Georgia to play rivalry game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2025
Georgia-Georgia Tech is going to look a little different this year being played on Black Friday instead of the Saturday of rivalry weekend. Well, change is going to be a theme of Clean Old-Fashioned Hate these next two meetings with the announcement on Tuesday that next year’s game will be headed to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta instead of Bobby Dodd Stadium on the Tech campus.
Chad Bishop, Georgia Tech beat writer for the Atlanta-Journal Constitution was first to report the news announced by Georgia Tech athletics director J Batt on Tuesday.
It’s the first time the matchup has been played off campus since Georgia Tech’s opening of Bobby Dodd Stadium in 1912. The last few seasons though Tech has annually played a game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons. The Yellow Jackets do so this weekend against No. 12 Notre Dame and have previously knocked off a ranked North Carolina squad at The Benz.
“We know that some of you may be apprehensive that Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate will be played off-campus for the first time since Bobby Dodd Stadium opened in 1913. Please know that we understand that concern and know that this was not a decision that was made lightly,” Batt shared in his announcement. “Embarking on the new era of college athletics requires exploring new revenue sources, as that is paramount to our goal of competing for championships at the highest level. In partnering with AMB Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE) to move Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for 2025, we agreed to changes in the contract that calls for us to play one game annually at Mercedes-Benz Stadium through 2026.”
As part of Tech’s agreement with AMBSE, the school will bring in a guaranteed $10 million to play the 2025 contest at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, although the game won’t be included in season ticket packages for Yellow Jacket fans.
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“In addition to the $10 million guarantee, the reworked agreement with AMBSE will provide Tech season ticket members with seating priority opportunities that they haven’t had for our previous games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium,” Batt added. “While tickets for Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate will not be a part of our 2025 football season tickets packages, seats for Georgia Tech season ticket members who purchase tickets for the GT-UGA game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be assigned after MBS suite and club seat holders only. This is a significant move up in seating priority for Tech season ticket members over our previous games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and will result in significantly more highly sought-after seats being available to Yellow Jackets fans first.”
The move to Mercedes-Benz Stadium is just for 2025, and Clean Old-Fashioned Hate will be back at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Tech’s campus in 2027. However, it’s clear, home field advantage is being given up with money on the mind.
“While the invaluable revenue lift and improved seating priority for Tech fans are the primary reasons why the decision was made to play Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2025, it will also move the Georgia Tech-Georgia rivalry onto one of the world’s biggest stages for the first time. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is one of the premier stadiums in the world – the home of Super Bowls, College Football Playoff Championship Games, the World Cup – and offers fan amenities not available at any other venue.”
The Bulldogs own a 71-41-5 all-time advantage in the series over the Yellow Jackets. UGA has won six straight and could tie the longest win streak in the series with wins both this season and next year at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
