TAMPA -- The University of South Florida is breaking ground on its new on-campus stadium Friday.

It's been an aspiration since USF was founded in the 1950s. Original plans included a football stadium but the university's first president, John Allen, opposed student athletics.

When USF established a football program in the 90s, it began playing games at Raymond James Stadium. Alumni and students began a long campaign to get a stadium on-campus. Efforts began in earnest in 2021, quickly supported by gifts from prominent residents such as Lightning owner Jeff Vinik, and Frank and Carol Morsani. Trustees approved financing last year with $340 million to be raised through financing and fundraising. The most recent large gift is $1 million from the Gonzmart Family Foundation, which represents the family behind the Columbia, Ulele and several other signature restaurants in the Tampa Bay area.

Ahead of the groundbreaking, USF unveiled four new renderings of the stadium showing views of the stands and the student section. The student section takes up seating on the west side and includes a lit-up version of the USF Bulls logo. USF VP of Athlietics Michael Kelly says it will be crafted to give students a total experience. That would include a student-only concession area.

Other fan amenities include a concourse area that loops around the stadium and allows an unobstructed view of the field.

The groundbreaking takes place at 3:30 Friday (Nov. 8) and is being streamed at USF Athletics and the university's social media accounts, as well as ESPN+.

See a gallery of renderings of the stadium and hear more about USF's new stadium from AD Michael Kelly in our Beyond the News podcast below:

Photos: USF-Canva

Wendy Wild