UMD Renames Football Stadium After $11M Deal With Credit Union

COLLEGE PARK, MD — The University of Maryland announced Friday that it will rename its football stadium.

The college sold the field's naming rights to SECU, Maryland's largest state-chartered credit union. The venue was previously named Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium.

The facility will soon be called SECU Stadium. The name will debut on Oct. 1 when Maryland football hosts Michigan State for its first Big Ten home game of the season.

The university sold the stadium's naming rights for a guaranteed $11 million, including a $2.5 million gift to support programs and facilities. That gift will help build the Barry P. Gossett Basketball Performance Center, the Terrapins' new basketball practice facility.

Maryland Athletics also expects the 10-year contract to generate another $300,000 to $400,000 annually in variable compensation.

The deal became a possibility when Capital One agreed to give up its naming rights, which were scheduled to run through 2032.

"We are proud to welcome SECU into our Maryland Athletics family," Director of Athletics Damon Evans said in a press release. "From the very beginning, we aligned with SECU on goals and objectives, and more importantly, our values. It is our intent to use this partnership to do good for our student-athletes, our university and our communities."

University leaders think the partnership will benefit the whole campus.

SECU will cohost financial wellness workshops for faculty and staff. It will also help create a new financial literacy course for all students.

In turn, the Terps will amplify SECU's Kindness Campaign to inspire community service.

"Together, we are not only united in our love for Maryland but also in our commitment to positively impacting the people and communities we serve," said Dave Sweiderk, president and CEO of SECU. "As we continue to grow, it is important for SECU to give back to our communities and uphold our dedication to education and financial wellness. That's why we are pleased to contribute to the enduring vitality of UMD."

SECU and Maryland Athletics will sponsor a Fill-a-Bus Donation Program at the Oct. 8 home football game against Purdue. Planners encouraged fans to bring nonperishable food to stock the Campus Pantry and the College Park Community Food Bank.

The drive is part of the university's Good Neighbor Day Initiative. Other sponsors include the City of College Park, M-NCPPC Parks & Recreation, the University of Maryland Office of Community Engagement and the Department of Transportation.

More details on the effort are available at GoodNeighborDay.umd.edu.

"SECU is a longstanding stalwart corporate citizen of the state of Maryland," university President Darryll J. Pines said. "The University of Maryland is thrilled to be partnering with them on a wide-range of initiatives that will benefit not just Maryland Athletics, but our entire campus community."