Tony Angiuli presents the History of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium - the University of Florida's football teams home stadium!

1. T H E H I S T O RY O F B E N H I L L G R I F F I N
S TA D I U M
“ T H E S WA M P ”

2. S O M E S TAT S
• Original Construction: 1930
• Built by: Rudolph Weaver
• Original Name: Florida Field
• Cost in 1930: $118,000
• Renovated: 1950, 1960,
1966, 1982, 1991, 2004, 2008
• Expanded: 2003, 2011, 2015

3. T H E
L O C AT I O N
B E N H I L L
G R I F F I N
S TA D I U M I S
L O C A T E D O N
T H E N O R T H E R N
E D G E O F T H E
U N I V E R S I T Y O F
F L O R I D A

4. P R E - 1 9 3 0
• The University of Florida was
founded in 1906
• The football team first played
at University Athletic Field
• In 1911, bleachers were
installed & the field was
renamed Fleming Field
• From 1911 to 1930, the
football team had a record of
49-7-1

5. • In 1920, the Gators earned their
first taste of national attention
• John Tigert, president of the
University, decided to contract a
bigger stadium in 1928
• Due to the Depression, the state
was not able to fund the project
• Tigert & 10 supporters of the
team took out personal loans to
begin construction on the
stadium
P R E - 1 9 3 0

6. 1 9 3 0 - T H E
C O N S T R U C T I O N
• Construction began on April 16,
1930
• They quickly faced the obstacle
of ground water and how to
drain it
• Soon the problem was resolved,
and 80 workers continued
• Construction ended on
November 8th, 1930 - just in
time for the homecoming game
against Alabama

7. M O V I N G O N U P !
• As popularity grew, Florida
Field was always renovating
to accommodate people
• The original stadium held
21,769 people
• First expanded in 1950 to
hold 40,000 people
• In 1966, 20,000 more seats
are added

8. 1 9 8 0 T O
P R E S E N T D AY
• In 1982 & 1991, the end zone seats
are added to the stadium
• The name was official changed to
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in 1989
• The addition of the Sunshine Seats
brings the total number of seats to
80,000
• Luxury Boxes were added in 2003 to
make it the largest stadium in
Florida
• The total number of seats comes
out to 88, 548

9. F I E L D
S U R FA C E S
• Natural grass was used until
1971
• It then changed to AstroTurf,
and labelled “Doug’s Rug”
• In 1990, Coach Spurrier
replaced it with natural grass
once again
• In 2012, Bermuda Grass
hybrid was installed

10. G A M E D AY
T R A D I T I O N S
• Alberta and Albert, one of the
few mascot couples in college
sports
• Mr Two Bits, or George
Edmondson, lead fans in the
Two Bits chant for over 60 years
• Gator fans on opposite sides
lead a “Orange” and “Blue”
change before the game
• Jim Finch’s Gator entrance
called is still used in present day

11. T H A N K Y O U F O R WAT C H I N G M Y P R E S E N TAT I O N .
P L E A S E F E E L F R E E T O C O M M E N T A N D S H A R E .
C H E C K B A C K S O O N F O R N E W U P D AT E S !
Tony Angiuli