The University of Florida is planning the most expensive stadium renovation in college football history, a $1.45 billion overhaul of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The Gators unveiled renderings and details of the project at a board of trustees meeting, providing the total budget and a start date of 2027 offseason, with completion expected by 2030 offseason.

Project Details

The remodel is expected to provide a $65 million lift annually, bringing total revenue from the venue to $140 million. The venture will be funded through a combination of private donations, capital reserves, and long-term debt approved by the Florida Board of Governors.

The undertaking will revamp 82 current suites, add 63 more atop the east side of the stadium, create additional premium seating areas, and install state-of-the-art video boards and audio capabilities. Capacity will remain at 88,548 despite losing thousands of seats in the lower bowl, with new suites making up the difference.

Preserving the Past

Florida officials toured Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and Lambeau Field to find a balance between preserving the past and modernizing for the future. The Swamp’s design ended up mostly resembling what took place at Lambeau in 2012-13, where the Green Bay Packers kept the lower bowl intact and built above it.

Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.