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$1.45 billion renovation cost for The Swamp

Brains said:
1.5b is not enough. I hope it costs them everything.
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It's just foundation and electrical improvements, and then the corporate suites. They aren't really adding much else. They're trying to sell the improved fan experience as "accessible concessions" and "enhanced wayfinding."

They're also currently spending another $1.61B on other new real estate. But UF isn't going broke anything soon. They've got plenty of money, and the taxpayers are funding so much of all of this.
 
caneingville said:
It's just foundation and electrical improvements, and then the corporate suites. They aren't really adding much else. They're trying to sell the improved fan experience as "accessible concessions" and "enhanced wayfinding."

They're also currently spending another $1.61B on other new real estate. But UF isn't going broke anything soon. They've got plenty of money, and the taxpayers are funding so much of all of this.
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The athletic article says that the Mercedes-Benz in Atlanta cost something like 1.6 billion in 2016. I know inflation is higher today, but those two stadiums are worlds apart. Can't even compare the two. Wouldn't it be cheaper to just tear down the swamp and rebuild it with the same name for that much money?

Also, how does UF have so much more money than FSU? Is it the donor base?
 
caneingville said:
It's just foundation and electrical improvements, and then the corporate suites. They aren't really adding much else. They're trying to sell the improved fan experience as "accessible concessions" and "enhanced wayfinding."

They're also currently spending another $1.61B on other new real estate. But UF isn't going broke anything soon. They've got plenty of money, and the taxpayers are funding so much of all of this.
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It's the laat part that ****es me off to np end.
 
Walsh5 said:
The athletic article says that the Mercedes-Benz in Atlanta cost something like 1.6 billion in 2016. I know inflation is higher today, but those two stadiums are worlds apart. Can't even compare the two. Wouldn't it be cheaper to just tear down the swamp and rebuild it with the same name for that much money?

Also, how does UF have so much more money than FSU? Is it the donor base?
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You are correct that the stadium is almost the same price as Mercedes-Benz (even considering inflation), but there are some issues with this line of thinking.

In order to build a new stadium, they would need to blow up the Swamp and put the new stadium there. So then they would need to find somewhere else to play for at least a season or two, which would kill the local economy. There are so many businesses whose entire existence depends on football season tourism, which then impacts taxes, employee salaries, everything. They can't do that. And I don't even know where they would play. They might be able to negotiate a deal with Jacksonville, but that's still several hours away from campus, and all the students would have to get hotels for all the "home" games. It would be such a nightmare, and not realistic.

UF has substantially more money than FSU for a few reasons. One is yes, the donor base. They have a very solid base of wealthy alumni. Many people are not aware that Hal Steinbrenner (principal owner of the Yankees) got his MBA there, and established an MBA endowment at UF. He's the reason I got a full scholarship for MBA (I believe they now give all students 100% scholarships), and had recruiting trips and part of my international trips paid for while I was there (the MBA program gave us each thousands of dollars to spend on development opportunities and recruiting). I also got UF to pay for my GMAT fees. I know this is a UM board, and I loved my undergrad more than anything, and I will 100% always be a Cane. But UF treats its students very well.

UF is also larger, older, and is general just more fiscally responsible. Their endowment is $2.5B, but it is managed by a wholly-owned nonprofit subsidiary called UFICO (UF Investment Corporation), which is worth over $7B. UFICO's purpose is long-term asset management of the endowment, foundations (including Gatorade royalties), research endeavors, scholarships and financial aid, and professorship and fellowships to order to best achieve financial growth for the university.

For comparison, FSU's endowment isn't even near a billion yet. This Palm Beach Post article from 2024 lists the endowments of all the Florida universities, and talks about how UF and UM are the only schools at over a billion.

Lastly, I will just link this post I made yesterday in Gator Tears about the other real estate projects UF has going on right now, that total up to more than the stadium project. The taxpayers are on the hook for a large portion of it, which...is not great, but also means they won't be going broke like FSU.
 
