Tennessee Athletics and Pilot, the travel center franchise, announced this week that they have entered into a multi-year partnership that will preserve the iconic Neyland Stadium and Shields-Watkins Field names, while designating Pilot as the presenting partner of the Neyland Stadium renovation project and the official travel stop of Tennessee Athletics.
"As we navigate the changing landscape of college athletics, we are dedicated to building the best athletics department in the country," said vice chancellor and director of Athletics Danny White. "Because we were committed to preserving the name of Neyland Stadium, finding a partner who shared this vision was essential. With deep roots here in Knoxville, Pilot recognizes the significance of Neyland and the importance of tradition to our fans and the university. Our focus continues to preserve and honor our storied past while modernizing to ensure we lead the way in college sports."
New signage on the east side of Neyland Stadium will feature a return of the iconic "Home of the Vols" along with Pilot's logo. Pilot's branding will also be on each side of Shields-Watkins field and in sponsored content with Tennessee Athletics and the Vol Network.
"Vol fans know better than anyone the magic of Neyland on game day and the feeling of singing Rocky Top in the same stadium where the greatest Vol legends made their name," said UT Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman. "Our partnership with Pilot is all about preserving and enriching that experience to make sure fans and their families will continue to make these same kinds of memories for decades to come."
Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennn., Pilot employs over 2,500 team members in the greater Knoxville area and has a long-standing relationship with the University of Tennessee.
"For more than 65 years, we have fueled fans across North America as they hit the open road for big games," said Pilot's chief marketing officer Adrienne Ingoldt. "There's nothing like Neyland Stadium packed with passionate fans who've traveled from near and far to root for the beloved Vols. Pilot is out here to fuel them up, fill them up and lift them up on the way to victory."
