Through a partnership between Iowa State and MidAmerican Energy Company, the playing surface at Jack Trice Stadium has become MidAmerican Energy Field.
Announced this week, the partnership between the Iowa State athletics department and MidAmerican Energy will include naming rights to the playing surface at Jack Trice Stadium. The facility will retain the Jack Trice Stadium name, but MidAmerican Energy’s agreement has led to the playing surface officially being named MidAmerican Energy Field.
MidAmerican Energy will pay $1.5 million annually over 10 years. The commitment fits into a fundraising initiative for Iowa State, which is pursuing a broader athletic facilities plan. More from the Des Moines Register:
The complex, which has been the site of Iowa State football games since 1975, will retain its Jack Trice Stadium name.
The agreement is part of the overall fundraising plan for Iowa State’s new Student Performance Center, which received initial state Board of Regents approval in April.
The project includes a new student-athlete academic and sports nutrition center, expansion of the Bergstrom Football Complex, improving Jack Trice’s north end zone entrance and hillside seating, and new team areas for several Olympic sports. The new facility is expected to be adjacent to the Bergstrom building and northwest of Jack Trice Stadium.
Iowa State athletics director Jamie Pollard said at a Tuesday news conference that the project remains in its developmental phase with architects. A full cost estimate will be available at a later date, Pollard said, although he stressed that private support, like MidAmerican’s contributions, will cover a significant part of the cost, which in April, was initially estimated at $65 to $80 million.
“MidAmerican Energy’s commitment will directly benefit all Cyclones athletes who pass through the doors of the new Student-Athlete Sports Performance Center,” Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said in a press statement. “The state-of-the-art complex will further enhance Iowa State’s commitment to provide excellent facilities for all of its student-athletes, both academically and athletically.”
“We are proud to support the culture of excellence that embodies Iowa State University and parallels that of MidAmerican Energy,” Adam Wright, president and CEO of MidAmerican Energy said in a press statement. “Helping Iowa State enhance its student-athletes’ ability to perform at the highest level of competition through this new center and the university’s other world-class programs also helps in the development of our future workforce – and is something that is very important to us.”
Changes will soon be made to stadium signage to reflect the playing surface’s new name.
Image courtesy Iowa State Football.