The $6 billion Suncoast Credit Union and Florida Southwestern State College have announced construction on the school's new athletic facility, the Suncoast Credit Union Arena, scheduled to break ground in mid-2015.

The Tampa, Fla.-based Suncoast won the right to have its name on the facility with a $5 million donation, according to Patti Barrow, vice president of marketing at the credit union.

Having the stadium sport Suncoast's name has sparked a variety of different projects, Barrow said.

The credit union is working with Florida Southwestern State College in Fort Myers, Fla., to develop a set of financial literacy curricula.

School officials and credit union executives have also started discussions on whether Suncoast might have agent-issuing agreements with the college on a debit or credit card, Barrow said.

Suncoast Credit Union Arena will be approximately 75,000 square feet and will host the FSW Buccaneers' basketball and volleyball teams and a student athletic center.

The arena will seat approximately 3,300 fans and include six skyboxes, a hospitality event center, competition courts that convert into recreational courts, athletic office space, and staff, faculty and student wellness centers.

In addition, there are plans to host concerts and local, regional and national events, according to Suncoast.

“Our vision is to establish a partnership with Florida Southwestern that extends beyond bricks and mortar,” Tom Dorety, Suncoast president/CEO, said. “We are committed to bringing financial literacy to every community we work in, because we know that a financially educated population builds a stronger community. This arena will provide opportunities and space for the community to gather and enjoy a new and improved quality of life.”

Florida Southwestern State College is located in one of the counties served by Suncoast.

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Suncoast Wins Stadium Naming Rights

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