Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium 157 Gale Lemerand Dr Gainesville, FL 32611
Year Opened: 1930 Capacity: 88,548
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – University of Florida Gators
Across the landscape of college football, the University of Florida stands out as one of the special programs – championship expectations here go beyond Southeastern Conference (SEC) titles; competing for national championships is the norm.
Throughout the earlier days of the program’s history, University of Florida football had been respectable but not championship caliber, that is until the return of alumnus and Heisman Trophy winner Steve Spurrier as head coach. After a successful stint as head coach at Duke University, where he took the Blue Devils from perennial ACC doormats to conference champions in just three years, Spurrier returned to Gainesville in 1990. Almost overnight, Florida transitioned from a .500 program to SEC champions, culminating in a national championship victory in 1996 under his leadership.
After Spurrier’s departure to the NFL in 2001, Florida experienced a dip in success, but championship aspirations here never wavered. Following three years under Ron Zook, Florida hired then-Utah head coach Urban Meyer to restore the Gators to their championship ways. In just his second season in Gainesville Meyer delivered, leading Florida to two national championships in three years.
While the Gators have not reached those heights since the mid-90s and early 2000s, they have remained a competitive force in the SEC, but the recent inconsistencies have seemingly frustrated the Florida faithful, and appear to have impacted the overall game day experience at “The Swamp”.
Food & Beverage 4
University Avenue, which runs along the northern edge of the stadium, is closed to traffic on Florida Gators football game day, and various food trucks set up shop here, offering everything from brick-oven pizza and tacos to Polynesian cuisine.
Inside the stadium concessions are a bit more traditional, but still a step above basic stadium food. While staples like hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, and peanuts are plentiful, higher end options include Everglades BBQ’s pulled pork sandwiches and nachos, and Moschella’s Italian fare can also be found. Grilled cheesesteaks, quesadillas, and sausages are also served from carts around the stadium.
The University of Florida is the birthplace of Gatorade, so it should not come as much of a surprise that the drink is bountiful throughout the stadium – it is interesting, however, that it can only be found in the Gator-themed Orange and Cool Blue flavors.
When it comes to soft drinks, Pepsi products are the beverages of choice, while for alcoholic beverages fans have typical domestic beers, and a craft-style Florida Gator branded Shock Top, along with cocktails from Cutwater and Surfside, as well as High Noon seltzers.
While the in-stadium food is solid, the food trucks outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium truly enhance the overall experience – it would be nice to see more of those options available inside.
Atmosphere 5
The area around Ben Hill Griffin Stadium leaves no confusion as to its Florida location; Spanish Moss-covered oaks populate the tailgating areas outside of the stadium, and palm trees line the walkways and streets leading in.
Inside the venue the Gator orange pops, as it is used to highlight all the entry portals around the stadium, as well as large walls of the lower level seating, which welcome fans to “Gator Country” and recognize Florida’s championship seasons.
Sideline seating is part of one large seating bowl with upper and lower entry points, while the north and south ends of the stadium have more of an upper and lower deck that partially overhangs the lower level. The west side stands are backed by an extremely large wall of suites and the stadium press box, which runs from end zone to end zone. Seating on this side might help when looking to escape the Florida heat with some shade, but there is not a lot of cover to be found at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in general.
Traditions are important in college football, and the University of Florida is no exception. Florida’s marching band “The Pride of the Sunshine” does a fantastic job continuing those traditions, and setting the tone for college football with their pregame performance, occasionally starting with the band’s six-foot-wide drum, “The Biggest Boom in Dixie”.
The band also creates several different formations, including an outline of the state of Florida, a script ‘Gators’, and finally a simplistic “UF” that forms a runway for the players to run through, as they take the field before kick-off. The whole pregame presentation does a great job of setting the stage for a high level of college football.
Neighborhood 5
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium sits on the northern edge of the University of Florida’s campus along University Avenue, where athletics, academics, and campus nightlife come together. Just steps away from the football stadium is the O’Connell Center, home to Gators basketball and volleyball – the Gators outdoor track, tennis center, and athlete development facilities are also nearby.
Lake Alice is a popular location on campus for outdoor adventure and nature. Around dusk, visitors are drawn to the massive bat houses to watch hundreds of thousands of bats fly into the Gainesville night, and the lake is also populated by modest-sized alligators. Be warned though – even with their smaller size, many of the gators are not afraid to approach humans in search of food scraps.
