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A partnership of Manhattan Construction and AECOM Hunt will serve as construction managers for renovations to a roughly $1.45 billion South Florida stadium nicknamed “The Swamp.”
The University of Florida sports association has advanced the planning and development of the future improvement of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., where the UF football team hosts games, according to a June 11 announcement.
The overall project is expected to go to the University of Florida board of trustees for final approval in September. Funding will come from grants, equity reserves and long-term debt, pending approval by the Florida Board of Governors.
The renovation will include expanded lounges, improved concessions and restrooms, improved accessibility, elevated premium hospitality experiences, improved technology infrastructure and state-of-the-art video and audio capabilities, according to the announcement.
Construction is expected to begin after the conclusion of the 2026 football season and be completed before the 2030 season.
The project will prioritize maintaining The Swamp’s capacity of about 88,000 seats, preserving the “Orange Wing Walls” and protecting the bowl’s unique design, which puts fans close to the field.
“The University of Florida has been clear about what matters most: preserving the stadium’s identity while enhancing the overall experience,” Manhattan President John Reyhan told Construction Dive. “This means careful planning, disciplined phasing and a commitment to safety and collaboration at every step.”
The team will continue to play home games at the stadium, which will be 100 years old when renovations are completed in 2030.
In addition to the Manhattan/AECOM Hunt partnership, Florida Athletics selected Legends Global to serve as the owner’s representative.
Builders are not newbies when it comes to large stadium construction.
AECOM Hunt is a giant in the space. The company is currently partnering with Turner Construction on the $2.1 billion construction of the Tennessee Titans. new NFL stadium in Nashville. the couple previously delivered the 5.5 billion dollars SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, which hosted Team USA’s first World Cup game June 12
Meanwhile, Tulsa, Okla.-based Manhattan Construction has delivered more than 100 sports and recreation projects, according to its website. The constructions of this portfolio include the 182 million dollars renovation of the Toyota Stadiumhome to the FC Dallas soccer team, and the $240 million renovation and expansion of Texas Tech’s Jones AT&T Stadium and the Dustin R. Womble Football Center.
