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OT: USF building an on campus stadium.

DJ Spanky

DJ Spanky

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
49,480
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They've been playing their games at the Bucs stadium, Raymond James Stadium, since 1998. But they're now building an on campus stadium which will open for the 2027 season. The overall cost of the project is $340 million, and the stadium is slated to seat 35K.

From late May:

Higgins Provides Update on USF On-Campus Stadium & Football Operations Center



 
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bigmatt718

bigmatt718

Heisman
Mar 11, 2013
15,996
22,542
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Old news but yeah. Should be a good setup for them much like Tulane's stadium after moving out of the Superdome was for them.
 
MADHAT1

MADHAT1

Heisman
Apr 1, 2003
31,703
16,500
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35,000 is small , but filling the stands should be a lot easier for them then they hasd to do at the 75,000 seat Raymond James Stadium,
 
A

Anon1754923206

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Aug 11, 2025
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Probably lots of premium seating and suites…that’s where the real money is. Where the hoi-polloi sit is less important
 
DJ Spanky

DJ Spanky

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
49,480
60,775
113
MADHAT1 said:
35,000 is small , but filling the stands should be a lot easier for them then they hasd to do at the 75,000 seat Raymond James Stadium,
Click to expand...

They always closed off the upper sections of the stadium except for specific games such as against FSU. Reduced the capacity to 43-44K.
 
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MADHAT1

MADHAT1

Heisman
Apr 1, 2003
31,703
16,500
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DJ Spanky said:
They always closed off the upper sections of the stadium except for specific games such as against FSU. Reduced the capacity to 43-44K.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info
Looks like the Bulls are building according to what they feel their attendance will be and not plsning for an increased fanbase to take care if needing seats
from a google search:
The USF Bulls averaged 33,194 fans per game for home games during the 2025 college football season.
 
DJ Spanky

DJ Spanky

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
49,480
60,775
113
MADHAT1 said:
The USF Bulls averaged 33,194 fans per game for home games during the 2025 college football season.
Click to expand...

I'll be curious to see if that changes once they have an on campus stadium. I think the college atmosphere is more attractive to fans than a pro stadium is.
 
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bigmatt718

bigmatt718

Heisman
Mar 11, 2013
15,996
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DJ Spanky said:
Yeah, and you're talking a construction industry founded on corrupt unions, kickbacks, etc. versus what you get in Florida.

Similar to comparing the ugly prison colored monstrosity in the Meadowlands to what Jerry Jones built in Texas.
Click to expand...
MetLife is an utter dump. Giants/Jets built the most hideous, soulless abomination of a football stadium I have ever set my eyes on.
 
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bigmatt718

bigmatt718

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Mar 11, 2013
15,996
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113
DJ Spanky said:
I'll be curious to see if that changes once they have an on campus stadium. I think the college atmosphere is more attractive to fans than a pro stadium is.
Click to expand...
Especially these days as pro sports games are far from family friendly, especially NFL games. NFL games in particular have absolute animals in the stands these days. You don't see outright brawls in stands of college games.
 
B

Bueller

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Nov 28, 2025
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Video rendering linked.

Stadium will be a "U" that could be expanded later.

Some construction workers often start at 2AM. Because of the heat maybe? I've never really known what it must be like to play full pads in Florida heat. When I smell cut grass in August I can feel a whisper of foreboding over the memory of full pads in August. I did love Oklahoma drills though.

USF unveils new rendering of on-campus football stadium​

 
D

dconifer0

All-Conference
Oct 4, 2004
4,385
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Bueller said:
Video rendering linked.

Stadium will be a "U" that could be expanded later.

Some construction workers often start at 2AM. Because of the heat maybe? I've never really known what it must be like to play full pads in Florida heat. When I smell cut grass in August I can feel a whisper of foreboding over the memory of full pads in August. I did love Oklahoma drills though.
Click to expand...
Ha, I get that too if I'm cutting grass when it's really hot...
 
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Knight Shift

Knight Shift

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May 19, 2011
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DJ Spanky said:
What I can't get over is the cost only resulting in 35K seats.
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Live viewership is dying. Florida has too many college teams as it is. FSU, UF, Miami vying most of the fans. IDK, maybe the West coast of Florida needs this?
Section124 said:
NW much higher and only 35K.
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Yup
Anon1754923206 said:
Probably lots of premium seating and suites…that’s where the real money is. Where the hoi-polloi sit is less important
Click to expand...
Yes- this is the future.
 
B

Bueller

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dconifer0 said:
Ha, I get that too if I'm cutting grass when it's really hot...
Click to expand...

