USF Stadium Quick Facts:
-USF spent $75,000 on a feasibility plan for an on-campus stadium
-USF does not plan on using properties other than its own.
-No State or student money will be used for the funding of this project
-USF has a six-year lease with Raymond James Stadium
It’s a start.
USF took the first step on Tuesday in their plans to eventually have an on-campus football stadium
The 41-page plan was presented by: USF Athletics Director Mark Harlan and USF Vice President of Administrative Services, Calvin Williams.
There are two “zones” that are the focus of this overall plan that will be presented to the USF Board of Trustees on August 17th:
Zone 1: 74 Acres of land on the southwest corner of Fowler Avenue and Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
Zone 2: 34 Acres of land on the southeast corner of Fowler Avenue with a connection to USF Bull Run Drive.
“We have other options, but these are the two we are really looking at,” said Williams. “We think these are the two that will be the most feasible for us moving forward.”
“This is a long process,” said Harlan. “We have a lot to do and this is going to take some time.”
Speaking to a source on the condition of anonymity, the likelihood of the stadium ending up somewhere other than these two “zones” is “very unlikely…USF does not want to pay for land and then deal with a PR nightmare of taking someone’s home away from them for a football stadium.”
USF is reporting that the stadium will cost around $200 million. However, there is talk that the number will escalate to anywhere between $225-$250 million.
Stadium Capacity: 40,000-50,000 Fans
Estimated Groundbreaking: 2022
Stadium comparions: UCF, SMU, UConn, Colorado State, Louisville, FAU
The big issue is who will pay for this? Calvin Williams made it very clear on Tuesday:
“No educational and general state funds will be used to fund the construction of this project. No tax payer money. No student tuition.”
However, Mark Harlan says that student fees are still being considered for the ability to help offset the cost of this project.
“At the end of the day, any student fees would have to work through their committees and their student structure,” said Harlan. “So, I think right now, we are so early in the process that it is hard, quite candidly, to take that off the table.
We owe to them to really take a look into that. What would it do for campus life if we are on this campus.”
So, what about Raymond James Stadium?
The Bulls just signed a new six-year lease with Ray Jay and will more than likely honor that deal to its fulfillment.
“We love playing at Raymond James Stadium,” said Harlan. “Our fans love it, Our alumni love it. We are now benefiting for $150 million in upgrades by the Bucs.”
But Harlan knows he needs to continue to examine the landscape of college football.
USF will more than likely need an on-campus stadium to attract more recruits, connect better with alumni, and attempt to reach out to Power-5 conferences when conference realignment comes calling, again.
“We owe it to our fans to see if us on campus works,” said Harlan.
There was also mention of an indoor practice facility for USF Football. Harlan says the school has hired a company out of Kansas City to meet with he and head coach Charlie Strong.
But that is a story for another day.