As with everything in life, however, there is not as much time as you might think. There isnt a concrete plan yet but there will be a seating readjustment in Ben Hill Griffins near future. Florida already holds 8,000 tickets for visiting teams every week. As Florida began scheduling contests against established football programs from across the south, several "home" games per season were held at larger venues across the state, usually Fairfield Stadium in Jacksonville and Plant Field in Tampa. But this renovation is a sweeping one, touching the stadium bowl for the first time in two decades. . BHGS offers Gators fan with three club seat options: Champion's Club, Touchdown Terrace, and the Bull Gator Deck. That sort of dramatic reduction likely makes that scenario one that has received only cursory consideration. It was originally known as Florida Field when it opened as a 22,000 seat facility in 1930, and it has been expanded and renovated many times over the ensuing decades. [27] When the new facility is completed, some of the redundant space in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will be repurposed for other uses. . In 1982, the south endzone was enclosed with a new double-decked grandstand that featured Florida Field's first chairback seats and a wide concourse under the upper deck that allowed a view of the field. "[8][9] Both the "Swamp" nickname and the "only Gators get out alive" tagline added later by UF's sports marketing department quickly became popular and have been commonly used ever since. We have an opportunity to provide a better experience with just seat width alone. However, since Florida Field's last major expansion in 1990, the university has sharply limited the number of shows at the football stadium due to concerns over damage to the turf or the facility. Upper-level sections, rows, and seats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Club, VIP, Box Seats and Suites at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, WHERE CAN I FIND CHEAPEST TICKETS FOR BEN HILL GRIFFIN STADIUM, WHAT IS MOBILE TICKET POLICY AT BEN HILL GRIFFIN STADIUM, HANDICAPPED & ADA SEATING AT BEN HILL GRIFFIN STADIUM, How To Find The Cheapest Metallica Drive-In Concert Tickets + Face Value Options, How To Find The Cheapest Florida Football Tickets + Face Value Options, Where To Find The Cheapest Florida Vs. Georgia Football Tickets At TIAA Bank Field, Where To Find The Cheapest Florida Vs. Auburn Football Tickets At Ben Hill Griffin Stadium On 10/5/19, How To Find The Cheapest LSU vs Florida Football Tickets + Face Value Options, Where to Find Cheapest Miami Vs. Florida Camping World Kickoff Tickets. We have everything you need to know about Ben Hill Griffin Stadium from detailed row and seat numbers, to where the best seats are. For Sold Out Seats and Events, TicketIQ hasFee Free tickets for all events at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. When he isnt covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v.

Have a question about seat obstructions, concert configurations, venue parking or anything else relating to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium? Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. The members are. The Florida Gators biggest home may soon be significantly nicer and maybe significantly smaller, too, according to a report from The Gainesville Sun. Minutes before kickoff, a short hype video is shown on the large video screens, the contents of which varies slightly from season to season. [30], The playing surface of Florida Field has also changed over the years. A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. Sellers must disclose all information that is listed on their tickets. "[5] As a result, the facility's official name is now "Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium".[7]. The visiting teams sideline bench is located in front of sections 34-40. These notes include information regarding if the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium seat view is a limited view, side view, obstructed view or anything else pertinent. During the pre-game, this cheer was led by Richard Johnston (also known as "Mike Man" or "Mr. Orange and Blue"), a former. The enclosed playing area also enhances the effects of Gainesville's warm and humid fall climate. In 1973, Florida Field hosted the Tangerine Bowl, which pitted the hometown Gators against the Miami Redskins while Orlando's Citrus Bowl was being rebuilt. [28][29] As part of these improvements, hundreds of small Wi-Fi routers were installed under stadium benches in 2019 to improve fans' internet connectivity during games. [31] The original artificial surface was replaced with an updated version in 1980,[32] and it remained until 1990, when newly hired coach Steve Spurrier insisted it be removed and replaced with natural grass to help prevent player injury. TicketIQ also provides access to unsold face-value tickets for all events at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium via Ticketmaster. The new concourse connected with existing concourses under the east and west grandstands so that fans could circle the stadium, though not with a constant view of the playing field. If you are looking to get rowdy during any Florida game, these sections are for you. Upper-level center rows run 1-12 and rows 1-32 in the end sections and 51-89 in corner sections. All three sections offer fans with excellent views and comfy seats, but each one has distinct perks: The Champion's Club provides fans with covered seats; The Touchdown Terrace offers access to a private air-conditioned club; The Bull Gator Deck offers incredible access to field level seats near the Florida