Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is headed toward a potential $400 million facelift as the University of Florida's athletic department plans to modernize the over 90-year-old stadium.
The University Athletic Association is this month beginning the hunt for an architect suitable to undertake the task; an exact timeline for the bidding process is unknown.
“We’ve engaged with vendors that specialize in iconic venues and stadium experiences for both fans and players while offering a variety of solutions,” Athletic Director Scott Stricklin said. “It is now time to take that information and engage with an architect who can present renovation, construction and phasing options for The Swamp.”
The association says the renovations will encompass upgrades to the concourse, entry gates, seating, concessions, restrooms, video boards and sound systems.
“There are many questions that come with a project of this scope, but it would be premature to speculate on the answer to many of those, including but not limited to final costs, seating capacity and specific timeline,” Stricklin said. “We look forward to working along with an architect that will start providing options on what those answers could look like and allow us to continue to host college football’s biggest and best fans in The Swamp.”
The stadium first opened in 1930 with 22,000 seats and has expanded over the past century to roughly 90,000.