UB Athletics Looks to Secure Naming Rights for Stadium and Arena
3/11/2025 2:00:00 PM | General
BUFFALO, NY - In a historic move for the University at Buffalo (UB) and its broader community, the university has officially opened the opportunity for naming rights sponsorships for the UB Stadium and Alumni Arena. This milestone marks the first time in UB's history that its premier athletic venues will carry a corporate naming rights partner, reflecting a strategic vision that extends far beyond sports.
As the landscape of college athletics continues to evolve, this initiative is a critical step toward strengthening UB's position in both the Mid-American Conference and the national stage. A naming rights partnership will provide new resources to enhance the student-athlete experience, elevate UB's athletic programs, and create opportunities that benefit the entire university community—students, faculty, alumni, and supporters alike.
"Securing premier naming rights partners for UB Stadium and Alumni Arena is a major milestone for our department and a critical step in our long-term vision for growth," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Mark Alnutt. "As the landscape of college athletics continues to evolve, it's more important than ever that we position UB for sustained success and remain competitive through new opportunities."
UB's athletic programs have continued to rise in prominence, with its football team securing nine wins and a Bahamas Bowl victory in 2024—its fourth bowl win in the last six years. The men's and women's basketball programs have combined for seven MAC Championships and eight NCAA Tournament appearances in the past decade. In addition, UB has consistently excelled across multiple sports, securing several MAC team titles and producing over 40 individual MAC titles in the last five years.
To lead this transformational initiative, UB has enlisted Van Wagner, a nationally recognized leader in college athletics marketing, to identify the university's inaugural naming rights partner. With a track record of securing impactful partnerships across the collegiate landscape, Van Wagner will leverage its expertise to align UB Athletics with a brand that shares the university's vision for excellence and community impact.
"We are thrilled to embark on this journey with the University at Buffalo through our stadium and arena naming rights partnership," said Mike Palisi, President of Van Wagner College. "This collaboration exemplifies our shared commitment to making a lasting impact and enhancing the fan experience for the Buffalo community. We look forward to supporting the growth of UB Athletics and its student-athletes, both on and off the field and court. This partnership also strengthens UB's position as a driving force in the regional economy, fostering innovation, community engagement, and new opportunities for local businesses."
With this bold move, UB is seizing the opportunity to define the next era of its athletics program and campus experience, creating new avenues for growth, engagement, and innovation.
About the University at Buffalo
The University at Buffalo is the largest university in the State University of New York system. UB, a flagship university, enrolls over 30,000 students, has more than 280,000 alumni worldwide and is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). Ranked 36th among all public universities in the United States, UB professional schools such as Dental Medicine, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Public Health and Health Professions and Engineering and Applied Sciences are ranked in the top 30 of public universities. UB pursues excellence across its mission and strategic endeavors, including the Department of Athletics which has immeasurable potential.
About UB Athletics
The University at Buffalo offers 16 Division I intercollegiate sports that compete at the highest level of competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The 16 sports are: football, softball, women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, wrestling, women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's cross country, women's soccer, and men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field. The University at Buffalo competes in the prestigious Mid-American Conference in all sports. For more information, visit www.ubbulls.com.
About Van Wagner
Van Wagner is a leading sports advertising and entertainment agency, with global expertise in filmed and live entertainment, sponsorship sales, multi-media rights, and aerial advertising. Van Wagner creates, advises, and sells on behalf of world-class teams, leagues, brands, and properties. An innovator in the sports and media business, Van Wagner is a global leader in high-impact broadcast visible signage throughout the MLB, NBA, NCAA, and international soccer, sponsorships sales, college multi-media rights, and in-venue content production at the world's biggest sporting events. For more information, visit www.vanwagner.com.
As the landscape of college athletics continues to evolve, this initiative is a critical step toward strengthening UB's position in both the Mid-American Conference and the national stage. A naming rights partnership will provide new resources to enhance the student-athlete experience, elevate UB's athletic programs, and create opportunities that benefit the entire university community—students, faculty, alumni, and supporters alike.
"Securing premier naming rights partners for UB Stadium and Alumni Arena is a major milestone for our department and a critical step in our long-term vision for growth," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Mark Alnutt. "As the landscape of college athletics continues to evolve, it's more important than ever that we position UB for sustained success and remain competitive through new opportunities."
UB's athletic programs have continued to rise in prominence, with its football team securing nine wins and a Bahamas Bowl victory in 2024—its fourth bowl win in the last six years. The men's and women's basketball programs have combined for seven MAC Championships and eight NCAA Tournament appearances in the past decade. In addition, UB has consistently excelled across multiple sports, securing several MAC team titles and producing over 40 individual MAC titles in the last five years.
To lead this transformational initiative, UB has enlisted Van Wagner, a nationally recognized leader in college athletics marketing, to identify the university's inaugural naming rights partner. With a track record of securing impactful partnerships across the collegiate landscape, Van Wagner will leverage its expertise to align UB Athletics with a brand that shares the university's vision for excellence and community impact.
"We are thrilled to embark on this journey with the University at Buffalo through our stadium and arena naming rights partnership," said Mike Palisi, President of Van Wagner College. "This collaboration exemplifies our shared commitment to making a lasting impact and enhancing the fan experience for the Buffalo community. We look forward to supporting the growth of UB Athletics and its student-athletes, both on and off the field and court. This partnership also strengthens UB's position as a driving force in the regional economy, fostering innovation, community engagement, and new opportunities for local businesses."
With this bold move, UB is seizing the opportunity to define the next era of its athletics program and campus experience, creating new avenues for growth, engagement, and innovation.
About the University at Buffalo
The University at Buffalo is the largest university in the State University of New York system. UB, a flagship university, enrolls over 30,000 students, has more than 280,000 alumni worldwide and is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). Ranked 36th among all public universities in the United States, UB professional schools such as Dental Medicine, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Public Health and Health Professions and Engineering and Applied Sciences are ranked in the top 30 of public universities. UB pursues excellence across its mission and strategic endeavors, including the Department of Athletics which has immeasurable potential.
About UB Athletics
The University at Buffalo offers 16 Division I intercollegiate sports that compete at the highest level of competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The 16 sports are: football, softball, women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, wrestling, women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's cross country, women's soccer, and men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field. The University at Buffalo competes in the prestigious Mid-American Conference in all sports. For more information, visit www.ubbulls.com.
About Van Wagner
Van Wagner is a leading sports advertising and entertainment agency, with global expertise in filmed and live entertainment, sponsorship sales, multi-media rights, and aerial advertising. Van Wagner creates, advises, and sells on behalf of world-class teams, leagues, brands, and properties. An innovator in the sports and media business, Van Wagner is a global leader in high-impact broadcast visible signage throughout the MLB, NBA, NCAA, and international soccer, sponsorships sales, college multi-media rights, and in-venue content production at the world's biggest sporting events. For more information, visit www.vanwagner.com.
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