Husky Stadium Becomes Columbia Bank Stadium on Jan. 1: Washington's Reported 10-Year, $70 Million Deal Is Called College Football's Richest Per Year

Husky Stadium Becomes Columbia Bank Stadium on Jan. 1: Washington's Reported 10-Year, $70 Million Deal Is Called College Football's Richest Per Year

Washington's regents approved a naming-rights deal that puts a corporate name on Husky Stadium for the first time. Reports put it at $70 million over 10 years, about $7 million a season.

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The stadium on Lake Washington has been Husky Stadium since 1970. Starting Jan. 1, 2027, it will be Columbia Bank Stadium.

The University of Washington's Board of Regents approved a naming-rights agreement with Tacoma-based Columbia Bank on Thursday. The school did not publish the price. KOMO News and Seattle Sports both report it at $70 million over 10 years, and Sports Business Journal called the roughly $7 million annual figure the largest for a stadium name in college football.

First Corporate Name on Husky Stadium Itself

This is new ground for the building. Alaska Airlines held rights to the field only, as Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium, from 2015 until this past June, in a 10-year deal worth about $42 million that also covered the basketball arena. The airline renewed the arena piece in March for $28.4 million over 10 years.

Put the two current deals together and Washington has $98.4 million in venue naming money lined up over the next decade, per KOMO's accounting.

New signage will be phased in. Columbia Bank joins Alaska Airlines, PepsiCo and Starbucks at the top tier of the school's sponsors, and the bank's president told KOMO it plans a student-run branch as part of the partnership.

Why Washington Sold the Name: A $16 Million Deficit and a Half Share

Athletic director Pat Chun did not dress it up. He said the financial climate around college sports "creates a fiduciary responsibility for us," according to On Montlake.

The same report says the department projects a $16 million cash-flow deficit this fiscal year. Washington is still receiving a half share of Big Ten media revenue after its move from the Pac-12, and direct revenue sharing with athletes has added a new line to the budget. There is no itemized plan for the bank's money beyond supporting athletes.

The stadium opened in 1920 and reopened in 2013 after a $280 million renovation.

Columbia Bank Stadium Signage Arrives After the 2026 Season

The name takes effect after this football season ends, so the 2027 home opener will be the first game played under it. More on the money side of college sports is on the BallerTube college news page.