Georgia, Florida to each earn $7.5 million for playing at Falcons' Mercedes-Benz Stadium

The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party will have a new home in 2026 when the annual Florida–Georgia rivalry football game kicks off from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta while Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium undergoes major construction work. And now we know how much both teams will be compensated for the move.

Both Florida and Georgia will receive $7.5 million for playing their 2026 game inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons, according to the Athens Banner-Herald, which reviewed a non-binding memorandum of understanding released by UGA under a FOIA request.

Both schools confirmed the move of the 2026 game to Atlanta with the 2027 game to be played in Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium prior to the 2024 matchup in Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium, which is undergoing a major $1.4 billion renovation project. The game is scheduled to return to Jacksonville in 2028 with both teams guaranteed to receive $10 million apiece in 2028-29 and $10.5 million for 2030-31, according to the Athens Banner-Herald.

The Florida-Georgia rivalry game has been played in Jacksonville since 1933, minus the 1994 and 1995 seasons when the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars was originally built.

Kirby Smart, Billy Napier react to Florida-Georgia game moving to Atlanta, Tampa in 2026, 2027

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and Florida’s Billy Napier each discussed the moves during an appearance on the SEC coaches teleconference days before the 2024 rivalry game.

“It’s been talked about and debated for a long time, for a while, since we’ve known the Jacksonville renovation was going to occur and I think the parties involved did a great job managing it and I think Jacksonville did a great job stepping up and making it worthwhile for both universities and I’m excited about the opportunity to play at two different locations,” Smart said on Oct. 30, 2024. “That’ll be unique and maybe we learn from those two experiences.”

Napier was enthused by the chance to head to new locations while acknowleding the importance of the game as a crucial annual revenue generator for both schools.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to play both in Atlanta and Tampa,” Napier said on the teleconference. “Both great venues, both will be well-ran operations. I think we all understand the revenue that this game generates for both athletic departments. So, you know, I think it’s going to be unique and certainly we’re excited about that opportunity.” 

— Andrew Graham contributed to this report.