Carter-Finley Stadium is still expected to eventually get a new name — or at least a sponsorship deal — but any changes are unlikely to happen this season.
N.C. State announced last November that it was seeking naming rights for the stadium. Athletic Director Boo Corrigan said Friday that the search is ongoing but fans shouldn’t expect an immediate update.
“There’s a lot of interest,” Corrigan said during his annual press conference. “I was hopeful we’d have something in place this year, but with only about three weeks left before the season, I don’t think that’s going to happen. Still, there’s been a great deal of interest.”
The university is working with Independent Sports and Entertainment (ISE) to explore opportunities, meeting regularly with the firm while reaching out to corporate partners and potential new sponsors. Corrigan pointed to Raleigh’s growing business community as a promising factor.
The Carter and Finley families approved the process before it began, and N.C. State has pledged to keep them involved. If a deal is struck, it would mark the first time the football stadium’s name has changed from “Carter Stadium” or “Carter-Finley Stadium,” both named for major Wolfpack donors.
ISE has helped universities secure more than $180 million through similar projects over the past two years. For N.C. State, naming rights are part of a broader push to boost athletics revenue amid financial pressures, including those related to the House v. NCAA settlement. The athletics department has also worked on increasing donations, updating ticketing policies, and hosting more events at the stadium to ease the financial load on fans and the university.
Earlier this year, N.C. State also sold naming rights for Corrigan’s position, now officially the McMurray Family Director of Athletics, following a $5 million endowment from Brian and Konni McMurray.
While the NCAA now allows commercial sponsors to appear on football fields during regular-season games, N.C. State has not yet pursued on-field advertising. The playing surface remains “Wayne Day Family Field,” named for a $5 million gift that was the largest in program history at the time.
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