Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, universally nicknamed “The Swamp,” is the home of the University of Florida Gators football team in Gainesville, Florida. The stadium opened on November 8, 1930, as a 21,769-seat facility called Florida Field, and nine decades of expansions have grown it into an 88,548-seat colossus — the largest stadium in Florida and one of the largest in the United States.
Whether you’re planning your first trip to a Gators home game or just want to understand why this venue is considered one of the most intimidating in college football, this guide covers the stadium’s seating layout, tickets, parking, bag policy, and the massive renovation set to reshape it before its 100th anniversary.
Quick Answer
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, home of the Florida Gators in Gainesville, seats 88,548 fans. Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff, re-entry is not permitted after your ticket is scanned, and the stadium enforces a clear bag policy: one clear bag up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″ (or a one-gallon clear bag) plus one clutch up to 4.5″ x 6.5″. Parking on campus is limited and mostly pass-based, concessions are cashless, and the official Game Day Shuttle is available for home games.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gameday Guide (2026 Season)
- Bag policy: One clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″ (or a one-gallon clear resealable bag), plus one clutch up to 4.5″ x 6.5″.
- Gates open: General public gates open 90 minutes before kickoff (2 p.m. for the 3:30 p.m. Ole Miss game); premium entrances opened at 1:30 p.m. for that game.
- Parking: Mostly pass-based with digital passes; a limited number of unreserved lots are first-come, first-served and fill quickly. Game Day Shuttle costs $20 adult, $10 child under 12 at Park and Ride locations.
- Tailgating: Setup starts no earlier than 6:00 a.m. on game day (8:00 a.m. in Booster lots) and must be cleared by 3:00 a.m. after the game.
- Payments: Concession stands are cashless: credit cards, debit cards and touchless phone payments only.
- Re-entry: Not permitted once your ticket has been scanned.
Policies checked against the official team and stadium pages in September 2026. Rules can change game to game, so confirm on the official clear bag policy and the official game day policies before you go.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Bag Policy (2026)
Each fan may bring one large clear bag plus one small clutch. The large bag can be a clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″ or a one-gallon clear, re-sealable plastic storage bag. A logo no larger than 4.5″ x 3.4″ can appear on one side, and up to a 2″ trim or border is generally acceptable. The clutch can be no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″, about the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap. Diapers can be carried in a clear bag.
Purses, cinch or drawstring bags, briefcases, fanny packs, luggage, computer bags, camera bags, binocular cases and any bag larger than the permitted sizes are prohibited. The official game day policies page notes that any clear bag within 12″ x 6″ x 12″ is permissible regardless of style, so a clear bag that fits the size limit is the safe choice. Personal seatbacks are not allowed. Seat cushions are allowed if they are no larger than 16″, have no pockets and have no back.
There are no bag check provisions at the gates. A fan with a prohibited bag must return it to a vehicle and move belongings into an approved bag. There are separate ‘Bag’ and ‘No Bag’ lines at each entry point. Fans with medically necessary items or equipment should use a ‘Bag’ line so security can inspect them. Phones, keys, wallets and similar items can go in pockets, and binoculars or cameras can be carried by hand or around the neck, just not in their own case.
Gates and Entry
Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff. For the 3:30 p.m. Ole Miss game, general public gates opened at 2 p.m. and premium location entrances at 1:30 p.m. The Gators recommend adding mobile tickets and digital parking passes to your digital wallet through the Florida Gators app, or registering for Express Entry, before heading to the stadium.
Re-entry is not permitted: once your ticket has been scanned, you cannot leave and come back in, per University of Florida and SEC policy.
Also on the prohibited list: outside food or drink (including alcohol), with the exception of a single empty, commercially branded plastic water bottle up to 20 oz. Also barred are strollers, umbrellas, flags, sticks or poles (including selfie sticks), tobacco and e-cigarettes, laser pointers, artificial noise makers, video cameras, and cameras with detachable lenses or lenses longer than six inches. Only service dogs are permitted inside.
Parking at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
The UAA issues digital parking passes to eligible accounts. A limited number of lots are not reserved and are first-come, first-served; the official page says they fill up quickly. Parking on sidewalks is not permitted, and vehicles doing so risk towing. Accessible spaces are reserved for vehicles with valid state-issued disabled placards or plates. For pass questions, the UAA lists (352) 375-4683 ext. 5000.
