CSU Trustees To Consider CSULB Pyramid Naming
11/6/2025 2:00:00 PM | General
Mike and Arline Walter have agreed to the decision and will continue their support and partnership with the University.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – The CSU Board of Trustees this month will consider approving naming rights for a California State University Long Beach sporting and events facility, currently the Mike and Arline Walter Pyramid, related to a sponsorship deal with LBS Financial Credit Union.
The 12-year, $8.5-million agreement would name the iconic sports and events venue on campus as the "LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid."
The building is home to four of Long Beach State's Division I intercollegiate athletics teams, including the defending national champions in men's volleyball, and many campus and community events.
Mike and Arline Walter, who originally named the Pyramid in 2004, making both a cash donation and a planned gift commitment, have agreed to step away from the naming in the interest of clearing the way for a significant new investment in the Beach Athletics programs and its Division I student-athletes.
"The college athletics landscape is evolving rapidly, and we need to evolve with it," said Mike Walter, a former Dean of the College of Business and currently Dean Emeritus. "We have been proud to support Beach Athletics and other university programs for more than thirty years and recognize this opportunity to amplify our impact. Our fundamental interest has always been to support both athletics and the academic efforts of this university.
"Time and again, the Walters have put our students first through a history of transformative philanthropy at the university," said Beach President Andrew Jones. "Their impact on campus and throughout the Long Beach community is as iconic as the pyramid facility itself. We are deeply grateful to them and for their selflessness in greenlighting this next chapter."
The Walters plan to continue their support and partnership with the university.
LBS Financial Credit Union, founded in 1935 as Long Beach School District Employees Federal Credit Union, sees the sponsorship as an impactful investment in the university and a symbol of its longstanding commitment to CSULB and the City of Long Beach. The credit union has served the financial needs of faculty, staff, students, and alumni at CSULB over 70 years.
"From humble beginnings — a credit union first operated out of homes and a classroom at Wilson High School — we celebrate our amazing journey and substantial presence in the region, now serving anyone who lives or works in the local area in addition to our school and college employees and students," said Sean Hardeman, President and CEO of LBS Financial. "We are proud to name this historic structure at Long Beach State — a pillar for the community, much like LBS Financial Credit Union."
The agreement will provide critical financial support to Beach Athletics primarily in the form of enhanced scholarship support and will also help fund some programmatic costs and capital improvements.
"We thank LBS Financial Credit Union for their confidence in us, for their belief in our students, and for their demonstrated commitment to education," said Bobby Smitheran, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "This partnership is one of two complementary, mission-aligned organizations with a focus on immediate impact to student-athlete success, to the greater Long Beach community, and opportunities for excellence. Building from the foundation of support built by the Walters, this is an exciting new era for Long Beach State Athletics and our campus community."
Long Beach State Athletics was represented by ADC and Superlative Group, which provided consulting expertise and led negotiations for the agreement.
Pending approval by the CSU Board of Trustees, the naming rights agreement will initiate a comprehensive communications and activation campaign. This effort will include coordinated media outreach across local and regional platforms, public events to unveil the "LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid," and celebratory programs featuring student-athletes, university leadership, and community partners. Additional details will be shared following the Board's decision.
The 12-year, $8.5-million agreement would name the iconic sports and events venue on campus as the "LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid."
The building is home to four of Long Beach State's Division I intercollegiate athletics teams, including the defending national champions in men's volleyball, and many campus and community events.
Mike and Arline Walter, who originally named the Pyramid in 2004, making both a cash donation and a planned gift commitment, have agreed to step away from the naming in the interest of clearing the way for a significant new investment in the Beach Athletics programs and its Division I student-athletes.
"The college athletics landscape is evolving rapidly, and we need to evolve with it," said Mike Walter, a former Dean of the College of Business and currently Dean Emeritus. "We have been proud to support Beach Athletics and other university programs for more than thirty years and recognize this opportunity to amplify our impact. Our fundamental interest has always been to support both athletics and the academic efforts of this university.
"Time and again, the Walters have put our students first through a history of transformative philanthropy at the university," said Beach President Andrew Jones. "Their impact on campus and throughout the Long Beach community is as iconic as the pyramid facility itself. We are deeply grateful to them and for their selflessness in greenlighting this next chapter."
The Walters plan to continue their support and partnership with the university.
LBS Financial Credit Union, founded in 1935 as Long Beach School District Employees Federal Credit Union, sees the sponsorship as an impactful investment in the university and a symbol of its longstanding commitment to CSULB and the City of Long Beach. The credit union has served the financial needs of faculty, staff, students, and alumni at CSULB over 70 years.
"From humble beginnings — a credit union first operated out of homes and a classroom at Wilson High School — we celebrate our amazing journey and substantial presence in the region, now serving anyone who lives or works in the local area in addition to our school and college employees and students," said Sean Hardeman, President and CEO of LBS Financial. "We are proud to name this historic structure at Long Beach State — a pillar for the community, much like LBS Financial Credit Union."
The agreement will provide critical financial support to Beach Athletics primarily in the form of enhanced scholarship support and will also help fund some programmatic costs and capital improvements.
"We thank LBS Financial Credit Union for their confidence in us, for their belief in our students, and for their demonstrated commitment to education," said Bobby Smitheran, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "This partnership is one of two complementary, mission-aligned organizations with a focus on immediate impact to student-athlete success, to the greater Long Beach community, and opportunities for excellence. Building from the foundation of support built by the Walters, this is an exciting new era for Long Beach State Athletics and our campus community."
Long Beach State Athletics was represented by ADC and Superlative Group, which provided consulting expertise and led negotiations for the agreement.
Pending approval by the CSU Board of Trustees, the naming rights agreement will initiate a comprehensive communications and activation campaign. This effort will include coordinated media outreach across local and regional platforms, public events to unveil the "LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid," and celebratory programs featuring student-athletes, university leadership, and community partners. Additional details will be shared following the Board's decision.
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