sideline. . Stricklin estimated those 8,000 that Florida holds for opponents is probably about 5,000 too many and getting rid of 5,000 seats wouldnt be noticeable. Of those, repairing damaged infrastructure and continued compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines is clearly the most important but while the proposed aisle widening and introduction of handrails are musts for some, they will be benefits for all who use the stadium. FIGHTIN' GATORS" during the 1990s) and "It's Great To Be A FLORIDA GATOR" (before the 2013 season). Lower-level rows run from 1-50 except from A-H sections having 1-27 rows. i am confused as to why the seat backs and width could only be placed in the first 30 rows, i have never noticed a difference in the concrete or the benches as you go up, they seem exactly the same to my backside. BHGS originally seated 21,000 fans in 1930, but through seven expansions has turned into one of the largest stadiums in the country, holding over 88,000 fans for any home Florida game or concert. A, An extensive expansion in 19651966 doubled the size of the east grandstand while developing the facility for other uses by adding a. [3], Before the 2008 season, the Heavener Football Complex opened on the southwest corner of Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. [33], Florida has played the vast majority of their home contests at Florida Field since it opened in 1930. The chosen site was a shallow ravine, with approximately 30 rows of the current seating area below the level of the surrounding land. Another area they will explore is the actual seats. [8] In June 2012, the playing surface was completely removed down to the substrate to install an improved drainage system and in-ground sensors to measure moisture levels and temperature. Where To Buy 2021 Florida Gators Football Tickets & When Do Tickets Go On Sale Primary market face-value single-game tickets are available viaTicketmaster. 90,000 screaming fans at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium has been a boast for years but wont be for much longer. The only seasons since 1933 in which UF and UGA did not meet in Jacksonville were 1994 and 1995, when the old Gator Bowl was being rebuilt as the venue now known as TIAA Bank Field for the NFL's expansion Jacksonville Jaguars and the contest was held at Florida Field and Georgia's Sanford Stadium, respectively.[35]. In years past, Florida would occasionally schedule a home game in Jacksonville, Tampa, or (less frequently) Miami and Orlando. Prices may be above or below prices on the secondary ticket market. All concepts and projects schedules related to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium are aspirational at this point, said Chip Howard, Executive Associate Athletics Director for Internal Affairs at UF. [17][18], In 1934, Florida Field was dedicated to the memory of Florida servicemen who died in World War I, and a memorial plaque to that effect was installed on the outside wall behind the north end zone. Florida Field was once a busy concert venue, with artists such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Elton John, The Eagles, and Jimmy Buffett among the performers who played at the stadium. Stricklin told the Gainesville Sun he wants these renovations to be done within five years. The only way to correct that is to tear down the structure and we dont have an appetite for that, he said. . So while the O'Connell Center next door has become a busy concert venue, there have only been two non-Gator Growl concerts in Florida Field since 1990: The Rolling Stones on November 27, 1994 as part of their Voodoo Lounge Tour; and Garth Brooks on April 20, 2019 during his Stadium Tour. The days of fans being OK sitting three hours on a really piece of aluminum I think are gone, he said. Any major changes to The Swamp would not occur until a project team is hired. By purchasing a ticket or signing up, you agree to the. Combined, these factors create an intimidating environment which can rattle and disrupt opposing teams, making it difficult to hear playcalls and execute assignments. At most other times, Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is open for students to jog around the concourse, run stadium steps, or just sit in the stands, although the actual playing surface is off limits to prevent turf damage. Upper-level corner sections include 247-265, 218-229. Painted on the four corners of the stadium are large messages "This is . To the east is the University of Florida Campus Historic District, which is the oldest portion of the campus and includes the Murphree Area student residence complex, the Florida Gymnasium, and Ustler Hall. For example, obstructed view seats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium would be listed for the buyer to consider (or review) prior to purchase. Many Concerts also have unsold tickets. The facility may be best known as simply "The Swamp", a nickname which was coined by Spurrier in 1992. call delivered in powerful baritone as the Gators ran onto Florida Field before each game, and for his succinct and even-handed style of announcing the plays during the game. In April 2011, life-size bronze statues of Heisman Trophy winners Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, and Tim Tebow were dedicated outside the west side of the stadium along Gale Lemerand Drive. Most of the football program's facilities are slated to move to a nearby $60 million building that began construction in 2020. If you are a fan of the Gators or your favorite team is playing at Ben Hill Griffin, then these sections are the best! . Theres a way you can do something on the lower 30 rows or so and thats what were looking at.