The official pages reviewed do not list day-of parking prices, so check the Florida Football parking page. The UAA has also customized the Waze app for game day so it routes around restricted campus streets to your chosen lot.
Tailgating Rules
Under UF’s game day tailgating policy, setup may begin no earlier than 6:00 a.m. on game day, or 8:00 a.m. in Booster lots. Tailgates must be fully dismantled by 3:00 a.m. after the game. RVs in designated RV lots can start overnight within the window on their RV pass. Tailgating is allowed only in general outdoor areas. It is prohibited in parking garages, lot drive aisles, on rooftops, and in vacant public parking spaces other than designated TAPS RV and Booster surface lots. Saving spaces is not permitted.
Tents can be no larger than 12′ x 10′ and must be secured without ground stakes. Portable toilets are prohibited. University outlets cannot be used; power must come from your own generator with a muffler. Grills must be attended, on a level non-flammable surface, and at least 25 feet from any structure, vehicle or equipment. Open flames, fire pits and candles are prohibited.
Alcohol is limited to ages 21 and over from 6:00 a.m. on game day until 3:00 a.m. after the game, and open containers must stay in the designated tailgating area. UF is tobacco-free. Personal golf carts and low-speed vehicles are not allowed inside the stadium’s secure perimeter.
Getting to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
The Game Day Shuttle runs for home football games only, from three hours before the game until kickoff, with return shuttles beginning in the fourth quarter. It serves three locations: Celebration Pointe behind Regal Cinemas Theater and in front of the parking garage, UF Park and Ride #2 at 3497 Hull Road, and Garage 109 south of Archer Road on Gale Lemerand Drive. The single-game service fee is $20 adult and $10 child under 12, purchased at Park and Ride locations on game day.
Road access tightens before kickoff. Gale Lemerand Drive north of Museum Road requires a parking pass starting five hours before the game. Starting three hours before kickoff until two hours after the game, no vehicle traffic is allowed on West University Avenue between Gale Lemerand Drive and NW 17th Street, on Gale Lemerand Drive between University Avenue and Stadium Road, or on Stadium Road from Gale Lemerand Drive to Fletcher Drive. Fletcher Drive is no longer two-way, and turning south from University Avenue is not permitted. The stadium address is 121 Gale Lemerand Drive.
Food and Drink
Outside food and drink are not allowed, but each fan may bring one empty, commercially branded plastic water bottle up to 20 oz. Food and beverage sales inside are cashless: concession stands accept credit cards, debit cards and touchless phone payments, and cash can be converted into a prepaid gift card at any Grab N Go location for use at any concession stand.
The Gators list two ‘Grab N Go Gators’ concession stores: one inside Gate 18 and one on the north end zone concourse. Students get 15% off popcorn, water, six-inch hot dogs and 22-ounce sodas with their student tickets, and fans can round up purchases by $2 at concession stands to support Florida Victorious. The official pages reviewed do not state an alcohol sales policy, so check the official gameday page.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gameday FAQ
What is the bag policy at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium? Each fan may bring one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″ (or a one-gallon clear, re-sealable bag), plus one clutch no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″. Purses, cinch bags, fanny packs, briefcases, luggage and other non-compliant bags are prohibited, and there are no bag check provisions at the gates. Medical items can be inspected at a ‘Bag’ line.
When do gates open at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium? Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff. For the 3:30 p.m. Ole Miss game, general public gates opened at 2 p.m. and premium location entrances at 1:30 p.m. Re-entry is not permitted once your ticket has been scanned.
Where can I park for a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium? Eligible accounts receive digital parking passes, and a limited number of unreserved lots are first-come, first-served and fill quickly. You can also use the Game Day Shuttle from Celebration Pointe, UF Park and Ride #2 (3497 Hull Road) or Garage 109 on Gale Lemerand Drive. The shuttle fee is $20 adult, $10 child under 12, and it runs from three hours before the game until kickoff.
Can you tailgate at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium? Yes, in general outdoor areas and designated RV and Booster lots. Setup may begin no earlier than 6:00 a.m. on game day (8:00 a.m. in Booster lots), and everything must be cleared by 3:00 a.m. after the game. Tents are limited to 12′ x 10′ with no ground stakes, and open flames and fire pits are prohibited.
