Arizona Cardinals Get New Stadium Name

PHOENIX, AZ — The Arizona Cardinals announced Tuesday they are changing the name of their stadium from University of Phoenix Stadium to State Farm Stadium as part of an 18-year deal. The team had said it would announce some "major" news around 11 a.m. Tuesday. The conference, first reported by the Arizona Republic, will be held at University of Phoenix Stadium.

News outlets and beat writers had suggested the news might be regarding a contract extension for star running back David Johnson or about renaming rights to the stadium. Bob McManaman floated out a couple of ideas on Twitter: the Cardinals might've made a splash by signing controversial free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick, or by renaming the stadium after the late U.S. Sen. John McCain.

The name change proved to be the better bet. The team announced the news in a statement on its website.

“We were intent on finding a relationship that was an ideal fit with our organization and this community in terms of values, priorities and culture,” team president Michael Bidwill said in a statement. “With State Farm, we absolutely did that."

He said the deal is a comprehensive marketing agreement and that there will be a major focus on community programs that benefit the state.

"State Farm is one of the most-respected and recognizable brands in the world and Phoenix is fortunate to be one of its three hub markets," he said.

The name change becomes effective immediately.

“State Farm is committed to making a difference and so are the Arizona Cardinals," said State Farm chairman and CEO Michael Tipsord. "Working with them gives us the chance to build even stronger communities in Arizona and helps us build our brand nationally.”

In April 2017, the team announced University of Phoenix — which initially won the naming rights in 2006 but has since been hit with a bevy of negative coverage — would remove the school’s name from the stadium.

ABC15 reported that the event will not be open to the public and cannot be live streamed due to NFL regulations.

Integrating State Farm Stadium branding assets throughout the stadium and other team platforms will take place over the coming weeks, the team said. Much of it is expected to be in place by the Cardinals regular season opener against Washington on Sunday.

University of Phoenix had been the primary sponsor of the stadium since its inaugural season in 2006. The for-profit education company will remain heavily connected to the team as its official education partner.

The stadium has sold out for 126 consecutive Cardinals home games. It also hosts the Fiesta Bowl every year, has hosted two Super Bowls and even hosted the 2015 Pro Bowl. Three college football national championship games have also been played at the venue, as well as the NCAA men’s basketball Final Four in 2017.

The stadium is slated to host Super Bowl LVII in 2023 and the Final Four in 2024.

Furthermore, State Farm Stadium will host a College Football Playoff semifinal game three times between now and 2026.

The Arizona Cardinals just announced they will hold a "major" news conference tomorrow at 11 a.m. at University of Phoenix Stadium. New deal for RB David Johnson? New signage deal for the stadium? Idk
— Bob McManaman (@azbobbymac) September 4, 2018

Did the Arizona Cardinals just sign QB Colin Kaepernick?
— Bob McManaman (@azbobbymac) September 4, 2018

John McCain Field has a very nice ring to it, yes?
— Bob McManaman (@azbobbymac) September 4, 2018

Photo credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images