October 6th, 2018. Essentially, we have 88,000 seats. The Florida Gators student section is located in sections 23-35, 37, and 39-44. FLORIDA GATORS" (previously read " . The Swamp that were once painted on the stadiums wing walls. what am i missing? The typical program included the introduction of senior football players by the head coach, live student skits, video skits (often with celebrity cameo appearances), a major musical act, and a headlining comedian. Just west of the stadium across Gale Lemerand Drive is the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, which is the home arena for the Florida Gators men's basketball, women's basketball, gymnastics, volleyball, and swimming and diving teams.

The study indicates that the pre-design phase of this project is intended to wrap up by early January, with the addition of a new video board ultimately taking place in 2023 and the bowl renovations coming in 2024. The most notable exception is the annual Florida-Georgia game, which has been held in Jacksonville since 1933 with the two teams alternating being the official home team. Terms of Service - Subscriber Agreement -. [61][62], The Swamp during the 2007 "blue-out" game against Tennessee, View of the north stands from outside the stadium, The north end zone at Florida Field in 1973, American college football stadium of the University of Florida, University of Florida Campus Historic District, University of Florida Athletic Association, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, List of NCAA Division I FBS football stadiums, 100 things about 100 years of Gator football, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field, "Florida Gators set Ben Hill Griffin attendance record in showdown with Seminoles", Spurrier's Name to be Added to Florida Field, "UF laying foundation for new football facility with baseball stadium complete", "Swamp Sweet Swamp: Steve Spurrier is back home at Florida", "Sports: 100 things about 100 years of Gator football", "Fleming Field: Gainesville's forgotten sports venue", "Tigert understood the significance of sports", "University of Florida makes homecoming plans", "View of Graham Field on the University of Florida campus", "Stadium Addition at U. of Florida Wins Platinum Rating for Sustainability Buildings & Grounds The Chronicle of Higher Education", "New video boards for Ben Hill Griffin Stadium", "CPPI Partners with UAA for West Concourse Renovation at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium", "Florida unveils $100 million facility upgrades initiative", "Q&A: Stricklin says reducing seating capacity at stadium in Florida's plans", "Florida's long-term facility plan includes Swamp face-lift", "BHG Stadium Upgrade: The Swamp to Receive State-of-the-Art Wi-Fi Technology in 2019", "Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Google News Archive Search", "His grass is badass.

