The University of Florida has announced plans for a $1.45 billion renovation of its Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, which breaks the record for the most expensive stadium renovation in college football history.
ESPN reports the original plan for the renovation was budgeted at $400 million in 2023. The new budget marks a 262% increase in projects costs and would surpass the record set by the $474 million upgrade to California Memorial Stadium at the University of California in Berkeley.
The planned renovations will include expanded concourses, an enhanced technology infrastructure, upgraded concessions and restrooms, and improvements to the team areas including the locker rooms, training areas, and practice courts.
The full project is expected to go before the university’s board of trustees in September for final approval. Work is expected to start after the 2026 season, with a completion slated before the 2030 season.
The stadium, nicknamed “The Swamp,” opened in 1930 and underwent several improvements over the years, most recently in 2012. The project will be funded with donations, capital reserves, project-generated revenues and financing mechanisms including long-term debt. No public funding will be involved in the new initiative.
“This $1.45 billion project will breathe new life into one of the nation’s most iconic college football venues and elevate it into the premier college athletic destination that sets the standard for everyone else,” University of Florida Board of Trustees Chairperson Mori Hosseini.
Photo: Quintin Soloviev / Wikimedia Commons
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