Seating Chart & Best Seats
The stadium is arranged in a horseshoe bowl around the field, with numbered sections running along the east and west sidelines and lettered chairback sections closer to the 50-yard line. Upper-deck sections sit above both sideline decks, and the south end zone features a double-decked grandstand with a video board above the north end.
For shade and shelter, the west side of the stadium (roughly sections 1–19 and their upper-deck counterparts) is the more sheltered side for afternoon games, while the east stands (sections 27–45) take the brunt of the sun at typical early-afternoon kickoff times. Higher rows under the overhanging upper deck — including the back rows of the south end zone sections — offer the most consistent cover from both sun and rain. Sections 318–329 are the most exposed to the elements and are best avoided if shade is a priority.
The Swamp Experience
What makes Ben Hill Griffin Stadium genuinely unusual is the sinkhole design that sinks the field below ground level and encloses the crowd tightly around the action. The result is an acoustic trap: noise generated by tens of thousands of fans has nowhere to escape, and visiting teams have long cited the noise as one of the toughest road conditions in college football. Field-level temperatures on September afternoons routinely exceed 100°F, adding a physical dimension to the home-field advantage.
Head coach Steve Spurrier coined the “Swamp” nickname in 1992, describing it as a place where Gators thrive but opponents feel uneasy. The playing surface was named Steve Spurrier–Florida Field in 2016 in his honor. The record single-game attendance of 90,916 was set on November 28, 2015, during a rivalry matchup against Florida State, underscoring how often the venue packs well beyond its official seating count.
Nine Decades of Growth
Florida Field’s original 1930 construction cost just $118,000. Successive expansions tracked the sport’s growth: a second tier on the west stands arrived in the early 1950s, an east grandstand followed in 1966, and a double-decked south end zone was completed in 1982, pushing capacity to 72,000. A north upper deck added in 1991 brought the total to 83,000, and a $50 million press-level expansion before the 2003 season added club seats and 34 luxury suites to reach the current 88,548.
The stadium was formally renamed Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field on September 9, 1989, in honor of Ben Hill Griffin Jr., a prominent citrus and phosphate businessman who donated generously to the University of Florida.
The $1.45 Billion Renovation (2026–2030)
In 2026, the University of Florida announced what is expected to be the most expensive stadium renovation in college football history: a $1.45 billion overhaul of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Construction is planned to begin after the 2026 season and be completed ahead of the 2030 campaign, timed to the stadium’s 100th anniversary.
The project scope includes infrastructure modernization, deferred maintenance, accessibility upgrades, new technology, expanded premium and club seating, more accessible concessions, improved restroom access, better wayfinding, and improved traffic flow throughout the venue. Funding is expected to come from private giving, capital reserves, and long-term debt, subject to approval by the Florida Board of Governors. The Gators are expected to continue playing in the stadium throughout construction, with only specific areas modified or unavailable during individual phases.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium FAQs
Why is Ben Hill Griffin Stadium called “The Swamp”?
Head coach Steve Spurrier coined the nickname in 1992, explaining that a swamp is where Gators live and feel comfortable, while opponents feel tentative. The name stuck and is now one of the most recognized monikers in college football.
What is the seating capacity of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium?
The official seating capacity is 88,548, making it the largest stadium in Florida. Actual attendance has exceeded 90,000 for major games, including a record 90,916 for the 2015 Florida State game.
How do I buy tickets to a Florida Gators game?
Single-game and season tickets are sold through the official Gator Ticket Office at floridagators.com/tickets, with verified resale also offered through Ticketmaster. Season tickets generally require a per-seat Gator Boosters contribution in addition to the ticket price.
Where can I park near Ben Hill Griffin Stadium?
Parking on the University of Florida campus is limited and permit-based. Most nearby lots require a prepaid parking pass, and several campus streets close to traffic on gameday; fans without passes often use satellite lots, rideshare zones, or Gainesville’s RTS game-day buses.
What is the bag policy at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium?
The stadium enforces the standard SEC clear bag policy: one clear bag no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″ (or a one-gallon freezer bag) plus a small clutch bag up to 4.5″ x 6.5″ per person. Backpacks and non-clear bags are prohibited, and all bags are searched at entry.
When did Ben Hill Griffin Stadium open, and what’s next for it?
The stadium opened on November 8, 1930, as Florida Field and was renamed Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field in 1989. A $1.45 billion renovation is planned to begin after the 2026 season and finish ahead of the 2030 season, in time for the stadium’s 100th anniversary.
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