Cardinals, State Farm agree to stadium naming rights deal

GLENDALE, Ariz. (KSAZ) - Out with the old and in with the new.

Workers wasted no time Tuesday morning, removing the lettering outside the former University of Phoenix Stadium, and replacing it with its new name -- State Farm Stadium

"When we looked for a new naming-rights partner for this stadium, we didn't do anything other in mind than finding a great relationship from the top down," said. Cardinals President Michael Bidwill.

The Arizona Cardinals football club and State Farm reached an agreement on an 18-year naming rights commitment.

"This is a remarkable day and a remarkable building that has taken its place in Arizona as one of the highest-profile buildings in our state," Bidwill said.

Most people we talked to hadn't learned of the change, but didn't seem to mind.

"It's not University of Phoenix?" one person asked. "I don't know, I'm a State Farm customer too, so yeah, there you go."

"Eh, that works, it's pretty prevalent in Tempe and I'm a big fan of ASU, so... it rolls off the tongue, yeah it works," another person said.

Until Tuesday, the venue had always been known as University of Phoenix Stadium since being built in 2006.

Officials say the university will still remain heavily connected to the Cardinals as their official education partner.