UF Approves $1.45 Billion Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Renovation — Manhattan Construction and AECOM Hunt Named as GCs

On June 11, 2026, the University of Florida Board of Trustees made it official: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is getting a $1.45 billion renovation — the most expensive stadium renovation in college football history.

The board approved contract negotiations with Manhattan Construction and AECOM Hunt, with Legends Global serving as the owner's representative. Construction is set to begin after the 2026 football season and be completed before the start of the 2030 season.

For Gainesville's construction industry, this is the biggest single project announcement in the city's history — and it's now fully approved and moving forward.

The stadium, last renovated in 2003, will undergo a comprehensive transformation while maintaining its current capacity of 88,548 seats. According to the UF Board of Trustees, the approved scope includes:

• Larger concourse areas throughout the stadium
• Upgraded restrooms across all levels
• Modernized concession areas to improve the fan experience
• Redesigned entrance and security areas to meet current event safety standards
• ADA accessibility enhancements throughout the facility
• Expanded premium seating — new club and suite inventory to generate revenue supporting student athletes and programs

Trustee Chair Mori Hosseini described the project in direct terms at the June 11 board meeting:

The $1.45 billion project will be funded through a combination of:

• Donor contributions
• Capital reserves
• Project-generated revenues (including new premium seating)
• Long-term debt

Final approval from the Florida Board of Governors is still required before construction can begin.

The board approved contract negotiations with two of the most experienced stadium construction firms in the country:

Manhattan Construction has built and renovated major sports venues across the United States, with a portfolio that includes NFL stadiums, college football facilities, and large-scale institutional projects. Their selection for a project of this complexity and scale is a strong signal of the ambition behind the renovation.

AECOM Hunt — the construction arm of global infrastructure firm AECOM — brings deep experience in sports and entertainment construction, having worked on some of the largest stadium projects in recent years.

Legends Global will serve as the owner's representative, overseeing the project on behalf of the University of Florida throughout design, construction, and delivery.

• 2026 football season — The Gators play their final season in the current stadium configuration
• After the 2026 season — Construction mobilizes; demolition and phased renovation begins
• 2027–2029 — Active construction phases; the stadium may remain partially operational for home games during renovation
• Before the 2030 season — Full renovation complete; The Swamp reopens in its new form

The stadium renovation wasn't the only major construction approval at the June 11 board meeting. The trustees also approved:

UF Jacksonville Campus — $287.5 Million Initial Phase UF's new downtown Jacksonville campus is set to begin classes by fall 2026 following a $4.6 million renovation to existing buildings. Full construction of additional campus buildings is expected to begin in 2027, with the initial construction phase totaling approximately $287.5 million. This project expands UF's footprint into Jacksonville and strengthens its partnership with the University of North Florida.

$100 Million Northern Precinct Infrastructure Upgrades The board also discussed a capital budget request prioritizing approximately $100 million over the next two years for infrastructure upgrades in UF's northern precinct. Trustee Chair Hosseini cited aging infrastructure — including a recent water line break and sewer leak at the stadium — as the top priority. Additional funding requests include renovations to the gym, dental science building, music building, and several research and education centers.

The combined value of UF construction projects approved at the June 11 meeting — the stadium renovation, the Jacksonville campus, and the infrastructure upgrades — totals approximately $1.7 billion. That's an extraordinary amount of construction activity anchored in and around Gainesville over the next four years.

For the local construction labor market, the implications are significant:

Sustained demand for skilled and general labor — A $1.45 billion stadium renovation doesn't happen in a single mobilization. It runs in phases over multiple years, creating consistent demand for concrete crews, iron workers, carpenters, MEP trades, general laborers, and finish workers throughout the project lifecycle.

Subcontractor opportunities across every trade — Manhattan Construction and AECOM Hunt will be building out their subcontractor networks for this project. Local and regional subs with experience on institutional and sports facility construction will be well-positioned.

Ripple effects across the Gainesville construction market — When two major GCs mobilize for a project of this scale, they pull labor and resources from the regional market. That tightens availability across all Gainesville construction projects — which means general contractors on other jobsites need to lock in their labor relationships now.

All Florida Personnel has been placing construction workers on commercial and institutional jobsites across Gainesville and Alachua County since 2013. We've staffed crews on UF campus projects, Alachua County school construction, and commercial builds throughout North Central Florida.

The Ben Hill Griffin Stadium renovation is the largest construction project this region has ever seen. We're already preparing to support the general contractors, subcontractors, and specialty firms that will be mobilizing for this work.

General contractors and subcontractors: If you're planning for stadium renovation work or any Gainesville construction project, now is the time to establish your labor staffing relationships. Submit a worker request or call us at (352) 505-0503.

Construction workers in Gainesville: The biggest build in this city's history is coming. Apply for work online and get positioned for what's ahead.

Source: Gainesville Sun, Chelsea Long, June 11, 2026. UF Board of Trustees meeting, June 11, 2026. All Florida Personnel is Gainesville's locally owned temporary construction labor staffing company, serving general contractors and subcontractors across Alachua County since 2013.