TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 8, 2024) – Many University of South Florida Bulls fans have waited decades to witness this moment. Today, university leaders put shovels in the ground to break ground on USF’s transformational on-campus stadium.
“Our new stadium will have a major impact on the University of South Florida’s future, not only on the field, but in ways that extend well beyond athletics,” USF President Rhea Law said. “The stadium will greatly enhance the experience for our students and will provide a compelling reason for our alumni and future generations of Bulls fans to visit our campus, build lifelong connections to USF and increase their engagement with everything our world-class university has to offer.”
The approximately 35,000-seat stadium will be home to USF’s football and women’s lacrosse teams. The facility will also host events throughout the year, including additional sporting events, concerts and festivals, as well as potentially graduation ceremonies, intramurals, club sports and other academic initiatives.
The groundbreaking ceremony is a significant milestone in a process that ramped up in September 2021 when USF Board of Trustees Chair Will Weatherford shared his vision for building an on-campus stadium.
“Three years ago, I said that Bulls Nation deserved to have a stadium, and our time has come to take this bold step forward. It has taken a lot of work to reach this point and I’m proud to celebrate this historic moment for USF,” Weatherford said. “Everywhere you look, our great university is on the rise as we break records in many key areas. Now we are investing in Athletics in ways we never have before at USF. It’s that commitment that we know is needed to take our Bulls to the next level. The best is yet to come.”
Over the past year, USF has released a series of renderings and details about the stadium’s features, including:
- An east-west build to help maximize shade for daytime events.
- A dedicated section for 8,000 students in the west end that includes a design unique to USF and amenities that will cater to the student experience, such as their own entrance, restrooms and concessions, as well as a landing for an in-game disc jockey.
- Shaded home stands on the stadium’s south side. The lower and main bowls will serve as the home stands for USF fans. Premium seating, including club and private suites, will also be on the stadium’s south side. A covered rooftop patio will give fans a unique experience atop the stadium.
- An open concourse around a majority of the stadium that gives fans views of the field, even as they are walking to concession or restroom areas.
- Within the stadium perimeter, the north lawn is located near a champion’s walk that leads into the main entrance of the stadium and serves as home to the traditional Bulls Stampede pregame walk from the team buses into the stadium. The north lawn area will serve as a versatile space for various events and activations, with potential uses including sponsored gatherings, tailgating, live music and other non-game day events.
“Our new stadium is more than just a home for our teams; it’s a step forward in building one of the premier athletics districts in college sports,” said USF Vice President for Athletics Michael Kelly. “With its innovative design, this facility will be an elite training ground for our student-athletes, providing them with the tools to reach new heights. We are thrilled to bring a dynamic home-field advantage for our Bulls and an unparalleled fan experience for Bulls Nation and the Tampa Bay community — one that captures the boldness, pride and passion that define the University of South Florida.”
The stadium will be located on the east side of campus next to the Porter Family Indoor Performance Facility, which opened in 2022, and within the USF Athletics district. The site allows for a strong connection with other portions of campus, giving students who live on or near campus the option to walk to the stadium, offering multiple options for tailgating space and utilizing nearby parking lots. There is also a historical connection, as USF football used the recreation fields that the stadium will be built on for practice when the program was first formed in the 1990s.
Homecoming Week was selected for the groundbreaking ceremony, as it is a time to celebrate USF’s past, present and future, and symbolizes the opportunity the stadium provides to gather and share passion for the university while creating lasting memories cheering on the Bulls.
“The USF community deserves a state-of-the-art on-campus stadium where we can welcome alumni and friends. This will be so much more than a building. It will energize our community and showcase USF’s culture of achieving excellence in all forms,” USF Foundation CEO Jay Stroman said. “We are grateful to our many donors and supporters who have stepped forward so far to help make this dream a reality. It will be exciting to see the incredible facility take shape over the next few years.”
The stadium is scheduled to open in time for fall 2027. More information on the project is available here.
To view this story on the USF Newsroom website, click here.
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About the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, a high-impact research university dedicated to student success and committed to community engagement, generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. Across campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health, USF serves approximately 50,000 students who represent nearly 150 different countries. U.S. News & World Report has ranked USF as one of the nation’s top 50 public universities for six consecutive years and, for the second straight year, as the best value university in Florida. In 2023, USF became the first public university in Florida in nearly 40 years to be invited to join the Association of American Universities, a group of the leading 3% of universities in the United States and Canada. With an all-time high of $692 million in research funding in 2023 and a ranking as a top 15 public university for producing new U.S. patents, USF is a leader in solving global problems and improving lives. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.
