Jerry Richardson, owner of National Football League (NFL) franchise the Carolina Panthers, has secured the naming rights to the University of North Carolina’s (UNC) new American football stadium in a deal worth $10m (€7.67m).
The 15,300-seat stadium will be known as the Jerry Richardson Stadium under the terms of the deal, which has been agreed in perpetuity. Completed in October 2012, the venue will be the home of UNC college football side the Charlotte 49ers, and will host its first game on August 31 when Campbell University visits.
The venue was previously known as McColl-Richardson Field, following a joint naming rights investment by Richardson and former chief executive of Bank of America, Hugh McColl.
In addition to the naming rights, the deal with Richardson will also include the creation of an endowed football scholarship at UNC in honour of his son, John Richardson.