USF updated venue design plan cost rise

Article posted by Coliseum, May 9^th, 2025

Image: University of South Florida & Populous

The University of South Florida’s (USF’s) (US) Board of Trustees has signed off on an updated plan for the school’s on-campus football stadium with upgrades to the facility’s design leading to increased costs.

The University of South Florida (USF) is a public research university with its main campus located in Tampa, Florida, United States.

On-campus Stadium Project

By the numbers: The USF’s new plan includes a total project cost of $348.5 million, up from $340 million in June 2023.

‘FOX 13’ stated that the stadium will initially seat about 35,000 fans with room for future expansion.

Image: University of South Florida & Populous

The USF also plans to expand the Tampa General Hospital Center for Athletic Excellence, enhance the locker room amenities and build out academic space.

The Tampa General Hospital Center for Athletic Excellence which is expected to open in August 2026 is a new facility that will be part of the University of South Florida’s new on-campus stadium and athletics district. It’s a multipurpose facility designed to enhance athletic performance and provide comprehensive healthcare services for the USF athletes and the other members of the community.

‘FOX 13’ further stated that in addition to updating the stadium plan the USF trustees approved $47.9 million in infrastructure upgrades for the East side of its main campus to prepare for future growth including the new stadium.

Another $10.5 million has been set aside to cover unexpected costs, design changes, or unforeseen issues with any of these projects.

Image: University of South Florida & Populous

Observed Will Weatherford, USF Board of Trustees Chair, “It’s about as big a check as we’re going to write for anything at the University of South Florida. So, I’m a believer in measuring twice and cutting once. I think our team has done a good job of measuring here and trying to build in all the contingencies that you can for a project of this size and scale.”

When Will the New Stadium Open?

Timeline:

The crews officially broke ground last November with the USF saying that additional site clearing will take place soon followed by full construction “shortly after”.

The University officials say their goal is for the USF football team – the South Florida Bulls football – to move in during the Summer of 2027 ahead of the stadium’s first events.

The South Florida Bulls football team represents the University of South Florida. The Bulls began playing in 1997 and compete in the American Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The 75,000-capacity Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida (US) serves as their residence.

Irving (US)-based the American Athletic Conference, also known as The American, is a collegiate athletic Conference in the United States featuring 13 full member universities and six affiliate member universities that compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division I.

Indianapolis (US)-based the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States and one in Canada. It also organizes the athletic programs of the colleges and helps over 500,000 college student-athletes who compete annually in college sports.

The NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly known as the Division I-A, is the highest level of college football in the United States. The FBS consists of the largest schools in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). As of the 2024 season there are 10 Conferences and 134 schools in the FBS.

The USF’s football team – the Bulls – is scheduled to face the Louisville Cardinals football (University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky) at home on September 4^th, 2027.

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