University of South Florida stadium build dates set

A new on-campus stadium for the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa will break ground in October, the university has revealed.

USF announced that a ground-breaking ceremony for the stadium will be held during the university’s annual Homecoming Week celebration, scheduled for October 14-19, 2024.

USF also released two new renderings of the on-campus stadium, which follow the first set of renderings published in December.

The new details shared today about the stadium follow the selection of the highly experienced team of Manhattan Construction Company, H.J. Russell & Company and DuCon, LLC to serve as the construction manager for the new stadium.

The selected team has worked extensively with college and professional stadiums throughout the country, numerous facilities in the Tampa Bay region and state of Florida and has previously partnered on more than $1.2 billion in projects with USF’s design team, Populous.

Projects the team has worked on include football stadiums for the Dallas Cowboys, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and the ongoing renovations at Florida State University.

Manhattan also provided construction management services for enhancements to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa in 2016.

USF Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly and USF Foundation CEO Jay Stroman, the co-chairs of the stadium planning committee said:

Choosing a construction management team is big step forward in our process to deliver a world-class stadium that will transform the future of our university and the on-campus experience. 

After conducting a thorough review of each proposal we received for the project, we’re excited to get started on our partnership with a team that brings a proven track record of success in Manhattan Construction Company, H.J. Russell & Company and DuCon, LLC.

USF’s on-campus stadium is scheduled to open in time for autumn/fall 2027.

The new stadium will include features such as:

• An east-west build to help maximise shade for daytime events.
• A dedicated section for students in the west end of the stadium that includes a design unique to USF featuring Bull horns and amenities that will cater to the student experience.
• An open concourse around a majority of the stadium that provides views of the field, even as fans are walking to concession or restroom areas.
• A large tailgating space on the north side of the stadium.
• A variety of premium seating options, including suites, loge boxes and club areas.

The design incorporates the feedback the university gathered through listening sessions with dozens of stakeholder groups, including students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.

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