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After independent college football journalist David Covucci investigated whether Pitbull is upholding the sponsorship agreement for Florida International University (FIU)’s football stadium, the university’s athletic department is jumping to Mr. 305’s defense.
In a statement posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, on Monday, FIU Athletics wrote that the pair “remain fully aligned and committed to their long-term partnership.”
“Recent reports are based on incomplete and inaccurate information and do not reflect the full scope or ongoing execution of the agreement,” the statement reads. “FIU Athletics has already received the first two scheduled payments, both paid ahead of their due dates, and the third installment remains on schedule. From the beginning, this collaboration was designed as an innovative, multi-year initiative that extends beyond traditional sponsorship models.”
In August 2024, Pitbull purchased the naming rights to FIU’s football stadium, paying $1.2 million per year over the next five years.
“Renaming the stadium isn’t just about a name change,” the music star said after the partnership was announced. “It’s about inspiring the community, creating opportunities, and showing the world that with determination and a clear vision, anything is possible. We’re making history together, and we’re just getting started.”
Now two years into the deal, Covucci of FOIAball wanted to ensure Pitbull was following through. According to a copy of the multi-year contract, the musician agreed to promote FIU and FIU Athletics by posting 12 social media posts per year, creating an FIU Anthem, and featuring FIU assets in his music videos, among other tasks.
Covucci discovered that Mr. Worldwide has barely posted about the university and, perhaps most importantly, has yet to create an FIU Anthem.
“I believe our biggest celebrities should be held to a higher standard,” he wrote on X. “We are now 20 months into @pitbull’s deal with FIU, and he hasn’t promised an anthem. Since the deal launched, he’s posted more about St. Patrick’s Day (twice) than FIU (once).
Unfortunately, FIU Athletics’ statement did not address what was on everyone’s minds: Where is the FIU Anthem?
“I feel a little bad because some shady aggregators took my story and made up a claim that Pitbull had never paid the school, which was not in my piece,” he responded. “However, this response does not say anything about the FIU anthem, which the school still deserves imo!”
