Florida begins planning process ahead of $400 million-plus renovation to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

The Florida Gators have begun a $400 million renovation project on Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. This makeover for the Swamp is considered a large overhaul and is part of a “multigenerational solution” to the stadium.

On Monday, the school announced it is hiring an architect for the project. The formal bidding process for that role will begin this July. It’s also the first public announcement in the process. This comes after a “series of exhaustive studies and evaluations.”

The project is expected to cost at least $400 million, though it’s possible that it could cost more in the end. Athletic director Scott Stricklin says that it’s premature to speculate on things like the final cost or timeline for the project. However, he did insist that the goal is to improve the experience for fans while maintaining what makes the Swamp unique.

‘We’ve conducted a number of studies over the last five-plus years about what the future could look like for Ben Hill Griffin Stadium,” said Athletics Director Scott Stricklin. “We’ve engaged with vendors that specialize in iconic venues and stadium experience for both fans and players while offering a variety of solutions. It is now time to take that information and engage with an architect who can present renovation, construction and phasing options for The Swamp.”

Exact plans and details will come out after Florida chooses an architectural team for the project. However, in a release, Florida said that the project is designed to improve the fan experience, including, “Concourse, entry gates, seating, concessions and restrooms to enhancements to video board and sound system.”

The selection process for an architect will be done alongside the UF Campus Planning, Design and Construction Office.

“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,” Stricklin said.

The Swamp first opened in 1930 and was a 22,000 stadium at the time. Since then, it has been expanded to have a capacity of nearly 90,000 people.

“We’re in the service business; we don’t make widgets,” Stricklin said. “We create experiences, whether it’s for our student-athletes, our staff and ultimately for Gator Nation. So, when you are in the service business, there’s not a lot of tangible results. It’s a lot of intangible results.”

Florida is lightyears ahead of where they were last year

After a couple of frustrating seasons on the field, Florida is looking to turn things around in head coach Billy Napier’s second season at the helm. While speaking to On3’s Jesse Simonton, Napier argued that Florida is lightyears ahead of where they were last season.

During an On3 Roundtable, GatorsOnline’s Nick de la Torre explained what he meant.

“What he’s talking about there is just the systems and the operation. Last year, not only are you teaching the players a new system and a new way that practice is run, expectations, you’re teaching a coaching staff as well,” de la Torre said.

“Some of these guys came from Louisiana with Billy and knew what to expect. But Corey Raymond didn’t. Right now, Austin Armstrong is learning it as a defensive coordinator, a young defensive coordinator. So I think what he means by that is we’re getting more work done in the weight room, more work done in our OTAs and in our practice, more reps just because guys know where to be, what’s expected of them and the operation runs much quicker and smoother here in Gainesville now.”