Carter-Finley Stadium at NC State may soon have a new name: 'Surprised it took this long'

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- North Carolina State's Carter-Finley Stadium may be getting a new name.

According to a news release, NC State Athletics has partnered with Independent Sports and Entertainment (ISE) to identify a potential naming rights partner. ISE is a sports marketing agency that focuses on "venue naming rights revenue generation opportunities in the college athletics space."

"With the blessing of the Carter and Finley families, we are able to pursue this opportunity to enhance our program in the new landscape of college athletics," NC State Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan said. "We are grateful for their support through the years and for their understanding of our need to explore new revenue sources to invest in the development and success of our student-athletes.

It's no secret that universities across the country need more money now that they have to pay their players - and as budgets tighten and costs increase - selling the naming rights aims to benefit all NC State sports - not just football.

"I'm actually surprised it took this long," said Joe Ovies, a longtime radio voice on the Triangle sports scene and now a podcast host. "Used to be we'd never sell beer at a college football stadium. We could never do that. Well, they found the revenue source. They started selling beer, gambling. You know, gambling's bad. Sports wagering is bad. Well, as you know, in the state. North Carolina, in 2024, we finally have legalized sports wagering."

Ovies, an NC State alum said it's inevitable a portion of the fan base is going to be angry at a potential name change.

"I'm not the sentimental type. I'm not. I never have been," Ovies said. "But I could see some fans getting a little annoyed by something that, you know, the name attached and the history behind it is going away because of a corporate name change."

The venue opened in 1966 as Carter Stadium. Ir was named for brothers Harry C. and W.J. "Nick" Carter, Wolfpack alum and big textile manufacturers. In 1979, the name of Raleigh philanthropist and major NC State contributor Albert E. Finley was added to the stadium,.

The university said both families are on board with the potential name change. Head football coach Dave Doeren backed the decision hours after it came down.

"You have to find ways to increase your cash in, you know, so that you have the ability to compete in this space, the courts say that you've got to come up with X amount of dollars, they don't give you the dollars, you've got to go find them," Doeren said.

Will this translate into a better football team? Ovies doesn't think that's necessarily the case, but it's a needed step to keep up with the times.

"If you are willing to throw away tradition for the sake of keeping up with everybody else, what else is for sale? Ovies said. "You can put advertisements on the jersey; that's not too far into the future. More signage on the field, more signage in the stadium. If anything can be sold, they'll find a way to sell it."

There is no timeline for a name change and there is no sponsor in place -- yet. But it's another sign of the changing landscape of college athletics.