GojiraCane said:
Out of curiosity, where do Major events like large scale concerts take place in that area?
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The ODome, which is the basketball/volleyball/gymnastics arena. There is also an outdoor pavilion downtown where they have outdoor concerts.

They do occasionally have some things in the Swamp, like for Gator Growl (Homecoming) but it's not that often.
 
caneingville said:
The ODome, which is the basketball/volleyball/gymnastics arena. There is also an outdoor pavilion downtown where they have outdoor concerts.

They do occasionally have some things in the Swamp, like for Gator Growl (Homecoming) but it's not that often.
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Didn't Morgan Wallen perform in the swamp like 2x? Not sure if remembering correctly
 
dccane06 said:
Didn't Morgan Wallen perform in the swamp like 2x? Not sure if remembering correctly
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He may have. Like I said, they do occasionally.

I've lived in Georgia for well over a decade, so I don't know every event going on in Gainesville.
 
caneingville said:
You are correct that the stadium is almost the same price as Mercedes-Benz (even considering inflation), but there are some issues with this line of thinking.

In order to build a new stadium, they would need to blow up the Swamp and put the new stadium there. So then they would need to find somewhere else to play for at least a season or two, which would kill the local economy. There are so many businesses whose entire existence depends on football season tourism, which then impacts taxes, employee salaries, everything. They can't do that. And I don't even know where they would play. They might be able to negotiate a deal with Jacksonville, but that's still several hours away from campus, and all the students would have to get hotels for all the "home" games. It would be such a nightmare, and not realistic.

UF has substantially more money than FSU for a few reasons. One is yes, the donor base. They have a very solid base of wealthy alumni. Many people are not aware that Hal Steinbrenner (principal owner of the Yankees) got his MBA there, and established an MBA endowment at UF. He's the reason I got a full scholarship for MBA (I believe they now give all students 100% scholarships), and had recruiting trips and part of my international trips paid for while I was there (the MBA program gave us each thousands of dollars to spend on development opportunities and recruiting). I also got UF to pay for my GMAT fees. I know this is a UM board, and I loved my undergrad more than anything, and I will 100% always be a Cane. But UF treats its students very well.

UF is also larger, older, and is general just more fiscally responsible. Their endowment is $2.5B, but it is managed by a wholly-owned nonprofit subsidiary called UFICO (UF Investment Corporation), which is worth over $7B. UFICO's purpose is long-term asset management of the endowment, foundations (including Gatorade royalties), research endeavors, scholarships and financial aid, and professorship and fellowships to order to best achieve financial growth for the university.

For comparison, FSU's endowment isn't even near a billion yet. This Palm Beach Post article from 2024 lists the endowments of all the Florida universities, and talks about how UF and UM are the only schools at over a billion.

Lastly, I will just link this post I made yesterday in Gator Tears about the other real estate projects UF has going on right now, that total up to more than the stadium project. The taxpayers are on the hook for a large portion of it, which...is not great, but also means they won't be going broke like FSU.
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Probably the greatest answer I've ever gotten to a post. Didn't think of the time delay to construct the stadium.

And I completely forgot about Gatorade royalties UF gets. 20 million a year! Nuts!

Thank you for the insight.
 
caneingville said:
It's just foundation and electrical improvements, and then the corporate suites. They aren't really adding much else. They're trying to sell the improved fan experience as "accessible concessions" and "enhanced wayfinding."

They're also currently spending another $1.61B on other new real estate. But UF isn't going broke anything soon. They've got plenty of money, and the taxpayers are funding so much of all of this.
Click to expand...


"Accessible concessions" means those little straps and posts that establish a queue. "Enhanced wayfinding" means signs.

So once you get past THAT (which will probably cost a few thousand), you still have to figure our where the other 1.49999 billion is being spent...
 
caneingville said:
You are correct that the stadium is almost the same price as Mercedes-Benz (even considering inflation), but there are some issues with this line of thinking.

