SDSU and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. Announce Agreement of Naming Rights for New Stadium

The SDSU Mission Valley stadium will be called Snapdragon Stadium

As announced today, San Diego State University’s new stadium, part of the expansive SDSU Mission Valley development, has a new name —  Snapdragon Stadium. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. has entered into a long-term agreement, securing exclusive naming rights to the new, one-of-a-kind venue.  The agreement will now go to the California State University Board of Trustees for formal approval.

Snapdragon is Qualcomm Technologies’ premier mobile platform brand. It represents a family of technology platforms that bring intelligence and connectivity to smartphones, wearables, always-connected PCs, XR headsets, gaming devices and cars. The Snapdragon® platforms are designed to deliver premium performance and immersive experiences to the user. 

Come opening day fall 2022, San Diego sports fans will welcome the world-class, Snapdragon Stadium, designed to meet the needs of the entire San Diego community. With the implementation of 5G within the stadium, Snapdragon Stadium is intended to be an embodiment of real, impactful examples of a world where everyone and everything is intelligently connected.

The $45M deal, structured as a 15-year, $3 million per year agreement, marks a new, yet nostalgic era in the San Diego sports story, as two San Diego institutions, with a shared commitment to serving the greater San Diego community, come together. 

“We are thrilled to have secured the exclusive naming rights to San Diego State University’s new stadium, Snapdragon Stadium. Snapdragon stands for premium experiences and leading-edge performance, which is what fans can expect from this new state-of-the-art venue,” said Cristiano Amon, President and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated. “This is just the first phase of an expansive relationship between Qualcomm Technologies and San Diego State University as we look to support their broad digital transformation that will include the Stadium, the upcoming Innovation District, and smart campus enhancements across their campuses. This agreement is the reflection of our mutual dedication to our local San Diego community.”

“Qualcomm is well-recognized and respected not only here in San Diego, but globally,” said SDSU President Adela de la Torre. “Our collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies represents a shared vision for a fully smart stadium — the cornerstone to what will be a one-of-a-kind smart campus — which will enrich, educate, and empower those we serve here locally and around the world.”

Located in Mission Valley, the heart of San Diego, the new state-of-the-art venue will not only provide a year-round hub of entertainment and community engagement, but also serve as a welcomed home for SDSU athletics and a gathering place for the broader San Diego region.

“Partnering with Qualcomm on Snapdragon Stadium continues our push for creating a world class stadium experience for the entire San Diego community,” said SDSU Athletic Director JD Wicker.  “Our growing relationship will allow us to leverage the best-in-class technological advances of Qualcomm to create superior fan experiences no matter the event” Wicker continued.  “This is another example related to the SDSU Mission Valley development of community investing in community.”

SDSU first broke ground on the Mission Valley stadium site in August 2020. The momentous occasion celebrated taking ownership of the site and marked the first step in SDSU Mission Valley’s development.

Snapdragon Stadium is on schedule to be completed by Sept. 3, 2022 when the SDSU Aztec football team is scheduled to play the University of Arizona Wildcats in the season home opener.

SDSU Athletics was represented by JMI Sports and Legends, which sourced and helped negotiate the agreement.

The PGA of America and Legends Enter Strategic Partnership to Enhance Merchandising Services

The partnership includes an omnichannel e-commerce solution for the golf industry

The PGA of America today announced a strategic partnership agreement with Legends, a global premium experiences company specializing in data-intelligence fueled holistic solutions for sports and entertainment organizations and venues. Legends will operate and elevate on-site, online, licensing and corporate merchandising for the PGA’s spectator championships – PGA Championship, Ryder Cup, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.

“Given Legends’ experience and expertise, this partnership is a great opportunity for the PGA of America to advance our merchandising strategy for spectator championships, where there is growing demand,” PGA of America President Jim Richerson said. “Bringing in Legends to handle this expanding area of our Association is a logical next step in these efforts.”

As part of the transition, the PGA’s merchandising and licensing department, led by Michael Quirk, will become part of the Legends Global Merchandise group. Quirk will continue to lead this team and serve as Senior Vice President, Golf and Strategic Growth. Coming off a record-setting sales experience at the Ryder Cup, the team will tap into Legends’ myriad resources to continue to innovate the on-site and online shopping experience for Championships and golf facilities alike.

The PGA’s new e-commerce solution allows fans to shop a larger online product selection than ever before. Additionally, in late 2022, PGA Members will be able to utilize the e-commerce feature by creating online stores for their golf facilities and pro shops.

Legends Global Merchandise is the premier event retail and merchandising company in the world, having worked with some of the top brands in sports and entertainment. With this partnership, Legends Global Merchandise will utilize its vertical capabilities, extensive data and analytics to accelerate the growth of the PGA’s merchandising.

“The PGA of America has an incredible platform of storied spectator championships and vast PGA Member facilities with passionate followings that will benefit from an elevated merchandise solution,” Legends Co-President and COO Mike Tomon said. “With PGA’s merchandise team integrating with Legends Global Merchandise, together we will deliver a seamless omnichannel experience on-site and through e-commerce to build a dynamic merchandise approach for the future.”