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FROM STAFF REPORTS

In an unprecedented partnership announced on Tuesday, July 16 at Jacksonville State University’s Board of Trustees Meeting, Jax State, AmFirst and the Jax State Foundation have signed a multi-year agreement to rebrand the home of Jax State Football as AmFirst Stadium.

The commitment, approved by Jax State’s Board of Trustees will name Jax State’s football stadium for the first time in the university’s history. AmFirst will have a significant presence on Jax State’s campus as part of the agreement, providing benefits beyond the Gamecocks’ football home.

“Jacksonville State University is thrilled to enter into this transformative partnership with AmFirst,” said Dr. Don C. Killingsworth, Jr.,president of Jacksonville State University. “This collaboration not only signifies a new chapter in the history of our football program but also underscores our commitment to providing exceptional opportunities for our students, athletes and the entire Jacksonville community. We are excited about the future and the possibilities this partnership will bring to our campus.”

The partnership between Jax State and AmFirst dates back several years and has provided opportunities for the university’s athletic programs and student-athletes. Tuesday’s agreement bolsters that solid relationship, positioning AmFirst and Jax State to work together through new and extraordinary avenues.

“AmFirst is honored to deepen our relationship with Jacksonville State University through this historic agreement,” said Bill Connor, president and CEO of AmFirst. “We are proud to support the Gamecocks and contribute to the thriving university community. This partnership reflects our commitment to the growth and success of both Jax State and the broader Jacksonville community. We look forward to the exciting future that lies ahead at AmFirst Stadium and on the campus of Jax State.”

AmFirst places its name on one of the most tradition-rich facilities in the southeast, which has hosted championship football since the 1961 season. AmFirst Stadium has seen the Gamecocks post a 301-108-8 record, an impressive .731 winning percentage. It has been the home to 25 conference championship teams and multiple nationally televised games, something that will become more standard as Jax State plays its first season as a full-fledged member of Conference USA and the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision in 2024.

“As we move into a new and exciting era of Jax State Football, AmFirst has stepped up and made a significant commitment to our university and our football program,” Athletic Director Greg Seitz said. “This partnership will enhance what is already one of the best environments in college football, on display to a national television audience week in and week out, while also benefiting our fans and community.”

The Gamecocks will play six home games at AmFirst Stadium in 2024, four of which have already been selected to air on national television. This will increase the exposure of the facility that housed the top attendance in Conference USA in 20