TAMPA, Fla. — USF’s Board of Trustees got an update on Tuesday on the new football stadium coming to campus.
And while some of what they heard was exciting, there was also one major disappointment when it came to the stadium’s timeline. A delay – of at least a year.
The promise was that USF's new 35,000-seat stadium would be ready in time for the full 2026 season. Instead, citing supply chain issues, those in charge of the project said it would be at least another year if things go according to their new timeline.
“As much as we want to have a stadium in ‘26, there's no possible way to get that done,” Stadium Planning Co-Chair Jay Stroman said. “We also learned that the global supply chain reality drives the timeline.”
USF is also ending its contract with its design team, opting instead to work directly with the builder and contractor.
That, they say, will give them more flexibility and direct input on details they want to see in the finished product.
They also released updated renderings that show the stadium with an East-West orientation to maximize shade, a dedicated student section, tailgating space, premium seating, and a signature walkway courtesy of a $6 million gift from the USF Federal Credit Union.
USF releases new renderings of future on-campus football stadium
“I think it just looks dynamic, it looks modern, it looks incredible, “ Board of Trustees Chairman Will Weatherford said.
Weatherford praised the progress, saying the 2026 target was likely too ambitious from the get-go, and had a message for those who might be disappointed or now question the project’s viability.
“You know we have the financing in place, everything is happening – this is going to happen,” Weatherford said. “And so for those who are saying is it going to happen? Is it going to happen? This is going to happen. And it’s going to happen on the timeline that was just outlined.”
USF says it's also raised more than $43 million of its $50 million goal from alumni for the new stadium.
They do believe the TGH Athletic Complex will be open in 2026.
The budget for the new stadium still sits at $340 million. The next milestones, they say, will be even more detailed stadium renderings which are likely to come out this coming spring. Also, a groundbreaking ceremony for the stadium itself sometime next fall.