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There are two types of UCF Knights fans: Those who want to rebrand as the Citronauts, and those who want to stay as the Knights. Although that debate was a hot topic this weekend as yet another photo of the view of Friday’s SpaceX launch from the Bounce House’s 50-yard line went viral, both sides were able to agree on one thing.
Elon Musk should sponsor the Bounce House and get the SpaceX naming rights, fans are saying on Twitter.
The movement for a SpaceX stadium has been around for some time, even before the November launch, but the #UCFTwitterMafia is hard at work this weekend in Musk’s mentions.
When @elonmusk checks the mentions this morning. #SpaceXStadium pic.twitter.com/IlTHiJbBmP
— Jason Lucas (@JasonVegas22) April 24, 2021
Perhaps the most prominent proponent of the idea is ESPN’s Tony Rizzuti, who tweeted Friday morning that the naming rights and sponsorship of UCF football should be a “no-brainer” for SpaceX.
“[So] many grads work at KSC/SpaceX and provides an excellent opportunity to promote STEM to undecided Freshman Plus it amounts to a rounding error for @elonmusk,” he said.
Naming rights and sponsorship of @UCF_Football Stadium should be a no-brainer for @SpaceX - so many grads work at KSC/SpaceX and provides an excellent opportunity to promote STEM to undecided Freshman Plus it amounts to a rounding error for @elonmusk #SportsBiz
— Tony Rizzuti (@tonyrizzuti) April 23, 2021
Another UCF fan agreed. It really is a no-brainer, Musk.
“It would be a phenomenal business decision for @elonmusk and @SpaceX. Think beyond just the exposure and logo display on the stadium,” said @knightfan94 on Twitter. “UCF is building the brainpower & workforce Space X needs as they grow. We’re already sending KSC 30% of its employee base. No brainer for Space X.”
Sidelines UCF even tweeted a bulleted list of reasons for Musk to consider the deal with UCF. Among the reasons are two UCF alumni astronauts, space uniforms and a UCF (FTU) grad made longest free-fall jump ever, from space, he said.
It’s time @elonmusk for @SpaceX at UCF:
— ⚔️Sidelines - UCF⚔️ (@SSN_UCF) April 23, 2021
⭐️UCF research flown on @SpaceX
⭐️2 @UCFALUMNI astronauts
⭐️UCF grad made longest free-fall jump ever - from space
⭐️UCF Citronaut flown in space
⭐️30% of KSC employees = UCF alumni
⭐️Watch launches from 50 yard line
⭐️Space Uniforms https://t.co/9wXFsDzKCS pic.twitter.com/h8jCDjYSgW
If the whole stadium thing doesn’t happen, @knightfan94 proposes the next best thing: a space uniform collab.
Can we stop for a minute & think about what a @UCF_Football uniform collab w/@elonmusk would produce? The guy shot his own car into space just for the swag of it. Come on, @SpaceX Stadium needs to happen. @TerryMohajirAD, you can skip a game or two. We’ll send you updates. ⚔️
— Jason and the Citronauts (@knightfan94) April 24, 2021
UCF was founded in 1963 as one of the country’s first “space universities,” according to the university, and it continues to be at the forefront of space exploration with its research projects and grants, internship programs and STEM education.
Also, let’s not forget that the 50-yard line at the Bounce House lines up on the exact latitude as NASA’s historic Launch Complex 39A, just 31 miles to the east, according to UCF. SPaceX uses that pad now for its Falcon 9 launches, including this week’s mission to the ISS.
The push for Musk to make moves toward UCF’s stadium comes after Spectrum Stadium’s naming rights deal expired in summer 2020. A $35 million RoofClaim.com deal also fell through.
The UCF Athletics Association stated last June that it did not anticipate the football stadium having a naming rights partner for the 2020 season.
And so, until the stadium does find a new official sponsor, it shall officially be known as “Bounce House.” Until someone new comes along.
Daniella Medina is a contributing writer for Black & Gold Banneret. Follow her on Twitter @danimedinanews.