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Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium - home of Florida in Gainesville, FL
NCAA FBS

Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin StadiumGainesville, Florida

Florida

👥
Capacity
88,548
🏆
Conference
SEC
📅
Opened
1930
🌱
Surface
Grass

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📖About Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, known as "The Swamp," is the largest stadium in Florida with a capacity of 88,548. Spurrier coined the nickname in 1992: "A swamp is where Gators live. We feel comfortable there, but we hope our opponents feel tentative."

🏛️History

Origins

Opened in 1930 as Florida Field with 22,000 seats. Named for Ben Hill Griffin Jr., a Florida citrus magnate and UF benefactor, in 1989. The playing surface was renamed for Steve Spurrier in 2016, honoring the Heisman winner and two-time national championship coach.

Major Renovations

1950Second tier added to west stands; first night game played
1982Double-deck south end zone construction
1991"Sunshine Seats" upper deck added to north end zone (80,000+ capacity)
2011West concourse renovation; Heisman Trophy winner statues installed

Notable Moments

Sep 15, 1990First game officially called "The Swamp"—Florida beat Alabama 17-13
Oct 11, 1997#1 Florida beat #2 FSU 32-29 in front of 85,461
Sep 3, 2011"I Won't Back Down" tradition began, honoring Tom Petty (UF alum)

🎟️Visitor Guide

Best Seats

Sections 36 and 38 offer the best midfield views close to the action. Section 2 is a budget-friendly alternative. All seats are bleacher-style without backs—bring a stadium-approved cushion. Field-level temps can exceed 100°F in early-season games.

Parking Tips

North End Zone lot is cheapest ($10). Flavet Lot offers short walks. Park near J.J. Finley Elementary for free and walk 5 blocks. ADA shuttles run from Garage IX starting 4 hours before kickoff. Use the Gators' custom Waze map to avoid road closures.

Game Day

Gates open 90 min before kickoff. The Gator Walk starts 2 hours early on the stadium's north side. Join the "I Won't Back Down" singalong honoring Tom Petty. Skip stadium hot dogs for Everglades BBQ or University Ave food trucks. Only Orange and Cool Blue Gatorade sold (it was invented at UF!).

🗺️Local Recommendations

🍺Bars & Drinks

The Social

$$

Directly across from stadium. Two-story with rooftop terrace, 60+ TVs, and 32 craft beers on tap.

📍 0.1 miles1728 W University Ave

💡 Best location in Gainesville for gameday.

The Swamp Restaurant

$$

Gainesville institution with electric gameday atmosphere. Large outdoor screen and tailgate experience.

📍 0.2 miles1642 W University Ave

💡 Relocated in 2022. Try the Swamp Chili.

Balls

$

No-frills student dive bar since 1988. Known for cheap drinks and gameday crowds.

📍 0.2 miles1716 W University Ave

💡 Ultimate student bucket list spot. Expect it to be loud and sweaty.

MacDinton's Irish Pub

$$

High-energy Irish pub with a massive outdoor space and frequent gameday specials.

📍 0.2 miles1728 W University Ave

💡 Extremely popular with students and young alumni. Arrival early is mandatory.

The Salty Dog Saloon

$$

A Gainesville staple for decades. Classic wood-paneled pub with a huge beer selection.

📍 0.2 miles1712 W University Ave

💡 True Gator tradition. Great place for a pre-game pint.

🍽️Restaurants

Spurrier's Gridiron Grille

$$$

Restaurant and museum dedicated to Steve Spurrier. Farm-to-table food and Visors rooftop bar.

📍 2 miles3401 SW 2nd Ave

💡 Try the "Work Em' Silly" Tomahawk Pork Chop. Great views from Visors.

The Copper Monkey

$

Gainesville staple since 1980. Known for burgers and strong drinks.

📍 0.2 miles1717 W University Ave

💡 Look for food and drink specials on gamedays.

🏨Hotels

Reitz Union Hotel

$$

On-campus hotel in the student union. Walking distance to stadium.

📍 0.3 miles655 Reitz Union Dr

💡 Best location but books up quickly.

Hotel ELEO at the University of Florida

$$$

Modern hotel located on the UF campus with upscale amenities.

📍 0.8 miles1514 SW 16th St

💡 Great access to the stadium and hospital areas.

AC Hotel by Marriott Gainesville Downtown

$$$$

Sleek, modern hotel with a rooftop bar and great views of the city.

📍 0.3 miles151 NW 14th St

💡 One of the best locations for walking to the stadium and Midtown bars.

🎭Attractions

Gatorade Invention Site

$

Visit where Gatorade was invented at UF in 1965. Only Orange and Cool Blue sold at stadium.

📍 0.5 milesUF Campus

💡 Fun trivia for first-time visitors.

UF Bat House

$

Witness hundreds of thousands of bats emerge at sunset. A unique Gainesville experience.

📍 0.7 milesMuseum Rd

💡 Arrive 15-20 minutes before sunset for the best viewing.

The Gator Walk

$

Tradition where the team arrives at the stadium and walks through a tunnel of cheering fans.

📍 0.1 milesNorth end of stadium

💡 Usually occurs 2 hours and 15 minutes before kickoff.

Florida Museum of Natural History

$$

Excellent museum with a Butterfly Rainforest and impressive fossil collection.

📍 1 mile3215 Hull Rd

💡 The Butterfly Rainforest is a peaceful escape from gameday noise.

🅿️Parking Options

🅿️

North End Zone Lot

$10
Lot📍 0.2 miles

💡 Cheapest option near the stadium.

🎉

Flavet Lot

$20-30
Tailgate📍 0.3 miles

💡 Short walk to stadium. Good tailgating.

🚌

Gator Aider (RTS Shuttle)

$10
Shuttle📍 2 miles

💡 Park at various locations (Oaks Mall, Celebration Pointe) and shuttle in.

🅿️

Oaks Mall Park-and-Ride

Free
Lot📍 4 miles

💡 Park for free at the mall and take the RTS shuttle directly to the stadium.

Suggest a Tip

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References

Content sourced from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and official team sites. Additional information verified against public sources.