Katy ISD’s student activity complex officially has a naming sponsor after months of deliberations and negotiations by the district’s second stadium naming committee.

KISD’s board approved a 10-year, $2.5 million deal with Academy Sports + Outdoors at its Monday, Dec. 12, meeting.

Founded in 1938 in San Antonio, Academy is headquartered in the Katy area in an unincorporated part of Harris County. The company’s local ties and the fact that it is already a sponsor of several KISD marching band programs made it a fit for the district’s student activity complex, said Bryan Michalsky, the naming committee’s chair and KISD trustee.

“I think it’s a great partnership; it makes sense, ” Michalsky said. “They’re a hometown company and the largest sporting goods retailer in our area. They’ve got two stores, a big distribution center and over 3,000 team members that work in Katy, and a large percentage of those reside within the boundaries of Katy ISD.”

The sponsorship deal with Academy applies to the portion of the complex encompassing Rhodes Stadium, the second stadium and common areas. For example, Rhodes Stadium will now be known as Rhodes Stadium at Academy Sports + Outdoors Student Activity Complex.

According to Michasky, the sponsorship extends beyond sports. KISD’s partners in education office has already begun discussing additional prospects with Academy, such as mentoring students and getting involved in the district’s education foundation, he said.

“The partnership is more than just about putting your name on a complex and dollars as well,” Michalsky said. “We’re looking for other opportunities to serve our community and leverage this relationship for the benefit of our district and community.”

The board also authorized KISD Superintendent Lance Hindt to solicit names and form a committee to name the district’s second stadium, which is scheduled to open prior to the 2017-18 school year. The second stadium is located within the student activity complex along with Rhodes Stadium, the Robert R. Shaw STEAM Center, the Miller Career & Technology Center, Raines High School and the Opportunity Awareness Center.

Community feedback at board meetings has called for a legacy name—such as Katy High School football coaches Mike Johnston and Gary Joseph—for the second stadium.

The second stadium naming committee was chartered at the board’s July 25 meeting after the district conducted an online naming survey from July 7-19. A request for proposal was sent out to potential sponsors on Sept. 12, and responses were due by Oct. 10. Ashley Vann, Michalsky’s vice chair, announced at the board’s Nov. 21 meeting that the committee was negotiating with a single, then undisclosed potential sponsor.

KISD’s contract with Academy was modeled after Cy-Fair ISD’s 10-year, $1.5 million deal this past June to name its then unnamed stadium after the Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union. Revenue from KISD’s agreement with Academy will go toward the district’s general operating fund, Michalsky said.

“The $2.5 million is not going to go pay for part of the stadium,” Michalsky said. “It can be used in a classroom for educational purposes. It’s just extra dollars that [are] helpful for us running and managing the district.”