Smell of cut grass AND loud chorus from crickets and katydids at night. July nights are quietish with lightning bugs and moths. When the loud, evening chirping sounds start its time for new cleats. If you know you know...
 
MADHAT1

MADHAT1

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31,703
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Anon1754923206 said:
Probably lots of premium seating and suites…that’s where the real money is. Where the hoi-polloi sit is less important
Click to expand...
from a google search
Premium Seating Breakdown
  • Luxury Suites: 28 total suites (completely sold out as of mid-2026)
  • Club Seats: About 2,200 seats spread across the [Ninety-Seven Club, Sideline Club], and [Field Club]
  • Living Room Boxes: 22 total boxes (offering sideline lounge seating with private screens)
  • Loge Boxes: 17 total semi-private boxes [1]

Regular & Standard Seating
  • Standard Seating: Approximately 32,700 seats made up of regular bowl seating, the general public areas, and upper-concourse spaces.
  • Student Section: 8,000 of these general seats are dedicated strictly to the massive on-campus USF student section near the campus dorms
 
M

mdk02

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Aug 18, 2011
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MADHAT1 said:
from a google search
Premium Seating Breakdown
  • Luxury Suites: 28 total suites (completely sold out as of mid-2026)
  • Club Seats: About 2,200 seats spread across the [Ninety-Seven Club, Sideline Club], and [Field Club]
  • Living Room Boxes: 22 total boxes (offering sideline lounge seating with private screens)
  • Loge Boxes: 17 total semi-private boxes [1]

Regular & Standard Seating
  • Standard Seating: Approximately 32,700 seats made up of regular bowl seating, the general public areas, and upper-concourse spaces.
  • Student Section: 8,000 of these general seats are dedicated strictly to the massive on-campus USF student section near the campus dorms
Click to expand...

So they expect about 1/6 th of the student body to show up for the game.
 
MADHAT1

MADHAT1

Heisman
Apr 1, 2003
31,703
16,500
113
DJ Spanky said:
Yeah, and you're talking a construction industry founded on corrupt unions, kickbacks, etc. versus what you get in Florida.

Similar to comparing the ugly prison colored monstrosity in the Meadowlands to what Jerry Jones built in Texas.
Click to expand...
Corruption is everywhere, in every state, , union related, non union companies and government officials with their hand out .
google found this:
>Florida football stadium construction scandals range from the historic Stadium Naples corruption scheme—where developers and officials swapped financial incentives and favors for zoning influence—to ongoing legal disputes over massive public subsidies and contractor negligence, such as the University of Central Florida's lawsuit over structural defects<
also
This relates to the USF stadium and probably every time a college needs public funds to build one.
Florida's major university and professional stadium projects frequently spark intense debate regarding the allocation of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars. Recent examples, such as the University of South Florida's $340 million on-campus stadium and the University of Florida's $1.45 billion "Swamp" renovation, highlight the tension between funding public athletic facilities and prioritizing academic budgets
 
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MADHAT1

MADHAT1

Heisman
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31,703
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tru2ru1 said:
Northwestern's new stadium seats 35,000 & costs $862 million, so USF got a bargain!
Click to expand...
Ir was a bargain compared to this , in the same state
checking stadum construction cost with a google search found this "bargain basement" price

>The University of Florida is undertaking a historic $1.45 billion renovation of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium ("The Swamp"), making it the most expensive stadium renovation in college football history. Construction will begin after the 2026 season and is slated for a multi-phase completion by the 2030 season<
 
RUTGERS95

RUTGERS95

Heisman
Sep 28, 2005
33,547
49,118
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Bueller said:
Video rendering linked.

Stadium will be a "U" that could be expanded later.

Some construction workers often start at 2AM. Because of the heat maybe? I've never really known what it must be like to play full pads in Florida heat. When I smell cut grass in August I can feel a whisper of foreboding over the memory of full pads in August. I did love Oklahoma drills though.

USF unveils new rendering of on-campus football stadium​

Click to expand...
ha, we had to put duct tape around our hands on 2 days in August because of the those prickly balls. If you yelled or acted whiney, we ran more after practice.
 
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e5fdny

e5fdny

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Nov 11, 2002
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They should try and host a bowl game there.

Something G5ish to start.
 
R

RUChet

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They are such a large school to
Not be in P4 and in a big market in Tampa. Strange UCF is in but USF isn’t
 
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A

Anon1754923206

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mdk02 said:
So they expect about 1/6 th of the student body to show up for the game.
Click to expand...
That shouldn’t be very difficult at all… Many big programs routinely accommodate between 20 and 30,000 students… I can think of at least 10 programs off the top of my head that do that regularly, including Texas A&M, Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, and they’re probably many others
 
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