New Belgium donating $4.3 million to campus stadium project

At Colorado State University, New Belgium Brewing Co. is more than something to pour into a bong from a second story window. The two Fort Collins stalwarts have formed a mutually beneficial partnership over the years, and this bond has strengthened further as New Belgium is donating $4.3 million to CSU’s on-campus stadium project. The agreement gives New Belgium naming rights to the north end zone hospitality area at the stadium, which will be called the New Belgium Porch. Here’s a rendering:

The agreement builds on an already-robust relationship between Colorado State and New Belgium to update and renovate facilities utilized by CSU’s Fermentation Science and Technology program. In 2015 New Belgium co-founder and former CEO Kim Jordan announced a $1 million gift to update and renovate facilities utilized by CSU’s Fermentation Science and Technology program.

“We’re delighted to expand our partnership with New Belgium Brewing — and to honor the innovative, entrepreneurial spirit of our community by highlighting a tremendously successful, home-grown brand at the new stadium,” Colorado State President Tony Frank said. “I’ve had the privilege to work closely with Kim Jordan and more recently with Christine Perich on a variety of occasions, and I never cease to be amazed at the passion and creativity they bring to any challenge. We’re proud of them as CSU alumni, and we know that Colorado State University is just one of the many organizations that have benefited from the generous, community-minded spirit they continue to foster at New Belgium. We are truly grateful for their support of our students, academic programs and now a one-of-a-kind game-day experience for Rams fans.”

Jordan co-founded New Belgium in 1991 and was the longtime CEO before stepping down and tapping Perich as her successor. Perich has been instrumental in negotiating this agreement.

“This is another great opportunity for us to collaborate with Colorado State University and help support their athletic program,” said Perich. “We have more than 70 CSU alumni working at New Belgium, so the connection is deep and meaningful for us. It’s almost hard to imagine New Belgium without Colorado State considering all of the talent that has come out of there.”

New Belgium’s gift is the latest is a series of fundraising milestones that set CSU apart from many of its peers:

CSU recently announced it had raised $197.8 million for the 2015-16 fiscal year, the most ever raised by a university campus in Colorado.
CSU in the spring received two anonymous $20 million gifts — one to name the field at the on-campus stadium in Sonny Lubick’s honor, and one to CSU’s Institute for Biologic Translational Therapies — and another $13 million for scholarship and infrastructure, including the Michael & Iris Smith Alumni Center at the new stadium, from alumnus Michael Smith.
CSU set records for both academics ($166 million) and athletics ($31.8 million) fundraising in 2015-16.
Athletics has increased its fundraising 440 percent since 2012 ($5.89M in FY 2011-12, $31.8M in FY 2015-16)
To date, CSU has raised more than $635 million in its quest to raise $1 billion through “State Your Purpose — The Campaign for Colorado State University.”

“New Belgium Brewing continues to be such a tremendous supporter of Colorado State University across the board,” said Brett Anderson, vice president for university advancement. “They invest in our students and our institutional success time and time again. Their gift to the new on-campus stadium speaks to their focus on community-building and their desire to support places and things that bring people together. We are so thankful for their continued partnership and support.”

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Tags: New Belgium Brewing Co.