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Florida Gators to throw $1.45 billion at The Swamp
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Florida Gators to throw $1.45 billion at The Swamp

The Swamp is one of the most iconic places in college football.

Originally known as Florida Field when it was opened in 1930, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, aka The Swamp, is the home of the Florida Gators. It's the largest stadium in the state of Florida, the 12th largest in the United States and the 21st largest in the world. 

Three national championship teams and three Heisman Trophy winners have played on that field.

It's now getting an upgrade.

Florida revealed in a promotional video on Thursday that 1.45 billion in renovations will be poured into The Swamp.

It's expected to be the most expensive stadium renovation in college football history. 

The Gators are planning to keep capacity at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at 88,000, but these renovations are designed to improve concessions, restroom access, traffic flow, technology and gathering spaces.

"This is an important step toward ensuring The Swamp continues to set the standard for college football environments well into the future," said University of Florida Board of Trustees chair Mori Hosseini in a statement. "Our focus throughout this process has been on preserving the tradition, intensity, and identity that generations of Gators cherish while thoughtfully positioning the stadium for the future."

Other enhancements include expanded concourses and "elevated premium hospitality experiences," because that's life in the NIL era. You've got to keep the people with the money happy and comfortable on game day.

Construction will begin after the 2026 season, and Florida wants to have everything completed before the 2030 season.

The Gators will continue to play at The Swamp throughout the renovation period.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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