- A 10-year naming rights deal between Southern Miss and Renasant Bank will net the athletic program nearly $14 million.
M.M. Roberts Stadium, affectionately referred to as The Rock, on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi is getting a new name under a facility naming deal.
The Institutions of Higher Learning Board has approved a Facility Naming Agreement between Southern Miss and Renasant Bank for approximately 10 years, changing the name of The Rock to Renasant Stadium.
According to IHL records, Renasant Bank will pay Southern Miss naming rights fees on an annual basis, starting in Year 1 at $500,000.
Below are the scheduled naming rights fees agreed to by the school and the bank:
- Year 1 – $500,000.00
- Year 2 – $1,300,000.00
- Year 3 – $1,339,000.00
- Year 4 – $1,379,170.00
- Year 5 – $1,420,545.10
- Year 6 – $1,463,161.45
- Year 7 – $1,507,056.30
- Year 8 – $1,552,267.99
- Year 9 – $1,598,836.03
- Year 10 – $1,646,801.11
Over the 10-year period, Southern Miss will be paid a total amount of $13,706,838 for the naming rights.
The Southern Miss stadium was dedicated as M.M. Roberts Stadium on September 25, 1976, and named after a former Golden Eagle letterwinner and IHL Board of Trustees member.
The stadium’s history in Hattiesburg dates back to October 29, 1932, when Southern Miss was known as the State Teachers College. The field was then known as Faulkner Field, a designation the playing field still carries to this day. Faulkner Field honored local businessman L. E. Faulkner, who provided the materials and equipment to build the original facility.
Frank Corder
