In a college football world more dictated by money than ever, the LSU Tigers are looking for different ways to bring in some money. Including some moves that might upset traditionalists.
After celebrating 100 years of playing in Tiger Stadium last season, the Tigers have announced a big change to the field. For the first time, they will be adding a sponsor logo across from the SEC logos on the 25-yard line.
The company they are partnering with on this is Venture Global, which is a Louisiana-based company focused on the export of natural gas. They have four facilities across the state and are a top producer in the country.
This is not the first partnership between the school and the company, but it is obviously the largest and most noticeable. No one watching LSU home games around the country will be able to help but notice the words Venture Global on the field.
Some will come out strong against this move, calling it “selling out” or “desecrating the field,” but this is just another step into the modern world of college athletics.
The NCAA didn’t actually even allow there to be field logos until just last year. Once they gave the ok, it was only a matter of time until teams started to take advantage of that new revenue source. The Tigers may be the first that many in Baton Rouge notice, but they aren’t the first to do it.
“At LSU, our brand is built on excellence, tradition, and impact — and we are intentional about who we align with. This alignment with Venture Global creates opportunities that benefit our student-athletes and strengthen LSU’s impact across the state and beyond. It’s about more than branding—it’s about building a stronger future through shared values and long-term investment,” said LSU Deputy Athletic Director in a press release about the move.
The creation of new opportunities is what most Tigers fans should be focused on with this move. The upcoming revenue-sharing model will allow schools to pay athletes up to $20.5 million per year. That new money must come from somewhere.
LSU has had a history of top recruiting classes and won’t be able to afford falling behind at any point. Head coach Brian Kelly had this year’s Tigers roster costing the school around $18 million all-in-all in terms of NIL deals. That would be almost all of the school’s allowance for student athletes.
This is a move that might take some time getting used to, but is an understandable deal in the current landscape.