In order to build a new stadium, they would need to blow up the Swamp and put the new stadium there. So then they would need to find somewhere else to play for at least a season or two, which would kill the local economy. There are so many businesses whose entire existence depends on football season tourism, which then impacts taxes, employee salaries, everything. They can't do that. And I don't even know where they would play. They might be able to negotiate a deal with Jacksonville, but that's still several hours away from campus, and all the students would have to get hotels for all the "home" games. It would be such a nightmare, and not realistic.

UF has substantially more money than FSU for a few reasons. One is yes, the donor base. They have a very solid base of wealthy alumni. Many people are not aware that Hal Steinbrenner (principal owner of the Yankees) got his MBA there, and established an MBA endowment at UF. He's the reason I got a full scholarship for MBA (I believe they now give all students 100% scholarships), and had recruiting trips and part of my international trips paid for while I was there (the MBA program gave us each thousands of dollars to spend on development opportunities and recruiting). I also got UF to pay for my GMAT fees. I know this is a UM board, and I loved my undergrad more than anything, and I will 100% always be a Cane. But UF treats its students very well.

UF is also larger, older, and is general just more fiscally responsible. Their endowment is $2.5B, but it is managed by a wholly-owned nonprofit subsidiary called UFICO (UF Investment Corporation), which is worth over $7B. UFICO's purpose is long-term asset management of the endowment, foundations (including Gatorade royalties), research endeavors, scholarships and financial aid, and professorship and fellowships to order to best achieve financial growth for the university.

For comparison, FSU's endowment isn't even near a billion yet. This Palm Beach Post article from 2024 lists the endowments of all the Florida universities, and talks about how UF and UM are the only schools at over a billion.

Lastly, I will just link this post I made yesterday in Gator Tears about the other real estate projects UF has going on right now, that total up to more than the stadium project. The taxpayers are on the hook for a large portion of it, which...is not great, but also means they won't be going broke like FSU.
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I'm going to make this simple.

First, I'm going to ignore the "but the businesses" issue. If someone chose to open a business in Hogtown, they have no one to blame but themselves. There's only 6-7 home games a year (UF-UGa is neutral site), so if someone's entire year is make-or-break based on the 6 times the locusts descend for 12 hours in a weekend, then it's a pretty bad business model.

Second, and I'm just being honest here, I think Florida would be FAR BETTER SERVED by building a new Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Sponsored By Minoxidil and Cialis.

The houses to the north of University are not that special and anyone who lives there is subject to a massive amount of traffic and noise and petty crime due to the proximity to campus. So move the Swamp north, and then redevelop the old site into other stuff, such as, you know, PARKING.

Just my 2 cents. If Florida didn't have to deal with all the different elevations (having built the Swamp in pieces and parts over the years), they could build something brand new and effective. Real estate in Hogtown can't be that expensive.
 
FSU is strapped for cash after their stadium reno. Is UF gonna paint themselves into a corner too?
 
The U is back to work said:
They should have done this. Stupid *** city building that useless marlins park instead of a second large stadium to bid out for events that seats 50,000
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The thing that Hard Rock can’t replicate (and in reality, no modern stadium will ever replicate due to changes in construction) is that the Orange Bowl substructure acted like a giant tuning fork. The metal stadium literally flexed and shook when the crowd was stomping. As in you could actually watch people bobbing up and down like a cork in the ocean when it got rowdy. If you didn’t experience it, it’s hard to describe the sensation and how unique it was.

That scared the living **** out of opposing teams as it was not only loud, but the fans looked like they were a vertical wall of 80k+ eyes looking down on the players and the actual playing field was vibrating akin to a 7.5 earthquake. I have never been in another stadium that got even close to that (loudness, yes- but not actually seeing a stadium twist like that). Virtually all stadiums now are reinforced concrete and they eliminate the flexing by design. So even if we got a new 50k seat stadium closer to campus it would just be a pale imitation without the metal construction and design.
 
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