Serving Franklin County, WA
Serving Franklin County, WA
Credit union, university sign 10-year agreement
The Washington State University football team will be playing on Gesa Field after the announcement March 12 that Martin Stadium had been renamed.
PULLMAN — Washington State University has sold naming rights of the field in Martin Stadium to Tri-Cities-based Gesa Credit Union.
The university and financial business have signed a 10-year deal naming the field as Gesa Field.
The value of the contract is valued at more than $11 million, officials said.
"Washington State University was established 130 years ago to serve the citizens of our state," university President Kirk Schulz said today in announcing the deal. "That commitment to improving the lives of Washingtonians is in our DNA. For that reason, we are thrilled to partner with Gesa Credit Union, an organization that shares our pledge to community service."
"This is an exciting day for our team members and nearly 260,000 members throughout Washington state," Gesa President and CEO Don Miller said. "Partnering with WSU Athletics provides Gesa with elevated name recognition to expand our reach and strengthen membership, and supports education, students, and alumni by positively impacting our communities through financial education and awareness, all while continuing to return value to our members."
Under the agreement, Gesa will also offer its customers WSU-branded credit and debit cards that when used will generate a donation to the Cougar Athletic Fund.
"Today begins a historic partnership between Gesa Credit Union and Washington State University," WSU Athletic Director Pat Chun said. " We welcome Gesa Credit Union as the newest members of the WSU family and look forward to great victories, memories and moments for WSU football taking place on Gesa Field."
The agreement also includes Gesa signage on university campuses and advertising on Cougar Radio Network, as well as a new Gesa office on the main university campus. That office will open in September, officials said.
The first football game on "Gesa Field" is Sept. 4, when Utah State comes to Pullman.
The university is referring to the naming rights and stadium as Gesa Field in Martin Stadium.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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