The University of Washington and Columbia Bank announced Thursday a comprehensive and historic 10-year, $70 million partnership that will establish Columbia Bank Stadium as the official home of Huskies football beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
According to Sports Business Journal, the $7 million-per-year deal is the largest football stadium naming rights partnership in college sports history.
Per the agreement announcement, Columbia Bank will become the University's fourth Signature Partner, joining Alaska Airlines, PepsiCo and Starbucks. The partnership also establishes Columbia as an exclusive partner of Washington Athletics and the University of Washington Alumni Association in designated categories and creates a platform for collaboration across academic programming, student life, alumni engagement, workforce development and community impact.
"This is the kind of partnership great public universities should be building," UW president Robert J. Jones said. "It brings together two institutions with deep roots in Washington and creates opportunities that extend well beyond Athletics. Columbia Bank Stadium will be the most visible expression of the relationship, but the larger opportunity is to develop meaningful collaborations that benefit our students, student-athletes, alumni and communities throughout the state while responsibly growing the resources that support our mission."
The UW and Columbia are developing several initiatives centered on financial health, education and career preparation, including:
- Debt-Free Dawgs, focused on helping students build stronger financial foundations and reducing financial barriers to education opportunities
- Financial Literacy for Every Husky, expanding access to practical financial education and resources for all students
- NIL to Net Worth, helping student-athletes understand how to translate short-term NIL opportunities into long-term financial health
- Financial Health Across Washington, leveraging the University's statewide reach and Columbia's regional presence to strengthen communities
- Additional academic, student, workforce, and community initiatives now in development
The partnership will also create opportunities for student internships, career development, and financial education, as well as collaboration with academic and campus units. The UW and Columbia will explore graduate and professional financing opportunities that support reasonable borrowing and critical workforce programs, as well as potential institutional banking opportunities subject to the University's competitive procurement requirements.
For Washington Athletics, the agreement will provide long-term support for student-athlete health, development and competitive opportunities. Areas of focus will include Fueling the Dawgs, supporting performance nutrition and student-athlete wellness; the Purple Passport Program, which expands developmental and educational experiences beyond competition; NIL to Net Worth programming; and an Olympic Sport Excellence and Opportunity Fund designed to provide flexible support for emerging student-athlete and program needs.
"This is a historic long-term partnership for Washington Athletics and the University of Washington," said Pat Chun, Washington's director of athletics. "Columbia Bank Stadium will be the most visible expression of the relationship, but the greater opportunity is what we can build together for our student-athletes, students and communities across Washington. At a time of extraordinary change in college athletics, partnerships like this help us create sustainable resources, expand opportunities, and continue investing in the people and programs that make Washington special."