If looking for entertainment that might not be as batty, downtown Gainesville has a thriving music scene that goes into the early hours of the morning, from punk to techno, Latin music, and everything in between.
Hotel options are plentiful but get snapped up quickly and are often expensive, so booking early or staying an hour outside Gainesville might be wise. There is also ample RV parking on campus for football game day, so those with such capabilities might look into that option.
Despite being located in a city of over 100,000 people, the area around the University of Florida maintains a distinct college-town feel.
Fans 4
Florida Gator fans are a passionate group, and through past successes of the 90s and early 2000s have come to expect excellence at both the conference and national levels. While the program has not consistently maintained those heights as of late, fan engagement remains strong, especially for rivalry games and key SEC matchups. However, attendance has dipped for fewer marquee games, revealing some frustration among the fan base.
Access 3
The University of Florida is about six miles and 15 minutes from I-75, which runs just west of Gainesville – four exits leading directly into Gainesville provide a handful of access points into town. Traffic can become congested before and after football games, and parking options close to the stadium are limited. Parker Park, located two blocks north of the stadium, might be a good place for early arrivers to try and park.
For those flying in, the Jacksonville airport is an hour and a half away, while Orlando’s airport is a two-and-a-half-hour drive. Gainesville’s regional airport offers limited service.
As with most sports venues, there tends to be a surge of fans waiting to get into Ben Hill Griffin Stadium as soon as the gates open, but allowing 20 to 30 minutes for that initial push to die down leaves a rather easy entry. Inside the stadium, there are two sets of interior concourses – the innermost concourse gets rather congested, even with modest-sized crowds.
Ramps in some locations, especially on the western side of the stadium, can also get extremely slippery due to humidity. Alternatively, the exterior walkways are a bit more spacious and not as susceptible to tight quarters from masses of fans.
Return on Investment 4
The current inconsistencies of Florida football have had an unintended effect on the availability of tickets – while matchups against SEC rivals still command high prices, tickets for non-conference games can be found at more affordable rates on the secondary market, sometimes as low as $5. Of course, matchups against SEC and in-state rivals still go for a premium price, but even if you are spending a bit more for these headliners, the experience of these games might be well worth the investment.
Extras 5
Gator mascots Albert and Alberta are ever present throughout the game, mostly on the sidelines, but their statues across the street at the alumni center are a popular place for fans to stop for a photo.
Another popular photo op is at the statues of Florida’s three Heisman Trophy winners, Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, and Tim Tebow, recognized outside the western entrance of the stadium.
The ode to Gators heroes doesn’t end with the Heisman statues, however – Bull Gator Plaza pays tribute to the College Football Hall of Famers and All-Americans who have played at Florida. The plaza also features a plaque commemorating Tim Tebow’s “The Promise”; following a disappointing loss to Ole Miss during Tebow’s senior season, he made a promise to ‘Gator Nation’ that the focus and resolve of the Gators going forward would be unmatched. Tebow’s words would later prove prophetic, as the 2008 team would go on to dominate the competition for the remainder of the season, and eventually win the National Championship.
To recognize the life and legacy of George Edmondson, better known as “Mr. 2-Bits”, his traditional pre-kickoff “2-Bits” cheer has been carried on at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Typically, an honorary or celebrity “Mr. 2-Bits” leads the crowd in the cheer of “2-Bits, 4-Bits, 6-Bits, a dollar! All for the Gators, stand up and holler!”. Those selected to lead the cheer are typically former Florida football players, but they have also been other accomplished Florida athletes. A display on the west concourse also recognizes the role “Mr. 2-Bits” has played in the culture of Florida football history.
In addition, the death of hometown hero Tom Petty in 2017 started what might be the best “newer” tradition in college football – following the playing of “We Are the Boys from Old Florida” by the Florida band, the stadium lights dim and nearly 80,000 cell phone lights illuminate the stands. Petty’s “Won’t Back Down” plays from the speakers as fans sing along in unison, while the stadium’s LED lighting changes from blue to orange throughout the song. It truly is an amazing experience.
Final Thoughts
Florida fans, more than anyone, are looking for the return of the Gators to a program that doesn’t only contend in the SEC, but also at the national level. Regardless of the current state of the Florida football program, however, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is still a destination location that is primed to return to its elite-level college football status.
From the masses of tailgaters to the pregame Gator Walk, as long as the University of Florida football program is competitive on the national scene, it has all the components necessary to be one of the truly special college football experiences in the country.
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