Alaska Airlines buys naming rights to Husky Stadium field

The University of Washington announced Thursday morning that it has agreed to a 10-year, $41 million deal with Alaska Airlines for the naming rights to the field at Husky Stadium.

The playing surface will now be known as Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium, pending approval by the UW Board of Regents at their Sept. 10 meeting.

The agreement also gives Alaska the naming rights to the University of Washington Athletic Village presented by Alaska Airlines, and “Alaska Airlines Arena” remains the name of the venue inside Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

“I am thrilled that we can expand on a local connection and enhance a long-standing relationship with a Seattle company who shares our values so deeply,” UW athletic director Scott Woodward said in a statement released by the school. “As the costs of funding a first-class student-athlete experience continue to rise, it is critical that we seek new and creative funding opportunities with partners who share our values, and I am pleased because that is exactly what we have done with Alaska Airlines. This exciting new agreement will work directly to fund our student-athlete experience and allow us to stay in front of the rising costs of funding student-athlete recruitment, scholarship, travel and competition.”

More than half of the $41 million total will be earmarked for athlete scholarships and welfare, according to UW.