The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) announced Aug. 26, 2026, a sponsorship with Caterpillar Inc., a global leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives.
Through a multi-year agreement facilitated by Learfield, the two iconic Illinois brands will come together every game day, with the Caterpillar logo prominently displayed on the 25-yard lines of Zuppke Field in Gies Memorial Stadium.
For more than 100 years, Caterpillar has played a key role in Illinois communities. Today, more than 17,000 employees work in Illinois, and the company is continuing its investment in the state through a recent commitment of up to $10 million to help prepare workers for next-generation manufacturing and skilled technical careers as part of its Building the Future Workforce Initiative.
As the foundation of the sponsorship, Caterpillar's on-field brand placement becomes the first long-term on-field corporate logo in the more than 100-year history of Gies Memorial Stadium and combines premium visibility with an authentic connection in front of a Fighting Illini fanbase that shares its past, present and future with the Caterpillar brand.
Caterpillar's sponsorship with Illinois Athletics delivers year-round brand visibility and fan engagement through a combination of prominent in-venue assets, including presenting sponsorship of game-day statistics on the stadium's new videoboard, which has been widely acclaimed as the largest in college football, TV-visible signage at football and basketball events, targeted digital advertising across Illinois Athletics platforms and rights to leverage Fighting Illini logos, marks and imagery in Caterpillar marketing and advertising nationwide.
“Caterpillar's roots in Illinois run deep, and this sponsorship strengthens our connection to the people and communities that have helped shape our success,” said Joe Creed, Caterpillar chairman and CEO. “Illinois Athletics provides a powerful platform to engage students, alumni, customers and fans while showcasing the spirit of innovation, excellence and teamwork our organizations share. It also helps us inspire the next generation of talent who will help solve our customers' toughest challenges.”