In 1991, an upper deck of "Sunshine Seats" and a middle deck of, In 2003, the press box was expanded and several levels of club seats and, Commemorated atop the south end zone's facade are the years of each of the team's, Atop the north end zone facade, the Ring of Honor commemorates some of the greatest players and coaches in Gator football history. However, the playing surface remained "Florida Field", and the facility's full name was "Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field" from 1990 until 2016. We feel comfortable there, but we hope our opponents feel tentative. [15][16], Construction began on April 16, 1930 and soon faced serious engineering and geotechnical obstacles related to natural groundwater and drainage. Since 1997 Gator Country's been the most trusted authority on all Florida Gators sports. [59], Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium has hosted the Florida high school football championships on many occasions, which title games for different divisions played over one weekend.[60]. When Steve Spurrier became the Gators' head football coach in 1990, he revived the tradition of fans and players together singing the University of Florida Alma Mater after the conclusion of home football games. Florida's football team began play there in 1911, which was also the year that they began using the "Gators" nickname. With attendance down throughout the country universities have tried to come up with different ways to attract people to games. [10], The university began developing its first on-campus sports field in 1910, when it purchased and cleared open land just west of the campus. And that document admits Floridas awareness that some of these upgrades are necessary, with the relevant passage saying The Swamp requires upgrades to meet accessible guidelines, improve attendee comfort, repair damaged infrastructure, provide advanced technology, and improve concourse areas.. [33] Since that work was completed, the turf on Florida Field has been a Bermuda grass hybrid developed by UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to better resist drought, disease, and damage. Furthermore, during hot and sunny day games, Florida's sideline (on the stadium's west side) is in the shade provided by the press box, while the visiting team's sideline (on the stadium's east side) is exposed to the sun. This adjoining track facility, which was used by the Florida Gators track and field program beginning in 1932, had its own set of bleachers and was known as Graham Field.[12][19]. Coach Spurrier changed the culture of Florida Athletics. TicketIQ customers save up to 25% compared to other secondary sites. A construction team of 80 laborers and mules finally completed Florida Field in time for the November 8, 1930 homecoming game against Alabama, the dominant Southern Conference team of the day. [3], As originally designed, Florida Field had a capacity of 21,769 and consisted of a gently-sloping, U-shaped concrete grandstand encompassing approximately the lower half of the current seating area. [58] However, a combination of high ticket prices and controversial comedic acts caused Gator Growl to fade in popularity among current students and alumni alike, and it was last held in The Swamp in 2013. [43][44][45], Florida's performance at home illustrates this effect. The Champion's Club is the highest level, open-air seating stadium with chairback seating. Welcome to TickPick's detailed Ben Hill Griffin Stadium seating chart page. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium offers other convenient services including wheelchair assistance lost and found and wheelchair check-in. So there is still time to experience The Swamp as it has been for most of most fans lifetimes before it starts shrinking. The most dramatic scenario for the lower bowl adds a foot of width to the aisles and increases seat width to a full two feet, and was projected to reduce capacity by more than 18,000 seats from the west, south, and east sidelines alone. FLORIDA FIELD" before the mid-1990s), "This is . The way visiting teams travel now thats probably 5,000 seats too many so right there you get rid of 5,000 seats and youd never miss them because visitors arent coming, he said. Adding seat backs would require more space per seat, reducing capacity, but it might not be noticeable. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(491114, '40fb8cbf-9d7a-42dd-81ee-473e34ea4a52', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(491114, '948dc274-b322-4e8b-8462-f40c28c07749', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Lower-level center sections include 6-12, 40-34, 9-11, 34-40, 37, 35. Florida Field has twice served as a temporary home for college bowl games when other Florida stadiums were undergoing renovations. Larger bleachers were installed in 1915, when the facility was rechristened "Fleming Field" in honor of recently deceased former Florida governor Francis P. Put chair backs in and where you dont put chair backs in you expand seat width to benefit others. [42] On 30 November 2019, in a game vs. Florida State, the decibel level in the swamp exceeded that of CenturyLink Field, home of the NFLs Seattle Seahawks, which is among the loudest in the NFL. This home field advantage has helped power Florida into one of the premiere college football programs in the country. Any fan would love to sit in any one of these three sections. Bull Gator Deck is one exclusive seating area at the stadium with 400 seating seats and 80 rows. [13], Florida's football program first earned national prominence in the 1920s, prompting incoming university president John J. Tigert to begin a drive to construct a proper on-campus stadium upon his arrival in 1928. If youve watched a game on television and noticed wide empty rows of bleachers in the southeast corner of the stadium and wondered what was going on, those are tickets that were returned by the visiting team. From the establishment of the University of Florida in Gainesville in 1906 until the 1910-1911 academic year, the school's intercollegiate football team and club-level baseball team played and practiced at a Gainesville municipal park known simply as "The Baseball Park" or "The Ballpark". One of the major reasons is the stadium's design. Speaking with reporters last February he began throwing out the idea of making the overall seating capacity smaller in favor of a better game day experience. Originally built in a shallow sinkhole, the playing surface is below ground level. So weve got to find ways to upgrade the overall quality. . For guests who wish to transfer to a seat from their wheelchair, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will store the wheelchair at Guest Services on various levels. We want to be north of 75,000. Jim Finch, the public address announcer at the stadium from 1966 through 2001, was known for his famously long "Heeeeeeeeeeeeeere come the Gators!" At the end of each years' video, a group of real. