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Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
"The Swamp"
BenHillGriffinStadium.png
Former names Florida Field (1930–1989)
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field (1989–2016)
Location 157 Gale Lemerand Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32611
Coordinates 29°39′0″N 82°20′55″W / 29.65000°N 82.34861°W / 29.65000; -82.34861Coordinates: 29°39′0″N 82°20′55″W / 29.65000°N 82.34861°W / 29.65000; -82.34861
Owner University of Florida
Operator University Athletic Association
Capacity 88,548 (2003–present)
83,000 (1991–2002)
72,000 (1982–1990)
62,800 (1966–1981)
46,164 (1960–1965)
40,116 (1950–1959)
21,769 (1930–1949)
Record attendance 90,916
Surface Natural grass (1930–1970)
Astroturf (1971–1989)
Bermuda grass (1990–present)
Construction
Broke ground April 16, 1930
Opened November 8, 1930
Renovated 2003, 2011, 2015
Expanded 1950, 1960, 1966, 1982, 1991, 2003, 2008
Construction cost $118,000 (1930)($1,570,177.60 in 2011 dollars)
Architect Rudolph Weaver
Tenants
Florida Gators (NCAA) (1930–present)

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (in full Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium), popularly known as "The Swamp", is the football stadium for the University of Florida and the home field of the Florida Gators football team and is on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus. The stadium was built in 1930 with a capacity of about 22,000, and has been expanded, renovated, and improved many times over the ensuing decades. Most of the football coach and administrative offices and the football team's training facilities have been under the south and west stands of Florida Field since the 1960s. In 2016, the University of Florida Athletic Association announced plans to build a $60 million stand-alone football facility which is scheduled to open in 2019.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is the largest football stadium in Florida, the 12th largest stadium in American college football, 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 Gators' home football games.

The stadium is on the northern edge of the University of Florida campus near the center of Gainesville, Florida. The stadium and its approach are bordered by West University Avenue on the north side, Gale Lemerand Drive (previously North–South Drive) on the west, and Stadium Road on the south. Just east of the stadium 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. 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. Just beyond the O'Connell Center are the football team's practice facilities and Alfred A. McKethan Stadium, home field of the Florida Gators baseball team. Prior to the 2015 Season a new indoor practice facility was added just north of the baseball field and east of the grass practice fields.


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