Georgia-Florida football rivalry games moving to other neutral sites for 2026 and 2027

Posted by Admin October 30, 2024 Football

Georgia football’s annual rivalry game with Florida has a new home for the two years while the series is displaced from Jacksonville due to major stadium renovations.

Actually, it’s two new homes.

The Bulldogs and Gators will play in 2026 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and the game moves to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla, for the 2027 game, a source confirmed. The news was first reported by Brett McMurphy of the Action Network.

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

An announcement also could be coming before Saturday’s game in Jacksonville on the game returning to Jacksonville starting in 2028. Jacksonville mayor Donna Deegan indicated that to the Florida Times-Union on Tuesday.

“It’s been talked about and debated for a long time, for a while, since we’ve known the Jacksonville renovation was going to to occur,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said when asked Wednesday about Atlanta and Tampa. “You know, I think the parties involved did a great job managing it. I think Jacksonville did a great job stepping up and making it worthwhile for both universities and excited about the opportunity to play it, you know, two different locations, so that’ll be unique and maybe we learn from those two experiences.”

For 2026 and 2027, the schools chose to play at neutral sites in both states rather than go home-and-home because they take away much more financially.

“Kirby and I probably both agree that it would be awesome to play home-and-home, but we also know there’s a tremendous amount of revenue created by having this game at a neutral site. Money makes the world go round and certainly the amount of revenue, there’s a significant difference in the revenue that’s generated.”

Raymond James Stadium is the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and hosted the Super Bowl in February 2021. Its record capacity crowd was 69,305 against the Bengals on Dec. 18, 2022.

Georgia last played in Tampa in the same stadium in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 2, 2012 and has played in five bowl games in all in Tampa.

The stadium opened in 1998 and has undergone several renovations since 2014 including a redesign of the main concourse, HD end zone video boards and HD towers in the lower bowl corner, new sound system and concessions and renovated luxury suites.

Other upgrades include a redsigned West Stadium Club, expanded Hall of Fame Club, new home team locker room and renovated East Stadium Club and the addition of Bar 76 sports bar and restaurant.

The Bulldogs have played 11 games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium since it opened in 2017 including each of the last seven seasons. Georgia is scheduled to play in 2025 there against Georgia Tech after the Yellow Jackets moved their home game against the Bulldogs.

Georgia and Florida have played in Jacksonville each year since 1993 except for 1994 and 1995 when the stadium also was renovated and the games were played on campus.

Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks in May indicated the schools were eyeing returning to Jacksonville once the stadium renovations are complete in time for the 2028 game.

Deegan Tuesday said she was “extraordinarily optimistic” that the city will sign a new contract with the schools for the game.

Brooks has said “we’re excited to go back there and see the potential and opportunities to make it a really special game with what they’re talking about doing. It looks like it’s going to be an amazing project.”

Camping World Stadium in Orlando was another neutral site option for the game in Florida.

Georgia currently makes about $6 million more over a two-year period playing in Jacksonville rather than home-and-home.

“I think the neutral site will present those same revenue opportunities,” Napier said, “and that’s ultimately why the decision was made.”

(This story was updated to add new information.)