TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State football has played at Sun Devil Stadium since 1958. While they won’t be moving stadiums, they will be technically playing in a new home environment. Sun Devil Stadium has now officially been renamed to Mountain America Stadium, Home of the Sun Devils.
Arizona State football renames Sun Devil Stadium
Sun Devil Stadium has a lot of history to it. Arizona State football has competed in the venue since 1958, and so have a flurry of other teams.
The Arizona Cardinals played at Sun Devil Stadium from 1988-2005. Both the Fiesta Bowl and the Cactus Bowl have held multiple games there.
In 1998 and 2002, Sun Devil Stadium even hosted the BCS National Championship Game.
Over the many years since construction, the proud football venue in Tempe has undergone many changes. When Sun Devil Stadium opened in 1958, the capacity was only 30,450. The capacity peaked between 1989-1991 when the venue could pack in 74,865 fans.
Now after many renovations, the athletic complex holds 53,599 individuals. There have been countless renovations and changes in Sun Devil Stadium history, but never a full-on name change before.
So why the name change?
Money.
The new name is the product of a 15-year deal between Mountain America Credit Union and Sun Devil Athletics.
“The most important deal in athletics department history,” writes Arizona State University in their press release.
“This is one of the important naming rights deals in the history of college sports and that speaks to the power and the future of our brand,” said ASU President Michael Crow. “We are grateful for Mountain America’s investment in our student-athletes and our programs. This agreement creates a pathway to help us compete at the highest levels of athletics in today’s changing environment.”
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