougars football team.
The sponsorship is for the field itself, not for Martin Stadium, and will be known as Gesa Field at Martin Stadium.
According to media reports, the sponsorship deal is the largest single-time donation to WSU athletics in school history and the funds from the sponsorship will go toward general operation of the athletic department.
A promotional video released by the school showed a mock-up of the playing field with white “Gesa Field” lettering at the 50-yard line, replacing the traditional Cougars head at midfield.
The agreement notes the Gesa sponsorship is nonexclusive and will not affect the school’s long-standing sponsorships with BECU credit union or U.S. Bank.
According to the university, the deal includes “additional milestones in the agreement that would create additional Gesa donation opportunities to athletics.”
A ‘Very Nice Partner’
“WSU is very well-known,” said Gesa President/CEO Don Miller said. “There are hardcore Cougar fans, which is excellent, and it’s something they are very much about community and so are we. … It really married up to be a very nice partner to serve a lot of the things we like to accomplish.”
Miller is a WSU graduate.
The partnership will also include two student-run branch Gesa locations on the Pullman campus, at the Compton Union Building and The Spark.
The credit union will also make specially designed WSU debit and credit cards for Gesa members, with donations going to the Cougar Athletic Fund every time the cards are used, according to the agreement.