The University of Illinois Athletics department announced a new multi-year sponsorship agreement with Caterpillar Inc. on Wednesday. Under the terms of the deal, the Caterpillar logo will be displayed on the 25-yard lines of Zuppke Field inside Gies Memorial Stadium. This arrangement marks the first time a corporate logo has been placed on the field in the stadium's history.
The partnership was facilitated by Learfield. While the specific financial details of the agreement have not yet been made public, the deal follows a similar jersey patch partnership announced less than a month prior. That previous agreement with Busey Bank was a five-year contract valued at $30 million.
Caterpillar Inc. is described as a leading global manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, engines, and locomotives. The company has maintained a presence in Illinois for more than 100 years. Currently, over 17,000 Caterpillar employees work within the state. The company recently invested $10 million in Illinois to support workforce preparation through its Building the Future Workforce Initiative.
Josh Whitman, the Illinois Athletic Director, stated that the university is proud to align with a company that shares a long connection to the state. He noted that both organizations have a respected reputation and are experiencing sustained growth. Whitman expressed gratitude for the collaboration and looked forward to building the relationship in the coming years.
