Albuquerque-based Dreamstyle Remodeling has made a 10-year, $10M commitment to the Univ. of New Mexico in a deal that "includes naming rights" to both University Stadium (football) and The Pit (basketball), according to a front-page piece by Jessica Dyer of the ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL. The football stadium and basketball arena will now be called Dreamstyle Stadium and Dreamstyle Arena. The $10M includes $9M for athletics, part of a contract "forged with Lobo Sports Properties," a private entity to which UNM in '13 "licensed its multimedia and sponsorship rights." UNM AD Paul Krebs said that Lobo Sports Properties will get approximately $1M of the Dreamstyle money. Dreamstyle Remodeling CEO Larry Chavez, a lifelong UNM fan, "led the recent $250,000 effort to remodel the Lobo football team offices, contributing $150,000 in materials and labor, while other private donors paid the rest." Chavez said that is how conversations "began with UNM officials about naming rights to the football stadium." Dreamstyle becomes the "first naming rights sponsor for University Stadium, but its name will replace the WisePies moniker outside the Pit." Chavez said that his design team was "already working on the new design for 'Dreamstyle Stadium' and 'Dreamstyle Arena' signs and expected to have them up in the next couple of months." He said that he "would not follow WisePies lead and rename the arena 'Dreamstyle Arena aka the Pit'" (ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL, 5/4). In Albuquerque, Shelby Perea noted the old signage "will be removed as soon as soon as possible." Krebs said that by the "start of the football season, the Dreamstyle signs should be up" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 5/3).
X MARKS THE SPOT: In Cincinnati, Steve Watkins noted Xavier is "renaming the basketball court" at its Cintas Center home to honor former Cintas Chair & CEO Bob Kohlhepp and his family. The playing floor "will be named Kohlhepp Family Court." Xavier AD Greg Christopher said Kohlhepp and his wife, Linda, have been "incredibly generous." Kohlhepp was "instrumental through his financial contributions and his drive in getting Cintas Center built" in '00 to serve as XU's on-campus basketball home (BIZJOURNALS.com, 5/3).
