Florida Construction News staff writer
The University of South Florida Board of Trustees has approved an updated budget and construction plan for the school’s long-awaited on-campus football stadium, raising the total project cost to $348.5 million, up from $340 million approved in June 2023.
The stadium will initially seat about 35,000 fans and is expected to open in time for the Bulls to begin play there in summer 2027.
Following a competitive bidding process, USF selected a joint venture of Manhattan Construction Company, H.J. Russell & Company and DuCon, LLC to manage construction. The group was chosen for its experience building collegiate and professional stadiums, including projects for the Dallas Cowboys and Florida State University.
The firms have also collaborated on more than $1.2 billion in projects with Populous, USF’s design partner for the stadium.
USF changed direction in December 2023 when it terminated a design-build agreement with Barton Malow, instead adopting a construction management approach to give the university more control over design and cost decisions.
In addition to the stadium, USF plans to expand the Tampa General Hospital Center for Athletic Excellence, including upgraded locker rooms and new academic space for student-athletes.
The board also approved $47.9 million for infrastructure improvements on the east side of the Tampa campus, aimed at supporting future development, including the stadium. Another $10.5 million was set aside for contingencies such as unexpected costs and design modifications.
Groundbreaking for the stadium took place in November 2023. Additional site clearing is scheduled for May, with full construction expected to begin shortly afterward, university officials said.
