Dome Naming Rights

[PantherAlum09]

This is pretty big news and didn't see it posted anywhere. I put it in football since that is the main attraction at the Dome. I'm curious if anyone has thoughts on it and who may be willing to put their name on the dome.

I ultimately think it's really smart and we need to do the same for the McLeod. For a program that needs money to keep up with their peers in athletics, it seems like a no brainer.

https://unipanthers.com/news/2026/8/6/general-northern-iowa-athletics-and-learfield-launch-naming-rights-opportunity-for-the-iconic-uni-dome

[06panther10]

Does anybody know what they are asking here as far as $ amount? Is there a minimum # they are wanting or are they simply just going to accept a highest bidder?

[UNIpanther99]

John Deere has their logo on Iowa's field. Mid-American on Iowa State's. Casey's has the old Well Fargo Arena now Mediacom has the Carver-Hawkeye court and Coralville Arena. Something tells me we end up with the Cookie's Barbaque Sauce UNI-Dome.

[BCPanther]

Does anybody know what they are asking here as far as $ amount? Is there a minimum # they are wanting or are they simply just going to accept a highest bidder?

They're looking for an 8 figure commitment for 10 years of rights.

For reference, SIU got $1M per year for the basketball arena down there so I would think we could at least double that.

My guess is that it's already done and this was the way to get the blowback on the department instead of the sponsor when the news breaks.

HyVee just seems like such a natural fit.

[FOTY]

I heard HyVee wasn’t interested (may have changed).

From my understanding this had been in the works for a couple of years with no organization signing on. My assumption is that Learfield was brought in to widen the scope to non-Iowa based entities with no prior UNI connection to get it done. If they sign with the ilk of HyVee after Learfield taking a cut, I’ll be disappointed in the decision to involve them (money wasted).

[Blue42]

I heard HyVee wasn’t interested (may have changed).

From my understanding this had been in the works for a couple of years with no organization signing on. My assumption is that Learfield was brought in to widen the scope to non-Iowa based entities with no prior UNI connection to get it done. If they sign with the ilk of HyVee after Learfield taking a cut, I’ll be disappointed in the decision to involve them (money wasted).

Yeah let's keep 100% of nothing all to ourselves.

[06panther10]

They're looking for an 8 figure commitment for 10 years of rights.

For reference, SIU got $1M per year for the basketball arena down there so I would think we could at least double that.

My guess is that it's already done and this was the way to get the blowback on the department instead of the sponsor when the news breaks.

HyVee just seems like such a natural fit.

Good to hear if true.

I was thinking John Deere, Caseys, Hyvee, Veridian etc would be primary targets for this.

[BCPanther]

I heard HyVee wasn’t interested (may have changed).

From my understanding this had been in the works for a couple of years with no organization signing on. My assumption is that Learfield was brought in to widen the scope to non-Iowa based entities with no prior UNI connection to get it done. If they sign with the ilk of HyVee after Learfield taking a cut, I’ll be disappointed in the decision to involve them (money wasted).

All new leadership there. Complete and total separation from the disaster of the last CEO.

[hamalot]

Even though they are Wisconsin based, it seem like Kwik Trip is including UNI in more of their promotions.

[BCPanther]

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