TAMPA, Fla. — In September 2021, Will Weatherford stood between green and gold balloons under a white canopy and declared a game-changing announcement for South Florida football. After using the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ stadium for their first 25 years, the Bulls were now prepared for a stadium of their own. Weatherford promised an on-campus stadium, a concept that had long been discussed but had yet to materialize until he claimed it was finally going to happen. Despite lacking an actual plan, location, cost estimate, funding proposal, or contingencies, Weatherford remained confident that speaking things into existence could make a $340 million stadium or even the program’s resurgence in major college football a reality.
USF administrators anticipate the impact of the 35,000-seat venue when it opens in 2027, providing transformative opportunities for the university beyond fall Saturdays. With a significant financial risk involved, the Bulls are moving forward with the most expensive project in program history, aiming to increase their relevance despite never winning a conference title or reaching a major bowl game. While some elite programs are reconsidering the facilities arms race due to impending player payments, the Bulls are forging ahead with their ambitious stadium project, potentially positioning themselves for a return to the forefront of major college football.
Weatherford’s vision, despite the absence of a detailed plan, has sparked considerable progress, aligning the university’s objectives with the anticipated stadium’s features and benefits. As they prepare to enter a new phase in college football, USF is embracing the challenge of competing at the highest level and emerging victorious.
USF plans to open its new stadium in 2027. (Courtesy of USF Athletics)
A stadium 70 years in the making
The first idea for a South Florida football stadium surfaced around 1957, three years before the school’s first class. Despite challenges, the journey towards an on-campus stadium finally culminated in Weatherford’s vision for the Bulls. USF is on the brink of a historic transformation, determined to position itself as a contender in major college football with the construction of their state-of-the-art stadium.
Stay tuned for the next chapter in the Bulls’ journey toward national prominence, as they embark on the path to a transformative stadium experience in 2027.
