T H E H I S T O R Y O F B E N H I L L G R I F F I N S TA D I U M

“ T H E S WA M P ”

S O M E S TAT S

• Original Construction: 1930

• Built by: Rudolph Weaver

• Original Name: Florida Field

• Cost in 1930: $118,000

• Renovated: 1950, 1960, 1966, 1982, 1991, 2004, 2008

• Expanded: 2003, 2011, 2015

T H E L O C AT I O N

B E N H I L L G R I F F I N S TA D I U M I S L O C A T E D O N T H E N O R T H E R N E D G E O F T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F F L O R I D A

P R E - 1 9 3 0

• The University of Florida was founded in 1906

• The football team first played at University Athletic Field

• In 1911, bleachers were installed & the field was renamed Fleming Field

• From 1911 to 1930, the football team had a record of 49-7-1

• In 1920, the Gators earned their first taste of national attention

• John Tigert, president of the University, decided to contract a bigger stadium in 1928

• Due to the Depression, the state was not able to fund the project

• Tigert & 10 supporters of the team took out personal loans to begin construction on the stadium

P R E - 1 9 3 0

1 9 3 0 - T H E C O N S T R U C T I O N

• Construction began on April 16, 1930

• They quickly faced the obstacle of ground water and how to drain it

• Soon the problem was resolved, and 80 workers continued

• Construction ended on November 8th, 1930 - just in time for the homecoming game against Alabama

M O V I N G O N U P !

• As popularity grew, Florida Field was always renovating to accommodate people

• The original stadium held 21,769 people

• First expanded in 1950 to hold 40,000 people

• In 1966, 20,000 more seats are added

1 9 8 0 T O P R E S E N T D AY• In 1982 & 1991, the end zone seats

are added to the stadium

• The name was official changed to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in 1989

• The addition of the Sunshine Seats brings the total number of seats to 80,000

• Luxury Boxes were added in 2003 to make it the largest stadium in Florida

• The total number of seats comes out to 88, 548

F I E L D S U R FA C E S

• Natural grass was used until 1971

• It then changed to AstroTurf, and labelled “Doug’s Rug”

• In 1990, Coach Spurrier replaced it with natural grass once again

• In 2012, Bermuda Grass hybrid was installed

G A M E D AY T R A D I T I O N S• Alberta and Albert, one of the

few mascot couples in college sports

• Mr Two Bits, or George Edmondson, lead fans in the Two Bits chant for over 60 years

• Gator fans on opposite sides lead a “Orange” and “Blue” change before the game

• Jim Finch’s Gator entrance called is still used in present day

T H A N K Y O U F O R W AT C H I N G M Y P R E S E N TAT I O N . P L E A S E F E E L F R E E T O C O M M E N T A N D S H A R E . C H E C K B A C K S O O N F O R N E W U P D AT E S !

Tony Angiuli