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The Florida Gators have unsold face-value tickets available for most games, which can be purchased directly through Ticketmaster. Florida Gators Football, Upper-level center sections include 501-513. 0 Comments . . During preliminary excavation and leveling work, water from a previously unknown underground stream began to pour into the construction site from the north, miring the future playing surface in mud. 100-level end sections include A-H, 18-28, 9, 43, 3, 17 with 100-level corner sections of 2, 4, 14, 16, 5, 7, 13, 15, 44, 42, 30, 32, 33, 31, 39, 41. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiters no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is located on the northern edge of the University of Florida's Gainesville campus. . The scoreboards and sound systems will also be upgraded. Before the 2017 season, new LED ribbon video boards were installed to display college football scores, advertisements, messages, and other visual information. The 1994 Gator Bowl between the Virginia Tech Hokies and Tennessee Volunteers was held in the Swamp while Jacksonville Municipal Stadium was being rebuilt for the National Football League's expansion Jacksonville Jaguars. Don't miss out! [26] The stand-alone facility would include an updated locker room, 3-D hologram training environment, strength and conditioning center, hydrotherapy space, team meeting rooms, coaching offices and nutrition bar. GATOR COUNTRY", the SEC Championship winning years, and the national championship winning years (updated before the 2017 season). The $28 million addition, which was funded entirely with private donations, is meant to be the "front door" of the football program and houses a museum highlighting Florida Football history along with offices, meeting space, a new weight room, and other facilities for the football program[22][23], Following the Florida's 2008 BCS Championship season, large Daktronics HD-16 video boards were installed atop the upper deck of both endzones. But besides the annual meeting with Georgia, the Gators have not played a regular season home contest anywhere besides Florida Field since September 1980, when they defeated the California Golden Bears in old Tampa Stadium. This page was last edited on 7 June 2022, at 01:06. Since then, it has been held at the nearby Flavet Field bandshell while trying to cater more to current students.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is the largest stadium in Florida, the 12th largest stadium in the United States, and the 18th largest stadium in the world, as measured by its official seating capacity of 88,548 though, it has often held over 90,000 for Florida's home football games. That capacity reduction, though, is all but certain and likely to be substantial. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isnt much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. I think it needs to happen, Stricklin told Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun. The university has not set a timeline for the work, but Stricklin has said that he expects the project to be completed in phases by around 2025. Florida Field occasionally hosts special events: For 82 years, Florida Field was the home of Gator Growl, a student-produced show and pep rally held the Friday night before the annual homecoming football game that was long billed as the largest student-run pep rally in the world, Originally a simple affair, Gator Growl grew over the years and became a major event by the 1970s. Most of the university's athletic administrative offices, along with most football-related offices and training areas, have been located in the stadium since the 1960s. They went undefeated at home from the time Spurrier arrived in 1990 until 1994, and lost only three SEC home games during Spurrier's 12 years in Gainesville.[46]. Beneath the new grandstand, modern training and weight room facilities for the football team were added. Florida planning Ben Hill Griffin Stadium renovations, reduction in capacity, a project called Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Facility Upgrades, one of the first pages in the document detailing the plan, 2007: The inside story of the greatest CFB season ever, The all-time consensus national championships list, The evolutionary history of option football. As UF athletic director Jeremy Foley explained, "Coach Spurrier did more than win a Heisman Trophy, a national championship, and a bunch of games. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. 2017 Gator Country Multimedia, Inc, All Rights Reserved. The university has occasionally held large commencement ceremonies in the stadium instead of having several small ceremonies next door in the O'Connell Center, though the potential for inclement weather usually keeps the graduation events indoors.[57]. Expansions have enclosed the playing area on all sides with steep stands, and the fans are within a few feet of the action.

The Florida Gators student section is located around sections 23-35, 37, and 39-44. [36] Not coincidentally, this game was played the season prior to Florida Field's south endzone expansion, which made it the largest football stadium in Florida.