UF athletics surveys fans on $398.5M Swamp renovation, potential added costs

As Florida football nears the end of the design phase of its proposed $398.5 million renovation of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, affectionately known as The Swamp, the school sent out a survey to season ticket holders, fans and alumni this week to gauge their interest on a variety of amenities.

And ask for more money.

Among questions asked to Florida Gators fans were how many games you attend per year, along with satisfaction of stadium appearance, entry/exiting, concourse/crowd circulation, seat location, seat comfort, seat price, availability of shaded/climate control seating, number of restroom/restroom access, parking, WiFi, quality and number of concessions, gameday atmosphere and tailgating.

The survey went on to reveal new and improved amenities within the renovation project such as:

• Increasing the number of stadium entry gates and turnstiles for easier ingress/egress
• Significantly increasing the size of stadium concourses to improve stadium accessibility and ability for fans to move around
• Nearly doubling the number of concessions stands and improving culinary infrastructure to enhance food quality and options
• Adding restrooms
• Enhanced seat comfort
• Drastically enhancing vertical circulation through new and enhanced elevators and escalators
• Multiple new video boards and additional LED ribbon boards
• Enhance sound system
• Increased heat mitigation to keep patrons cool and comfortable
• Increase in player and recruiting areas
• Introduction of new seating and hospitality areas
• Revitalization of current hospitality spaces
• Other fan-focused enhancements

Why Florida football is renovating The Swamp

Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin said the renovation of The Swamp is essential for the long-term success of the football program, because it will create a more modern, fan-friendly facility that will drive revenue. Seating capacity is expected to reduce from 88,548 to about 83,000, which Stricklin said is necessary to make the stadium ADA (Americans with Disability Act) compliant.

In the survey, it mentioned the possibility of a one-time capital seat gift commitment per seat that fans would pay to be dedicated to the stadium project. The survey said that cost of the gift could be spread out over five years and asked for fan feedback regarding the willingness to pay the gift.

The survey pointed out that the majority of Power 4 schools that have completed or are planning major stadium enhancement projects, including Texas A&M, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida State, USC, Notre Dame, Kansas, Penn State, etc. have required similar gifts at varying levels.

The survey also asked for fan interest in Patio and Affinity Clubs that would offer enclosed and upscale seating areas and amenities.

“As we have worked through various stages of the renovation planning, we continue to prioritize several aspects of the stadium that make The Swamp so special: the intimacy of The Swamp, the proximity of the fans to the field, capturing the sound of the crowd that impacts our opponents, keeping the wing walls and maintaining capacity,” the survey read.

“The proposed improvements to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will not only celebrate the past but also bring the historic building into the present with modern day amenities, expanded food and beverage, video displays and social spaces that fans have come to expect in a large venue setting.”

First-year Florida football coach Jon Sumrall said the stadium renovation isn’t at the front of his priorities right now, but he’s excited about the potential of a new-look Swamp.

“What makes our stadium cool is how unique it is,” Sumrall said. “Scott and them have a big task of figuring out what all the renovations are and what it looks like. I’m excited to see where it goes. I think we’re blessed to play in one of the coolest venues in all of college football. We need it, whether it’s renovated or not, we need it to be rocking on Saturdays. That’s my biggest concern right now.”

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football surveying fans on Swamp renovation