The University of Louisville’s football stadium has a new moniker, marking a significant shift after years of association with its previous name. A recent announcement confirmed a $41.3 million agreement granting L&N Federal Credit Union the naming rights to Cardinal Stadium for the next two decades. This change officially ends the era of the venue being known as Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.
This alteration isn’t entirely new for the stadium. Previously, the stadium carried the Papa John’s name, but in 2018, the university decided to remove the pizza chain’s name following controversial remarks made by company founder John Schnatter. Schnatter reportedly used a racial slur during a business call, prompting the university to distance itself from the brand and initiating the process to find a new naming partner for Cardinal Stadium.
L&N Federal Credit Union, while stepping into a prominent role with the stadium naming rights, is not a newcomer to the University of Louisville. The Louisville-based financial institution has cultivated a robust relationship with the university over several years. Their previous contributions include a $2.25 million donation which led to the naming of Denny Crum Hall, a student residential building inaugurated this academic year. Furthermore, L&N Federal Credit Union has held the naming rights for the university’s volleyball arena, now known as L&N Federal Credit Union Arena, since 2019. These prior engagements solidified the groundwork for this larger stadium naming rights agreement.
Tim Root, Executive Vice President and COO of L&N Federal Credit Union, revealed that discussions regarding the stadium naming rights commenced in mid-2022. He emphasized the pre-existing partnership with the University of Louisville as a crucial factor in facilitating the agreement.
“We’ve been a partner with U of L, especially in the sports area, for a number of years now. And really, that made this opportunity an easier decision for us, because we know what impact the university has on this community,” Root stated. His comments underscore the mutual benefit and established trust between the two Louisville entities.
Josh Heird, the University of Louisville Athletics Director, highlighted that securing a naming sponsor for Cardinal Stadium was a primary objective since he assumed the interim director role in late 2021. He detailed the extensive search process, involving conversations with numerous potential sponsors at local, regional, and national levels.
“We had conversations with numerous companies locally, regionally and nationally before realizing L&N could be interested in this opportunity. Fortunately for us, when the conversation was had, they didn’t say no,” Heird explained. His remarks illustrate the university’s proactive approach to finding the right partner and the fortuitous alignment with L&N Federal Credit Union.
Beyond the significant financial investment, the naming rights agreement also encompasses several advantages for L&N Federal Credit Union and its employees. These perks, outlined in a university document, include access to football game tickets and parking, as well as engagement opportunities with the athletic department staff. This multifaceted partnership is poised to benefit both the university and L&N Federal Credit Union for years to come, as L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium becomes the new identity for the prominent Louisville sports venue, formerly known as Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.
