Dec. 5, 2023

For 64 years, the legacies of the University of South Florida and USF Federal Credit Union (USF FCU) have been intertwined. This partnership has flourished because of aligned missions and shared cultures that focus on helping people and working together to improve lives in our community.

Today, USF FCU is again elevating its support of the university through a $6 million gift to name the walkway that will lead into the future on-campus stadium, which will forever change the Tampa campus and USF community for the better. USF will recognize the gift by featuring signature signage at the walkway’s entrance, located off USF Genshaft Drive.

“Before every home game, the journey our USF student-athletes and Bulls fans will take through the USF Federal Credit Union Champions Way to enter the stadium will bring their excitement about the University of South Florida to a whole new level,” said USF President Rhea Law. “I can think of no more fitting partner’s name to adorn this focal point for our Bulls community than our friends at the USF Federal Credit Union. We greatly appreciate Rick Skaggs and his team and thank them for their support of this transformational project.”

Approximately 85% of all daily visitors to the stadium (for football games, lacrosse matches, concerts, special events, tours, festivals and admissions programming) will reach the stadium by traversing USF Federal Credit Union Champions Way. In addition, the 30-foot-wide tree-lined path will be the home of alumni, student and fan tailgating before events.

“Since we began in 1959 with just 16 members and $505 in assets, the history of our credit union has indeed been closely tied to the success of the university,” said USF FCU President and CEO Richard J. “Rick” Skaggs. “As the university grew in both size and prestige, we have grown, as well, with now more than 70,000 members and over $1.1 billion in assets.”

“Building this stadium to serve all students, faculty, staff and alumni for many events is truly a historic achievement,” Skaggs added, “and we’re honored to be part it. On behalf of our board of directors and our members, we congratulate all USF leaders past and present who have worked tirelessly to achieve this goal.”

“Our student-athletes, alumni, fans and friends demand and deserve the best possible stadium experience,” said USF Athletic Director Michael Kelly. “USF Federal Credit Union Champions Way will ensure that world-class experience will start before they even step foot in the stadium.”

Earlier this year, USF FCU announced more than $1 million in new support to USF through a combination of scholarship endowments and title sponsorships of 10 signature events. That gift funds scholarships and student/alumni programming within the Alumni Association, USF Health, the Muma College of Business, the Sarasota-Manatee campus, Diversity Initiatives and Veteran Success. 

“Our university will proudly feature one of the nation’s most beautiful and community-centered stadium entranceways,” said USF Foundation CEO Jay Stroman. “We are grateful to Rick and his FCU team for their incredibly generous and longstanding support of Bulls Nation.”