NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nissan and Vanderbilt Athletics today announced a new multi-sport partnership, aligning one of Tennessee's most recognized brands with one of the nation's most prominent athletic programs. The agreement establishes Nissan as a Proud Partner of Vanderbilt Athletics and includes marketing, branding and fan engagement across football, men's and women's basketball and baseball.
"We're thrilled to welcome Nissan as a partner of Vanderbilt Athletics," said Candice Storey Lee, vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletic director at Vanderbilt University. " We will always look to build meaningful connections with like-minded partners in the community we call home. Nissan’s commitment to innovation, excellence and Tennessee aligns with our mission on and off the field and court. At Vanderbilt, we know we’re stronger together, and we look forward to a partnership that helps makes game day unforgettable.”
The partnership will feature prominent, TV-visible branding throughout several Vanderbilt Athletics venues, including signage for football games, at FirstBank Stadium, and prominent in-venue signage in Memorial Gymnasium for men's and women's basketball, and highly visible branding for baseball at Hawkins Field. Part of a distinctly Nashville game-day experience at Vanderbilt events, the comprehensive collaboration will connect Nissan with Commodore fans throughout the year.
"Being based right here in Tennessee makes our partnership with Vanderbilt Athletics especially meaningful," said Tiago Castro, senior vice president, U.S. Marketing & Sales, Nissan and INFINITI. "Nissan’s collaboration with Vanderbilt reflects our commitment to the community and to delivering high‑quality products and a great experience for our customers."
Under the leadership of award-winning Vice Chancellor Candice Storey Lee, Vanderbilt enjoys significant momentum across its athletics programs, with continued success in football, men's and women's basketball and baseball showing ever-growing audiences what is possible here.
"Through Candice's leadership, Vanderbilt has built remarkable momentum across its sports including football, men’s and women’s basketball and baseball, while elevating the overall student-athlete and fan experience” said Kim Damron, president of Learfield Sports Properties. ”We're proud to help bring together two storied Tennessee brands in Nissan and Vanderbilt through this partnership."
The new athletics agreement further strengthens the longstanding relationship between Nissan and Vanderbilt. Beyond athletics, the organizations have collaborated on data science and innovation initiatives that connect Vanderbilt's research expertise and student talent with Nissan's business objectives, reinforcing a shared commitment to innovation, talent development and community impact.
The new partnership was created by Learfield’s Vanderbilt Sports Properties in collaboration with its corporate partnership team and Vanderbilt Athletics.
About Vanderbilt Athletics
A charter member of the Southeastern Conference, Vanderbilt is committed to delivering the preeminent student-athlete experience across 17 varsity sports and leading intercollegiate athletics forward in the 21st century. Fully integrated within the university mission of a holistic and immersive education, Vanderbilt Athletics empowers student-athletes to reach their full potential as leaders and champions who embody our core values and inspire our community. Propelled by community support through the Vandy United and Anchored for Her campaigns, Vanderbilt student-athletes enjoyed one of the most successful athletic years in school history in 2025–26, highlighted by multiple national coach of the year honors, All-America accolades and SEC championships.
About Nissan
For more information about Nissan products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit nissanusa.com. You can also follow Nissan on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter) and LinkedIn and see all Nissan’s latest videos on YouTube.
About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.