‘Mr. 305’ is teaming up with FIU. And its football stadium will now bear Pitbull’s name

Mr. 305 is joining forces with FIU.

Miami rapper Pitbull was at FIU on Tuesday morning to announce what is essentially a 10-year deal that will put his name on FIU’s football stadium.

For the right to call FIU’s home field “Pitbull Stadium”, he will pay the school a total of $12 million or $1.2 million per year. Officially, it’s a five-year deal with a five-year option.

As part of the contract, Pitbull has the right to host 10 events – concerts or otherwise – rent free at the stadium that now bears his name.

“I’m thrilled to be the first to say, ‘Paws up … dale!” said FIU athletics director Scott Carr, using the Spanish word “dale” that is a big part of Pitbull’s music.

“Just don’t call this a sponsorship. We look at his as a partnership, a relationship and a friendship.”

As part of this “relationship”, Carr said Pitbull has agreed to do things that are outside of the contract such as hosting an annual fundraiser that will benefit FIU. In addition, Carr said, Pitbull has vowed to a part of NIL deals, which is so important in recruiting these days.

Pitbull said he identifies with FIU because it has always been an “underdog” – lost in the shadow of the University of Miami.

Similarly, Pitbull – whose real name is Armando Christian Perez – has seen himself as the underdog who overcame long odds to become rich and famous.

“FIU has always been clawing their way to be seen,” Pitbull said.

“We didn’t do this deal for propaganda. We’re doing this from the heart.”

Pitbull, who grew up poor, was raised by a single mother who moved 14 times while her son was in high school, always looking for a place they could afford.

Education wasn’t exactly Pitbull’s strong suit in those days.

“I didn’t graduate from FIU,” Pitbull said. “I didn’t even graduate from high school to be honest.

“It took one person, a teacher named Hope who told me I had talent as a rapper. Hope gave me hope.”

That hope helped launch a career that has seen Pitbull’s songs get more than 15 billion views on Youtube. He has sold more than 100 million singles, and he has won more than 35 Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Now he hopes to help FIU athletics get out of the shadows.

“I promise you,” Pitbull said on Tuesday, “we’re going to take FIU to another level.”

FIU could use the help as its football team is coming off of two straight 4-8 seasons under coach Mike MacIntyre.

What is now known as Pitbull Stadium opened in 1995. It has a 20,000-seat capacity that the Panthers have rarely even half-filled.

This will be the third time that the Panthers have sold the naming rights to their home field.

At first, the place was known as FIU Community Stadium (1995 to 2021). From 2001 to 2017, it was known as Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium. From 2017 to 2022, it was known as Ricardo Silva Stadium.

The idea to approach Pitbull for new naming rights came from Alex Kelley, FIU’s associate athletic director for revenue generation and engagement.

Almost exactly two years ago, Kelley mentioned Pitbull’s name to Carr.

“I said, ‘That sounds incredible,’” Carr told The Miami Herald.

In October of 2023, FIU’s team met for the first time with Pitbull. The setting was a restaurant in Boca Raton.

“He wanted us to do big things,” Carr said of Pitbull. “He really cares about young people.

“I was blown away by his humility and how much he wanted to help FIU and the City of Miami.”

Pitbull is so humble, in fact, that at that meeting in Boca he – in an incredible twist – asked for the autograph of FIU president Kenneth A. Jessell.

“Nobody has ever asked for my autograph before,” Jessell said. “He then gave me his business card and wrote on the back: ‘To history in the making. Thank you for the opportunity.’

“His tenacity and grit are in line with that of our university. His vision will help set FIU apart for many years.”

Or, as Pitbull might say … dale!