Things have been changing at the University of South Florida Sun Dome.
Last year, Jeff Vinik's Tampa Bay Entertainment Properties signed on to manage the fatigued north Tampa venue. Two Tampa OGs, Kelli Yeloushan and Kayla Levasseur moved from Amalie Arena to become the Sun Dome's Director of Event Management and Marketing Manager, respectively.
The venue immediately secured a high-profile booking from Arcade Fire, which turned in one of last year's best concerts.
Today, the Sun Dome announced another metamorphosis: a name change.
REVIEW
Arcade Fire powers through a graceful Tampa debut at the USF Sun Dome (w/photos + setlist)
Starting July 1, the official name of the facility will be the Yuengling Center. Confirming speculation, the 10-year-naming contract was announced on June 12 and puts a familiar name (Yuengling — a nearly 200-year-old brewery — has been making beer at a Tampa facility just one mile away from campus for nearly two decades) on a 38-year-old building positioning itself as a great place to see a show that just isn't big enough to fill Amalie Arena (the dome can seat anywhere from 2,500-10,000 during concerts and includes 10 premium loge suites, too) .
“Upon assuming management of the Sun Dome and the multimedia rights for USF Athletics we identified the joint priority of selling naming rights to arena,” Steve Griggs, Chief Executive Officer for Tampa Bay Sports & Entertainment, parent company of TBEP, said in a statement. “And we pledged to the University that we would identify a reputable company with solid leadership and a strong local presence, one that USF would be proud to call a sponsor. D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc., led by the Yuengling family, will prove to be a great partner for the University and its constituents.”
Yeungling, as you remember, went under fire in 2016 when Dick Yeungling Jr. voiced his support for then candidate Trump. That said, the company has recently donated to the American Red Cross's hurricane relief efforts, a Pottsville, Pennsylvania parking garage while also running a Lagers For Heroes program.
Someone get me a beer.
