The Washington Commanders have signed a multiyear naming rights deal for their training facility with BigBear.ai, which primarily provides artificial intelligence solutions to government agencies in the national security and defense sectors.
BigBear.ai is the first AI firm to partner with an NFL team for venue naming rights, and the company is ringing the bell on Wednesday morning at the New York Stock Exchange to commemorate the partnership.
Financial terms were not released, but the annual value ranks in the top quartile of NFL training facility agreements, according to someone familiar with the details.
The newly christened BigBear.ai Performance Center is located in Ashburn, Va., about 35 miles from where the team plays their home games at Northwest Stadium, and the 162-acre complex has four grass fields, an indoor turf field, team meeting rooms, strength training and recovery facilities, and an in-house content studio. Ownership has invested more than $25 million towards upgrades for the facility since Josh Harris led a group that paid a then-record $6.05 billion for the franchise in 2023.
In addition to naming rights, BigBear.ai will serve as the team’s practice jersey sponsor and be a featured partner throughout the season, including on press backdrops and the suite level at Northwest Stadium. The team and AI firm are also planning programs involving military personnel. BigBear.ai will explore ways its technology can enhance the fan experience, according to the news release.
“We have prioritized modernizing our facilities, elevating the player experience, and strengthening our ties to the DMV community,” Mark Clouse, Commanders president, said in an email. “[The partnership] allows us to build on that progress and position the BigBear.ai Performance Center as one of the premier training facilities in the NFL.”
BigBear.ai is headquartered in nearby McLean, Va., and this is their first sports sponsorship. The company’s stock has tripled over the past year, fueled by investors’ appetite for AI, and its market cap is now $2 billion. Revenue was $153 million during its latest 12 months, with a net loss of $444 million. CEO Kevin McAleenan called this partnership the first in a series of “decisive moves” that will “unlock the next chapter of growth.”
This month, the Washington, D.C., city council voted to support a $3.8 billion, mixed-used stadium district, including a new stadium for the Commanders. A 65,000-seat domed stadium on the site of RFK Stadium is the planned center of a 180-acre retail, housing and entertainment development in the southeast part of the district. A final vote on taxpayer funding is set for Sept. 17.
The Commanders ranked 10th at $7.47 billion in Sportico’s recent NFL team valuations.
